Puppies are a lot like toddlers – they have opinions to communicate, but maybe not the most mature way to communicate them! What is your puppy trying to tell you?
Mouths
Dogs learn from an early age (as puppies with their siblings and with their mom) to communicate with their mouth. Chewing in puppies is a natural way to relax and feel comfortable, especially as they are teething. Offering appropriate variety of chewing toys will keep your pup entertained and less likely to chew up that favorite shoe. Here are some helpful tips to stop your dog from chewing.
Sounds
Puppies socialize and communicate with growls, yips, barking, whines and even no sounds. Tune in to recognize what they’re telling you!
- Crying – Similar to a baby, puppies are more prone to crying to express their emotions. See some tips about puppies crying and whining in their crate.
- Growling – A growl could be a form of aggressive playfulness. An irritated dog will growl with exposed teeth to warn or intimidate. Find out more about dogs growling while playing.
- Barking – Barking can mean any number of things. Look for secondary clues to hone in on what he is trying to tell you. Generally, one bark is to alert. Multiple barks mean he is trying to tell you something – anything from hunger to needing attention.
- Yipping or whining – A pup usually yips or whines when he is uncomfortable or lonely. You will probably notice yipping as you leave or when you put him in his crate. Find out how to stop your dog from whining.
- Groan or yawn – Not to be confused with discontent, a sigh, groan, or yawn can happen as a dog relaxes his body.
- Howling – Dogs are descendants of wolves, so it’s no surprise they tend to howl from time to time. It typically is a way to communicate with other packs of dogs, but you might find your dog howling at sirens or at night. Learn more about why dogs howl and the meaning behind it.
Nonverbal cues
- Jumping to greet you – More common in puppies, dogs may jump or put their paws on you when they are excited. While the sign of affection can be cute, you should try to eliminate the action at home, so they don’t learn to jump on strangers and do more harm than good.
- Climbing on the couch – A dog will often climb on the back of the sofa to get above you. In doing this, he is trying to establish a position of authority or dominance.
- Scraping the ground after going potty – This is a sign of marking his territory.
- Tilts head – There are several reasons dogs tilt their head to the side. It could mean they heard or saw something, are showing empathy, expect something from you, or want attention.
Learn more about other common puppy behaviors and find a dog training course for your puppy to help them stop unwanted behaviors.