Happiness doesn’t mean tongue out, panting and running like a lunatic. Yes, sometimes it does, like when a favorite toy is involved.
However, not every dog should look like that all the time… especially when not much is going on around them.
Dogs shouldn’t just toggle between sleeping and crazy time, there needs to be an in between! Every dog (like humans) needs an off switch. It’s a healthy practice for us and for them.
A dog that’s spinning in circles, jumping up and down, or barking and yipping is not a happy dog. These are all signs of over-excitement. The dog has excess energy, and the only way her brain knows how to deal with it is to work it off physically.
Unfortunately, people often interpret these signs as happiness. Many also tend to think that it’s cute when a dog acts like this, and wind up unknowingly encouraging the behavior.
So if we don’t look at this from an excitement point of view, how can we tell if a dog is truly happy while calm?
Comfortable Ears
The ASCPA notes that a happy, relaxed dog will “hold his ears naturally.” This will depend on your specific dog, with a lot depending on his breed and where their ears sit.
Relaxed Mouth
When your dog is relaxed and happy, he’s likely to have his mouth closed or slightly opened. Again, pay attention to the changes in your dog’s body language to read his mood. (Note: a dog that is panting with their mouth open could be hot or stressed. This is not a happy dog).
Relaxed Eyes
When your dog is relaxed and happy, his eyes will be their normal shape. Pay attention to the way your dog’s eyes look when doing different activities or during different times of the day. You’ll start noticing the differences and will be able to read your dog’s mood better.
Now that we know this, how can we curb a dogs excitement while still making sure they are happy?
Encourage Calm Behavior
This is a huge step in any dog training. When your dog is in a calm, submissive state, then you can give affection and attention, which will reinforce that state. If your dog is treat motivated, then reward his behavior when he is calm.
Don’t Encourage Over Excitement
The most important thing to remember when your dog approaches you with excitement is that what you do will determine whether such behavior becomes more or less frequent. The worst thing you can do is give affection or attention to an excited dog. This is just telling him that you like what he is doing. He’ll learn that being excited gets a reward, so he’ll keep doing it.
Keep on Living Life with Your Best Friend!
