If you have a puppy and are fond of it, you must understand its behavior, needs, and maintenance to ensure good health and happiness. While we cannot teach you dog language, we can guide you to tell if your puppy is happy or unhappy with you.
Your dog shows some basic signs and gestures that may indicate their mood and what they want from you. Usually, dogs are highly expressive and are playful and active most of the time. Therefore, interpreting their mood might not be too difficult. However, if your pet shows certain signs you are unsure of, keep reading this blog to learn more about it.
Signs Your Puppy is Happy with You
Some obvious signs indicate a happy dog, easily deduced by their behavior. They often express themselves with their eyes, their wagging tail, their hanging tongue, the tone of their barking, or their breath.
Some breeds even make sad or happy faces. If your dog is hungry or at unease, it may be because of irritation and might follow you around. However, how can you be sure? Let us look at some signs that indicate that your puppy is happier.
Relaxed Body
The first and the most obvious thing to look for in assessing your dog’s mood is his body. If the body is relaxed and at ease, he is content. If you feel there are areas you’re not sure of, consider consulting with a vet like Paws, Claws & Tails.
The dog’s condition might need a professional diagnosis that can’t be understood by behavioral trends like expressions, stride behavior, and overall posture indicates that the dog is fine and there is no reason to worry. Though these gestures show that your dog is happy with you as the owner, only professionals can identify deeper psychological trauma.
Playfulness
When your dog is in a playful mood, understand that he is at his happiest. Dogs love playtime and going on walks. Long walks for dogs are like an adventure for them. Therefore, make sure that you walk your dog every day to ensure his happiness. No matter what breed your dog is, they all love walks and playtime.
Good Routine
If you have established a good routine for your dog by feeding him on time, making sure that he sleeps and wakes up on time, and gets his playtime, then that is a good sign. However, if your dog’s appetite suddenly drops or increases, it could be a sign of worry. If you switch dog food and stop eating it, he may not like the change.
Alternatively, if he is less active than usual, something might be wrong with his health. Dogs rarely get lazy. Only if your dog is getting old might he be getting lazy. If you have any doubts about his health, take him to the vet to get him checked out.
Puppy Dog Eyes and a Wagging Tail
These are the clearest and most common signs of a dog’s happiness. If he waggles his tail and shows you his puppy dog eyes, the chances are that he is happy with you and admires you. Dogs also show their affection by licking your face. If you praise your dog often, he will waggle his tail in happiness every time he does something good and pats him.
Signs Your Puppy is Unhappy with You
Just like there are signs of happiness, there are also signs of the unhappiness of your puppy. If your dog is sad or depressed due to losing a fellow dog, his owner, or a human friend, try to cheer him up. If nothing works and goes on for too long, it may lead to depression. Take him to the vet.
Other than a drastic change in a dog’s life, there are also some signs of routine unhappiness with an easy cure. Let us look at what they are.
Boredom
Sometimes, dogs also get bored. This happens when they get little playtime and interaction with other dogs or humans they like. Dogs are very social. They are happier around others. Therefore, make sure they engage in plenty of physical and social interactions.
Aggressive Behavior
If your dog starts to get violent or aggressive, signs are he might be trying to warn you of something or something is irritating him. This could also be a sign of depression. Try to figure out the reason for this behavior and calm him down by giving him his favorite toys.
Excessive Chewing
When dogs lick themselves, they are trying to soothe themselves. However, if it becomes too excessive, try ruling out any bug bites or skin infections. Some dogs also love chasing bugs. Chances of insect bites are greater. Therefore, keep checking them to make sure they are all right.
Destructive Behavior
At times, dogs express their aggression by displaying destructive behavior. They might tumble down your furniture, knock someone over, and ruin your couches and sofas while not listening to you. If this is an uncommon behavior, it is a sign of emotional distress.
Try to distract them by focusing their aggressive energy on physical exercises and long walks. This typically cheers up dogs. Alternatively, they might be lonely and require the company of another dog. Take them to the dog park often to play with other dogs.
