How Do I Know If My Dog Is Happy? Here’s How to Tell—and How You Can Make Them Even Happier

You might be surprised at how easy it is to improve your four-legged best friend’s happiness. By Haylee Bergeland, KPA-CTP, CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA Updated March 08, 2023 Advertisement Pin FB More Tweet Email Send Text Message Print
woman giving dog belly rub Credit: Westend61 / Getty

Dogs do so much to enrich our lives. They make us laugh, they provide us company, they entertain us, and they don't judge our life choices (thankfully). Yes, doggos are truly our best friends, and we want to do our very best to return the favor. But how do we know if our dogs as are happy as they make us?

How to Tell If Your Dog Is Happy

While happiness is pretty subjective—in humans and pets—we know that happy dogs engage in a variety of activities. Sometimes a happy dog is one that is playing, other times a happy dog is one that is napping. "Since dogs are social animals, a happy dog will usually have a good balance of activity on his or her own, social activities with others in the home, and rest," says Irith Bloom, KPA-CTP, CDBC, CPDT-KSA.

When a dog is happy, or enjoying the activity they are doing, you will see it in their canine communication and body language. Differences in breed appearances can muddy the body language waters, but there are signals you can watch for.

A Happy Dog's Face Will Show:

Relaxed facial muscles
Brow is smooth & relaxed
Eyes appear "soft"
Ears are loose, relaxed
Slightly opened mouth
Lips appear wrinkle free

A Happy Dog's Body Will Show:

Running with a bouncy gate
Relaxed body muscles
Affiliative behavior (wanting to be close) or soliciting attention
Tail is loose, hanging naturally

"To ensure your dog is happy, give your dog a lot of options for ways to keep busy. Food toys, chew toys, walks, training time with you, and playtime with you are all part of a happy life. Dogs who get too little of these types of activity can get bored and depressed," Bloom says.

How To Tell if Your Dog Is Not Happy

The things that make us humans happy are not necessarily the same things that will make our dogs happy. While we may enjoy going to parties, hanging out at a festival, or going to a new friend's house for dinner, dogs don't. Not only is it unfair to force our likes on our pups, but it can create a stressed dog instead of a happy one.

Learning to recognize the signs of an unhappy dog can be a game of opposites. A tired dog might be worn out from having fun—or might actually be stressed. They may avoid food—or gobble it down too quickly. They may appear sluggish—or they may be overly rambunctious. And these are just a few examples. Learning the signs and signals exhibited by your own dog is crucial to recognizing their unhappiness. While this isn't an exhaustive list, here are some signals to watch out for.

A Stressed Dog's Face Might Show:

Tight, closed mouth
Ears back, tight against head, or alert
Whites of eyes easily seen
Avoidance of eye contact
Grimace appearance on face
Wrinkled skin around the mouth

A Stressed Dog's Body Might Show:

Stiff body posture
Tail tucked or very slowly wagging
Hackles up (hair on back)
Weight shifted forward
Cowering
Trembling or shaking

How to Increase Your Pet’s Happiness

One crucial thing that dog parents often forget when determining their dog's happiness is the ability to make choices for themselves.

Choice goes beyond just choosing which dog treat they like best or which squeaky toy will come home from the pet store. Choice involves letting a dog decide when, how, who, where, and what. It gives your dog the ability to say "No."

"It's important to give your dog permission to make choices," Bloom says. "Often, dogs don't have a choice about when or how they are petted. Most dogs also don't get to choose when and where to walk, or how fast (or slow) to move while on a walk."

Here are five ways you can give your dog choices and increase their happiness (and make the world a happier place for our four-legged friends).

The Choice to Not Be Touched

Dogs should be allowed to say no to being touched, petted, or hugged—and you should respect their decision.

The Choice to Leave a Situation

Never force a dog to remain in a scary situation and never restrict their ability to get away from something that makes them uncomfortable.

The Choice to Be in a Safe Space

Providing your dog a safe, quiet place they can retreat to where no one can bother them is an important way to keep your dog happy. This space should be available to them at all times.

The Choice to Not Train

Positive reinforcement training should always be fun. Sometimes your dog is just too tired or the environment is just too stressful. Your dog should be able to tell you when they feel up to the task, and you need to listen.

The Choice to Smell

Dogs experience the world through their nose. On walks, in your backyard, and at the park you should allow your dog plenty of time to enjoy sniffing and smelling their surroundings.

If you're ever concerned over your dog's behavior, or they appear less happy than before, make an appointment with your veterinarian right away to rule out any health issues.