Last week, we talked about understanding dogs when they are relaxed and alert. It is our responsibility to make an effort to understand a dog’s body language, rather than expecting them to communicate with us. Part 2 goes deeper, into the body language dogs use to navigate social situations: dominant and submissive signals. This matters not just for understanding your own dog, but for anyone who spends time around stray dogs, a reality for most people in India. Knowing what a dog is communicating can prevent misreading, fear, and unnecessary conflict on both sides. More resources are available in the VOSD dog behaviour section.
Why Understanding Dog Body Language Matters
Dogs do not use words. Everything they communicate, comfort, confidence, uncertainty, threat, comes through posture, facial expression, ear position, tail carriage, and movement. The trouble is that humans often project their own interpretations onto these signals rather than reading what is actually being communicated.
A dog that approaches with a stiff, upright posture is not necessarily being friendly, even if their tail is moving. A dog who rolls onto their back is not necessarily happy, they may be frightened. Getting these signals wrong is how well-meaning interactions turn into bites. Understanding them correctly allows you to respond in ways that reduce tension rather than escalate it. The Pet Owner’s Guide to Dog Anxiety explores how misread signals can compound anxiety in dogs over time.
Recap – Relaxed vs Alert Dogs
A relaxed dog has a loose, fluid body posture, soft eyes, a mouth slightly open, a tail at a neutral level, and weight evenly distributed. They are at ease in their environment. An alert dog has shifted into attention: ears forward, posture upright, mouth closed, gaze directed at something specific. Alert is not aggressive; it is simply focused. Both are normal, healthy states. What we are looking at now is what happens when social dynamics come into play.
Dominant Behaviour in Dogs
Dominance in dogs is a social behaviour, a way of communicating rank and confidence within a group, most visible in interactions between dogs. It is not the same as aggression, though it can escalate into aggression if the communication is ignored or challenged. In street dog communities, especially, these signals serve to establish order without requiring every interaction to end in a fight. Anxiety and compulsive disorders in dogs provide context on how social stress can contribute to behavioural problems when these dynamics are mismanaged.
Signs of Dominant Dog Body Language
- Upright, forward posture, the dog stands tall, weight shifted slightly forward, trying to appear as large as possible
- Raised hackles, the hair along the spine stands up, signalling high arousal
- Stiff, slow movement, deliberate, controlled gait rather than loose or bouncy
- High, slow tail wag, not a friendly wag; a stiff, flag-like movement at or above back level signals confidence and potential challenge
- Direct, sustained eye contact, held without looking away
- Placing head or paws over another dog’s shoulders is a classic dominance gesture in dog-to-dog interaction
Dominance Aggression, and Discipline
When a dog feels their status is being challenged by another dog or by a human they do not recognise as a calm, reliable presence, dominant behaviour can shift into aggression. This is where physical punishment is both ineffective and counterproductive. It introduces fear and unpredictability without giving the dog any useful information about what is expected of them, and typically worsens the behaviour over time. Calm, consistent, boundaries-based leadership is what actually works. If a dog’s dominance-related behaviour involves heightened reactivity or anxiety, the side effects of anxiety medications in dogs are relevant if veterinary support is being considered.
Submissive Behaviour in Dogs
Submissive behaviour is the social counterpart to dominance, signals that say I am not a threat, I am not challenging you, let’s keep things calm. It is a natural and healthy part of how dogs communicate, and seeing it is not cause for concern. What matters is whether submission is relaxed and comfortable, or whether it is driven by fear. Separation anxiety in dogs explains how sustained fearfulness can reshape a dog’s overall behavioural baseline.
Signs of Submissive Dog Body Language
- Lowered their head and body posture, making themselves smaller
- Ears tilted back or flattened, pinned close to the skull
- Tail tucked low or between the legs
- Avoiding direct eye contact, looking away or showing the side of the face
- Slow, small movements, deliberate avoidance of anything that could be read as a challenge
- Licking the muzzle of a dominant dog is an appeasement gesture
Extreme Submission in Dogs
When submission goes beyond social signalling into fear-based behaviour, the signals become more intense. A dog who rolls onto their back and exposes their belly in this context is not inviting play or affection, they are communicating that it feels completely non-threatening and is asking not to be harmed. Freezing completely, urinating, or trembling while in this position are all indicators that the dog is frightened. These dogs need patience, quiet, and space, not reassurance delivered in an excited or high-pitched tone, which can increase arousal.
How to Respond to Dominant or Submissive Dogs
With a dominant dog: avoid direct eye contact, do not approach head-on, do not reach over the dog’s head, and move slowly and predictably. Give them the space to assess you without pressure. If the signals escalate, calmly increase distance, do not turn and run.
With a submissive or fearful dog: crouch low, turn slightly sideways, avoid direct eye contact, and let the dog come to you rather than moving towards them. High-pitched, excitable voices increase stress in already anxious dogs; calm, slow, low tones help.
Helping Anxious or Fearful Dogs Feel Safe
Many submissive behaviours, particularly the extreme ones, are rooted in anxiety rather than healthy social communication. These dogs need consistent routines, calm environments, and trust built gradually over repeated positive experiences. Forcing interaction, even with good intentions, sets trust-building back. Vet-considered calming support can help reduce baseline arousal while behaviour work progresses.
Conclusion
A dog is always communicating. The question is whether we are paying attention. Learning to read dominant and submissive signals accurately, not projecting, not guessing, changes how you interact with every dog you encounter, your own or someone else’s. It reduces conflict, builds trust, and makes you a safer, more aware presence around dogs.
