Travis FullerA loose, open mouth with the tongue out almost always means a relaxed, happy dog. A yawn is trickier: it can mean sleepy or it can mean stressed. Bared teeth are a real warning. Here’s what eight common dog gestures you’ll see every day actually mean.
Updated November 2, 2026.
Dogs aren’t mysterious. They don’t hide how they feel, they’re seldom subtle, and they’re not good at being sneaky. If a dog is happy, it’s hard for him to hold it in. If he’s down, you can see it in how he acts. Anyone who has watched a dog hear the word “walk” knows how little he hides. If you’re having trouble reading your pup, here are some common gestures he makes every day and what they could mean.
Wide Mouth, Tongue Lolling
A dog’s face often shows the same feelings ours do. When a person smiles, they’re either really happy or at least trying to be. It’s the same for dogs. If your dog’s mouth hangs loosely open and his tongue is lolling out while you’re on a walk together on a sunny day, you’ve got a happy dog. His nose is full of outdoor smells, there are other animals around to listen to, and his pack is right next to him. He may feel calm, content or flat-out thrilled. It’s about as close to a smile as a dog gets, and it’s unlikely he’s anything but a happy camper.
Pawful Playfulness
Lots of dogs raise a paw when you’re holding something they want. They’re pointing their pack leader right at it. With my own dog, Spud, I learned early that if I was holding food or a treat, he’d lift a paw in anticipation. That was him saying “I want that, please.” Call me a selfish dog owner, but I’ll admit I took advantage of it. I tied the word “paw” to a treat, and now he politely expects one every time he lifts it.
Sleepy Pup, or Something Else?
What does it mean when a dog yawns again and again? Is he short on beauty sleep? Is he bored or annoyed by your silly antics? Probably not. A yawn isn’t always about being tired. VCA Animal Hospitals calls yawning and nose-licking “ambivalent behaviors,” signs a dog is unsure about what’s going on. Sometimes it means a dog is overstimulated and trying to settle himself down. It also shows up a lot in training, when he can’t work out what you’re asking and the yawn is his way of showing he’s frustrated.
It can mean relaxed, too. Spud yawns over and over while he’s getting a belly rub, and that’s just him telling me to keep going. What’s happening around the yawn tells you which kind you’re looking at. Most of us have yawned in a meeting that had nothing to do with being tired, so it’s easy to see how a yawn can mean more than one thing.
Lip Licking
Dogs mostly lick their lips to calm things down with another dog, a person or whatever they’re facing. It can also mean he feels nervous or curious about something that’s about to happen. VCA lists a tongue flick among a dog’s appeasement signals. You’ll see it at the dog park, at a stranger’s house, at the vet or the groomer, or anywhere new. Most of us know how it feels to walk into a place where we don’t know anyone, and dogs get that feeling too. When you see it, give your dog a little comfort and help him settle.
Rolling Onto Their Back
A lot of people read a dog on its back as pure submission, as if he’s bowing to his owner. The truth is a little different. When a dog shows his belly to you, he’s telling you he’s no threat and won’t pounce. It’s a comforting gesture, and it often shows he trusts you. With a dog who knows you, a back-roll at the door is a welcome home and an open request for attention. He’s thrilled you’re back from whatever you got up to all day. VCA Animal Hospitals adds a caution worth knowing: rolling over can also be a sign of fear or extreme submission, and it may come with urination. So look at the rest of the dog. Loose and wiggly is a hello. Stiff and tucked is a scared dog.
Bared Teeth
It’s unsettling to see your dog bare his teeth at someone, or at you. Take it seriously. VCA Animal Hospitals describes lips curled into a snarl, showing the teeth, as a step in a growing aggressive display, and says a dog may snap as a final warning. Fear is a common cause, and so is a dog guarding his food, toys or space. That can get dangerous fast, especially with kids in the house. Figure out what’s setting him off and take it out of the picture.
Hind-Legged Hello
When a dog rears up on his hind legs and almost dances, that’s eager affection. Maybe he just woke up from a long nap and wants to go outside, chase a ball or tag along on your family summer activities. Maybe you’ve been gone a while and he’s thrilled you’re home. Anyone who has come home to a dog acting like you’ve been gone for years knows the feeling. If he suddenly stands up like a person, don’t worry. He’s just happy.
Head Tilt
The head tilt is one of the sweetest things a dog does. It usually means he’s curious and trying to figure something out, a bit like a person nodding along while they work through what you said. Most of us tilt our own heads when something doesn’t quite make sense, and dogs do the same.
Dogs read our body language to understand us, and a long snout can block part of the view. Tilting the head may help them see past it and get a clearer look at your face or whatever caught their interest.
Common Dog Gestures: FAQ
Does a dog yawn mean it’s tired?
Not always. VCA Animal Hospitals calls yawning and nose-licking “ambivalent behaviors,” which means the dog is unsure about what’s happening. A dog that yawns during training may be confused, and one that yawns in a busy room may be overstimulated. A dog yawning through a belly rub is just relaxed. Look at what’s going on around the yawn to tell which it is.
Does rolling onto its back always mean a dog wants a belly rub?
No. With a dog who knows you, a back-roll is often a happy hello and a request for attention. VCA Animal Hospitals notes that rolling over can also be a sign of fear or extreme submission, and it may come with urination. Check the rest of the body. A loose, wiggly dog wants attention. A stiff dog with its tail tucked is scared.
Why do dogs lick their lips when they’re not eating?
It’s usually an appeasement signal, a way of calming a tense moment with a person or another dog. VCA Animal Hospitals lists a tongue flick among those signals. You’ll often see it at the vet, the groomer, the dog park or a stranger’s house. When you notice it, give your dog some space and a little reassurance.
What should I do if my dog bares its teeth?
Take it seriously. VCA Animal Hospitals describes a snarl with the teeth exposed as part of an escalating aggressive display, and says a dog may snap as a final warning. Fear and guarding food, toys or space are common causes. Figure out what triggered it and remove that trigger instead of pushing closer, especially if children are around.
Madeline Marshall
Del Bailey