HAPPY DOG – Is Your Dog Happy?
When we talk about having a heathy, happy, well-adjusted dog we are talking about a well-rounded dog. One component that relates to a well-rounded dog is to have a happy dog – Is Your Dog Happy? Wouldn’t it be nice if dogs could talk and let us know what makes them happy? I would say yes as I would love to know what they are saying; however, we all know that is not possible. What can we do as dog owners to know if our dog is a happy dog?
As dog owners, many of us consider our dogs as part of the family. Though dogs live simple lives, nevertheless, they are dexterous of possessing the same emotional complex as humans. Saying whatever is affecting them is impossible but they can show some features that will enable their owners to pinpoint problems or how they are feeling.
In order to make these best companions active and healthy, it is essential for the owner to make them happy. So, how do you know precisely what these furry pals are thinking and if they are happy? Dogs can express their emotions in several ways. It is now, the duty of the pet owners to recognize these indicative signs. The relationship between pup and owner can be strengthened and the dog will be happy if the owners know how to read an emotion of the dog.
IS YOUR DOG HAPPY?
The kind of love a dog has for their humans is generally unconditional love, you are their world and you mean everything to them. Notwithstanding, this does not indicate that your pet is happy. Is your dog actually happy or it is just your imagination? This is a question that everyone who owns a dog should ask himself or herself.
In order to take the responsibility of caring for your furry pals, it is necessary we learn as much as possible about our dogs, to know what makes them happy and what will cause depression in them. Knowing this will make you avoid the unwanted circumstances of an unhappy dog, which can result in sickness and other unwanted situations.
The good news is, it is very easy to know if your dog is happy, or if changes need to be made. Giving good attention to his attitude and examination of some body parts are what you need to do to determine their happiness in most cases. There are some signs that every single dog owner should know in order to understand and know if their dog is truly happy. If you find that you dog is not showing these signs, there are immediate changes to help correct this anomaly situation.
HOW WOULD YOU KNOW IF YOUR DOG IS HAPPY
Dogs when becoming anxious often show some subtle signs, like avoiding eye contact with their humans; however, not all animals are the same even as they mature, there may be a change in their level of activity and sociability. Getting to know your dog and learning the following signs will help you understand when your dog is happy and more essentially, healthy.
PUPPY DOG EYES: Dogs that are happy have relaxed eyes and eyelids. Dogs with narrowed eyes and a hard gaze show the sign of aggression according to Pet MD Beth Mullen director of behavior and training at Washington Human Society. She also indicates that if your dog is frightened the eyes become wide, specifically when the whites are showing.
An official statement issued sometime ago according to the American Society for the prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), talks about dogs and their eyes. It was said, that the normal shape of the dog eyes is an indication that your dog is happy; moreover, changes in their shapes indicate something is wrong.
Close attention should be paid to the appearance of your dog’s eyes whenever your dogs commence in different activities at different times of the day. After a while of observing your dog, there will be a realization of some differences that you will start to notice. Seeing the differences in you dog’s eyes can quickly pinpoint when the pet is not happy and what your dog is trying to say.
Sometimes it is normal to see your dog sad prior to leaving your home for work since they realize this will happen and know your routine. They have mastered your program and foresee you’re leaving. In this case, you need to provide some sort of exercise or entertainment to ease them and keep them amused while you are away.
GOOD SLEEP: When it is about time for your dog to sleep, does your pet look for a place that will be comfortable and good spot to settle in and fall into a pattern of deep sleep. A happy dog will sleep well.
You can tell the dogs that are stressed as the dog will wake up, stand, look for another spot, fall asleep and continue this pattern, which can lead to troubles in their health due to not acquiring a good relaxed state, enough to fall into a deep sleep. A term of relaxation is purely absent?
Whenever you observe your dog is not able to get into that deep sleep or not able to relax, you can visit your veterinarian as this may be a health concern. If all is well, there may be a need to see a trainer to help with issues that may be causing your dog to live in stress and may help the dog to find that more relaxed state.
RELAXED MOUTH: A relaxed and happy dog has his mouth closed or slightly opened. In addition, you can read the mood by paying attention to the changes in your dog’s body language. If a dog is panting with an open mouth, that may be due to your dog being hot, stressed or sometimes in pain. In such a case, the dog is not happy; you can try to provide cooling or removing what you might feel the cause of stress and if that is not the problem you might consult your veterinarian.
A happy dog will have his weight evenly distributed and will be relaxed. The way the dog carries herself runs or plays with you also indicate if your dog is happy. A dog showing signs of physical stress constitutes that something is wrong with your pet and there is a need to act quickly. There is a possibility that your dog is feeling some pain or some discomfort that makes her unhappy. Give her quick attention to see what is really happening.
Another cause of destructive behavior in dogs is separation anxiety. A happy dog will not look for entertainment sources; he will just look for his favorite chew toy and start chewing on that even when he wants something.
THERE WILL BE A HAPPY APPETITE: A happy dog will generally eat without any problems, though there may be some cases where dogs will be picky and will not eat. There are some signs of a problem when you discover your dog stops eating. One of the problems may be your dog is missing someone or lonely. It may also be due to a medical problem; in this case, you need to consult your veterinarian.
Research has shown that when dogs miss their owners they may literally starve themselves. There is a need to take some steps to ensure your dog is happy if he is not eating regularly without any medical condition. The dog may need a show of more affection or spending more time with the owner.
ACTIVENESS: Happy dogs are generally always active of course this can also depend on the breed. They should not sleep for a whole day and want to get out even for a brief stroll around the yard to see what the outside world has to offer. While health and age play a factor, a happy dog is mostly seen moving up and down throughout the day chewing on toys and examining their environment. Something may be wrong with a dog that is abnormally quiet. It is really important to know your dog and understand what they do.
WANTS MOMENT OF SILENCE: Many dog owners may not know this, a happy dog sometimes may stay close to their owner, even with their body really close to them or with the head on the lap. It shows that the dog is happy to be together with you and this is a state of relaxed happiness.
LOVE PLAY TIME: Happy dogs take pleasure in play time and walks. A dog that is unusually quiet or cautiously plays may indicate the dog is not feeling well. A happy dog will invite you to play with him having his rump high in the air, wagging his tail and strongly look at you, while having an open mouth, this is a general sign that the dogs desire to play.
The dog that has confidence in you and is happy is the one that will invite you to play with him. But if you are the one that wants to play with him and he does so in a submissive form, he is only following a command, he is unhappy. An unhappy dog will hold his tail in between his legs bow down in a submissive manner and he expects your call command.
TAIL BEHAVIOR: Wagging of tails in a way that involves the whole body is a sign that your dog is happy and excited. A dog that is likely happy will have his wagging tail soft and loose and generally held on the body in a more neutral position. According to research, a relaxed dog will hold his tail in its natural position and when feeling happy may wag it kindly from side to side.
One sign of trouble is when a dog is wagging their tail from side to side low and quick this normally is an indication that there is trouble ahead and the dog may not trust the situation, if this happens keep a watch to see what is stressing your dog.
EXCITED: Excitement plays a big part in a happy dogs life as they will be so excited to see you if you have been gone and will enjoy doing things together. Most of the time a happy dog will enjoy walks and playtime with their humans.
There is a sign of something wrong with your best friend if he never gets excited when you come home and most especially what doing the things he loves most, if you find this is the case visiting a veterinarian may be the best option at this junction.
BARKS HAPPILY: Happy dogs usually have a higher pitched bark than unhappy ones. The bark usually lasts for a shorter period of time. Barking many times is your dog trying to communicate with you, letting you know someone is there, wanting out ect…judging a dog on barking should not be the only consideration to determine if you dog is happy as there are many other signs to watch for.
THE COAT MUST BE HEALTHY: Happy dogs usually are healthier and have a healthier coat. You may find that unhappy or stressed dogs will seem to shed off more. Some of the time the skin may appear to be peeling. Eventually, skin problems can even be a sign of disease, visit your veterinarian to get your dog checked for problems related to the skin and fur.
THEY ENJOY COMPANY OF OTHER DOGS: The happy dog will be friendly to other dogs and be social when playing at the dog park. He will not be aggressive to new animals. Happy dogs like making new friends, but always watch the behavior of your dog and the behaviors of other dogs there might be something about the other dog that does not set well.
My Thoughts on Is Your Dog Happy?
So taking everything here into account of a Happy Dog – Is Your Dog Happy? I feel that most owners can really come to a conclusion by just getting to know your dog and determining what your dog needs from you.
If you find your dog is unhappy, you may need to take you dog out for more walks, or have more training sessions and enjoy playtime more often or maybe just some quiet time curled up on the couch. A dog loves unconditionally and to have a dog that is unhappy is normally seeking more physical or emotional attention from the owner. If this does not seem to help, there could be an underlying health issue that has gone undiagnosed.
Dogs are normally happy by nature; however, dogs do have feelings just like people and different circumstances may cause for an unhappy dog. Know the signs and help keep our dogs healthy, happy and well-adjusted.
I would love to hear your thoughts on a happy dog, please leave them below.
Thank you for this very helpful article. As I read about all the signs that can tell us if our fur friend is happy, I recalled all the cute and lovely gestures my late Perdy did.
She definitely showed lots of signs of happiness. Of course, there were times when she did naughty things, and she showed signs of guilt. That cute little body running away to hide because she knew she was about to get a good scolding. haha
But as I read your article, each point reminded me of her smile, her eyes, her happy everything. I remember how when she was very ill, she even managed to smile and greet me at the door when I came home from work. She was an angel.
Now, I look forward to the day when I am ready to have another fur friend. And have more happy times. Thank you.
Thanks for reading my article and leaving a comment. I am so glad that you are able to look back and see the signs that you fur friend, Perdy was truly happy. I am sure it is a good feeling knowing you provided a happy life for her and understand how they can make our lives a lot happier as well. I am happy that you are looking for more happy times ahead with a new fur baby.
Hello Dena,
This is a very informative and engaging post. Apart from the distinctive behaviors that a happy dog displays, I was intrigued as to how close some of the behavior mimics our own human behavior. For example, happy people in general like to be around other people—especially loved ones and friends. People who are unhappy or depressed often often isolate themselves from their community and want to be alone. A happy dog will want to spend time with his family and will come to you for attention. Of course, there are differences in personalities that need to be taken into account, but for the most part, a happy dog wants to hang out with his people. Lack of activity and not eating well are also signs that can point to both an unhappy dog and an unhappy human. In short, if we recognize when we are unhappy it may make it easier to pick up on when our furry friends are having a bad day. You did an excellent job of informing us on how we can help. Very fine post. I enjoyed reading it.
Thanks for leaving a comment and Thanks for the compliment. I appreciate you helping us understand how closely related our hounds emotions really are to our own. It is important to watch for the signs and try to figure out what our furry friend is going through as it not only makes for an unhappy dog but can also deteriorate their health just as it can for humans.