Is My Dog Aggressive?

Many people find it difficult to decipher the body language, sounds and mannerisms of a playful dog and an aggressive dog. Dogs don’t use just one piece of body language to let others know their intent – they use a multitude of different signals together to convey a message, some of which can easily be missed by humans, leading to confusion.

You should also remember that, even if your dog does display some aggressive behaviour, it does not necessarily mean that your dog is actually aggressive. Most dogs, when frightened, provoked or distressed, can display defensive or aggressive body language and vocalisations. This is their way of protecting themselves and their owner.

The important thing is to make sure that you can distinguish aggression from play. Once you learn to recognise positive and negative body language in your dog, you should be able to get to the source of any potential aggression.

The following should help you to judge the difference between a relaxed, happy and aggressive dog. Please be aware that these behaviours are interchangeable. For instance, a growl accompanied by raised hackles and stiff legs can mean the dog is showing signs of aggression. However, a growl accompanied by a wagging tail and relaxed ears can be indicative of a more playful attitude.


A relaxed dog may show the following signs:

Eyes normal shape and size (not widened or narrowed to the extreme).

Mouth may be closed or open. The teeth may show slightly, but are not bared and the lips are loose. The tongue may be lolling out. The corners of the mouth may be slightly upturned, appearing as if the dog is ‘smiling’.

The tail may be relaxed and hanging in a natural position, which only the owner can judge by paying attention to the tail at home. It may also be wagging gently.

In the case of pricked or semi-pricked, ears are held comfortably in a neutral position. May be pricked forwards if the dog is interested in something.

Relaxed, loose muscles with the dog’s weight distributed evenly between all four legs. Movements loose and even.


A playful dog may show the following signs:

Eyes might be slightly wider than usual, or slightly narrowed.

Mouth may loll open with the tongue hanging out.

The tail may wag quickly from side to side or in a circular motion.

The ears may be pricked and facing forward, showing alertness. They may also be folded back against the head to show that they do not pose a threat.

Movement bouncy and jerky. Might play bow (the act of pressing the chest down to the floor, with front legs outstretched, and sticking the rump into the air) to encourage play from another dog and show that no aggression is intended. The dog may spin around in circles of bounce backwards and forwards.

Might ‘mouth’ at the other dog, if the play is rough. Playful mouthing shouldn’t draw blood.

High-pitched barking and growling may occur. Because vocalisations vary for each individual dog, it is important the owner pays attention to and recognises their own dog’s various vocalisations.

An aggressive dog may show the following signs:

Standing on tiptoes, with the neck arched and legs stiff. This may show dominance, rather than aggression, but owners should pay attention to the body language following, as well as the body language of the other dog.

Raised hackles. The hair along the spine may stand on end. Be aware that raised hackles can also show nervousness, excitement and cold.

Ears will most likely be pricked and forward-facing.

The tail may be raised up and held stiffly. It may ‘flag’, which is the act of holding the tail up high and waving it quickly and stiffly from side to side in small motions.

Staring directly at the other dog. The dog may blink frequently, which is an action intended to give the other dog the opportunity to break eye contact.

Lips may be tight and retracted, baring the teeth. The muzzle may be wrinkled. Lips pulled upwards, baring the front teeth, usually means the dog is issuing a warning for the other dog to stay away. Lips pulled tightly back towards the corners of the mouth, baring parts of the front and back teeth, may show fear or defensive aggression. Lips pulled upwards and backwards may indicate that the dog is preparing to bite.
Growls and barks may be used, usually in long, low, threatening tones. Snarls may also be used.

Eyes may be larger than usual, widened so that the whites are visible. A tell-tale sign that a dog is about to display aggressive behaviour is sidelong glances from the corners of widened eyes.

Muscles are likely to be tense a rigid, making the dog look bigger than usual. The neck and head may be raised above the height of the shoulders.

Weight may be centred on the forelegs, ready to spring forwards.

Biting. This is almost always preceded by a warning, such as the above signs.



Most of the above behaviours can be applied to situations between a dog and a human, as well.

If your dog has recently displayed aggressive behaviour, try to think about the situation he or she was in. Was it a stressful environment? Was there another dog behaving in a threatening manner? Was your dog being defensive or confrontational? Was there a potential threat nearby? All of this is extremely important.

Something else that you may take into account is the physical appearance of your dog. Breed-specific traits can lead to a confusion of body language between dogs. For instance, the long ears of a Basset Hound and the pricked or sometimes cropped ears of a Doberman are not as mobile as the ears of some other breeds, and therefore cannot display the same body language. The same goes for tails. It may be difficult for other dogs to recognise playful or aggressive behaviour in a dog with a docked tail.

Another important thing to consider is age. Many people label their puppy as aggressive because it nips, bites and/or growls a lot. Try to remember that puppies need to be taught what is and is not acceptable by your standards. When they are with their littermates, mouthing and growling is their way of playing and interacting. They won’t know that you dislike the behaviour until you teach them that.

Dog behaviour is a very complex subject, so you should always take time to get to know your dog and his or her mannerisms. This will help you to determine whether or not he or she is happy with a situation.

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