After years of training dogs with all kinds of behavioral issues, I've learned that a dog's face tells a story long before they bark, growl, or bite. Just like people, dogs make facial expressions every day, but unlike us, their expressions often mean something completely different than what we'd expect.
The Misunderstood Yawn
When most people see their dog yawn, they think "oh, he's tired." But in my experience working with hundreds of dogs, yawning is usually a stress signal. It's one of the first signs I look for when a dog is feeling overwhelmed or conflicted about a situation.
I see this constantly during training sessions. A dog will yawn right in the middle of learning a new command, and the owner will say "I guess we should stop, he's getting sleepy." But that yawn is actually telling me the dog is feeling pressured and needs a moment to decompress.
Yawning serves as what we call an "appeasement signal" - it's the dog's way of saying "hey, let's all just calm down here." When I see a dog yawning during training, I take a step back, lower my energy, and give them some space to process.
Lip Licking: The Polite "Back Off" Signal
Another signal that gets completely misread is lip licking. When a dog quickly flicks their tongue out to lick their lips or nose, they're not thinking about their next meal - they're asking for more space.
This is what I call a "distance increasing signal." The dog is politely saying "please give me some room." I've seen this happen countless times when someone approaches a dog too quickly or when a dog is feeling cornered.
The key is that these lip licks are usually fast and repetitive. If you see your dog doing this, especially around strangers or in new situations, respect what they're telling you and create some distance.
The Averted Gaze: Not Ignoring, Communicating
When a dog turns their head away and won't look at you, most people think the dog is being stubborn or ignoring them. But this averted gaze is actually sophisticated communication.
Dogs use this signal to de-escalate tension. By looking away, they're saying "I'm not a threat, let's keep this peaceful." It's particularly common in dogs who are feeling stressed or overwhelmed.
I teach my clients to recognize this signal and respond appropriately. Instead of forcing the dog to "pay attention," give them the space they're asking for. You'll often find that once the pressure is off, the dog becomes much more willing to engage.
Furrowed Brows: The Warning Sign
One of the most important facial signals I watch for is the furrowed brow. When a dog's forehead gets wrinkled and tense, it's often a precursor to aggressive behavior.
This is especially critical when working with reactive dogs. Those tense wrinkles above the eyes tell me the dog is getting worked up and might be heading toward a snap or bite. When I see this signal, I immediately change what we're doing to help the dog calm down.
On the flip side, soft, relaxed brows with minimal wrinkles tell me a dog is calm and ready to work. This is the facial expression I'm aiming for in all my training sessions.
Reading the Whole Face
The key to reading facial expressions is looking at the entire face, not just one feature. A dog might have soft eyes but a tense mouth, or relaxed ears but a furrowed brow. These mixed signals often indicate internal conflict - the dog isn't sure how they feel about the situation.
What This Means for You
Understanding these facial signals can transform your relationship with your dog. Instead of pushing through when your dog is showing stress signals, you can respond to their communication and help them feel more comfortable.
Remember, these signals are your dog's way of trying to communicate politely. When we ignore them, dogs often feel they have to escalate to more dramatic behaviors to get their point across.
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