What to look for
- A loose body. Muscles soft, weight spread evenly, nothing stiff or held.
- A relaxed tail, carried at their natural height and wagging in a loose, wide way, often with the whole back end joining in.
- A soft face. A relaxed jaw, perhaps the mouth slightly open with the tongue showing, and no tension around the eyes.
- Ears in their natural position, or gently forward with interest, rather than pinned back or pricked and fixed.
- The play bow: front end down, back end up, often with a bounce. It’s an invitation to play.
- Choosing to be close: lying near you, leaning against you, or resting in contact with another dog.
- Deep sleep, stretched out on their side or back.
Good play
When dogs play together, watch for turn-taking. They swap roles, chasing and then being chased, and a bigger, stronger dog will often hold back so a smaller one can keep up. Short pauses, a shake-off and then back to playing are good signs too.
Every dog is different
Some dogs are cuddly. Others are relaxed and content but don’t want much contact, and that’s fine too. Dogs also use physical contact with each other more sparingly than they do with people, so a pair that rarely touches can still be well bonded. A dog who chooses to lie in the same room as you, rather than on top of you, can be very settled.
Notice the moments
As well as noticing worry, notice these. The first time your new dog sleeps stretched out on their side, sniffs happily round the garden or wags their whole body when you come home is worth celebrating, and worth writing down. It’s your dog telling you they feel safe.