Is The Dog Really Happy?

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190 – May, 2025

By Chris Robinson

That’s a question many dog owners ask. So how do you tell if the dog is happy or not? Dog behavior is complicated, so it can be hard to determine whether a dog is happy, sad, or somewhere in between.

The first indication that a dog is happy is, not surprisingly, that they look happy. But you know, or should know, your dog better than anyone and that means you should know its personality. That often means there may not be a definitive answer to that question depending upon the dog’s personality. But, even the most stoic of breeds give you at least a hint when they are pleased with life in general–and life with you in particular.

My dogs, over the years, have often expressed their happiness while doing their work. All of them have pranced, head and tail up, when returning with a bird they have found and retrieved. Their whole attitude is one of “Look at what a clever dog I am to have found this pretty bird, captured it and now I’m bringing it as a gift to you.” Happy dogs also want to train. They get excited when it is time to do so. With Sporting breeds, (the exception being the Lagotto Romagnolo,) as well as with Hounds and some of the Terrier and Non-Sporting breeds, this can happen when you don hunting clothes, pick up a firearm, or grab dummies and whistles. For sled dogs, carting breeds, and tracking dogs, it’s when you pick up a harness. For Herding breeds, it’s when you grab your crook. If these breeds have been trained to do this work, when you take one of these actions, most will start to dance and bounce around. These are sure signs that a dog is happy in its work. Expect similar reactions to heading toward an agility course, when you’re starting to dig out obedience articles, head off to a barn, or when the dogs see the pool–when you do some of the other dog sports and the dogs love their work.

Click here to read the complete article
190 – May, 2025

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