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Many dogs dislike being touched or patted on the top of the head. All it takes is a quick search on the internet to see countless photos of dogs showing stressed body language while being patted on the head. Body language signals your dog might exhibit are ducking away, lowering of the head, stepping away, putting the ears back, licking lips, or whale eye (whites of eyes visible).
Humans seem to be disposed to want to pat a dog on the head; this is likely for several reasons. A dog’s head is usually the closest part of the dog we can reach. For some dogs, we don’t even have to bend down to reach our dog’s head. Humans seem to mimic this behavior from other humans. Think of a parent lovingly stroking their child’s hair. Children may enjoy this, but most dogs do not.
Humans can also be quite rough when patting a dog on the head, and it may not be an enjoyable experience for your dog. Coupled with the fact that dogs inherently dislike something reaching down from above toward them, most dogs quickly learn to associate a hand reaching toward their head with discomfort or stress. This leads many dogs to become head shy, and they learn to duck out of the way of a hand reaching toward them. 
This can be an annoyance when you have to follow your dog across the room to put on his leash, or even downright dangerous if you need to grab your dog in an emergency and he ducks away from you.
But the good news is there are many things that you can do to prevent head shyness and even give your dog a positive association with someone reaching toward his head.
Other Kinds of Dog Body Language
Barking is another direct way your dog talks to you. During play, this behavior expresses pride and happiness, as if to state, “Look at me!”
If your pet barks when a stranger is near, they’re giving you a warning that says, “I’m not sure about this person.”
If you’re asking yourself, “Why does my dog bury his head in me?”, it’s likely a sign of affection. Nuzzling is a way for canines to express love. In some situations, depending on the context, it can also signal anxiety. They may bury their head in you for security.
When your dog wags their tail, they’re happy, right? Not all the time, say the experts. “Dogs use tail wagging to express a number of emotions beyond just being happy,” explains Dr. Miles Bensky. “You really need to look at the height at which they carry their tail and the speed of the tail wag to differentiate between various emotions.”
So how can you tell what your dog is saying with a wag? Here’s how to interpret the following wag traits:
For some breeds, holding the tail high or curved over the back with short, fast wags signals they need space. As Dr. Bensky mentioned, it depends on the height and speed of the wag.
Another canine body language cue is how their hackles, or hair on the back of the neck, react. When on alert, their hair stands up. Keep in mind that raised hackles don’t necessarily mean your dog is mad or afraid; they’re just being extra attentive to a person or situation.
A dog’s sense of smell is ultra-keen, and it’s one of the main ways they learn about the environment. Sniffing is a sign they’re curious and interested in making sense of an object. They could be trying to find or identify it or tell if another person or dog has been in the vicinity.
While dogs are limited in their facial expressions (compared to humans), there’s a definitive emotion being communicated when their mouth is open, tongue hanging out. Dogs smile when they’re happy and pleased.
If you want to better read dog body language, the best way is to spend as much time with your pet as you can. Engage them in a variety of situations, from playing games to taking leisurely walks. In turn, speak frequently—dogs understand tone of voice and volume. Don’t forget to be relaxed and smile often; they know the expression is a positive one.
With time together, youll learn to better speak each other’s languages. Eventually, you may even be able to identify one bark from another.
For more dog behavior tips from our experts, visit our Pet Expertise page.
After you learn the basic types of dog body language, spend some time observing dogs interacting with people and other animals in various situations. When two animals interact, their body language is almost like a conversation. It may even seem like a kind of dance. Much of the same can be seen between a human and a dog. With some practice, you will begin to see the subtleties of canine body language.
Do you know what is your dog trying to say? Knowing how to read your dogs body language is the key to understanding your dog. Because dogs are non-verbal, their body language does the talking for them. Vocalization takes second place to a dogs body language. By interpreting body language, you can assess a dogs attitude and possibly predict the next move. You can determine whether a dog is at ease or uncomfortable with a given situation.
Once you understand canine body language, it can do more than simply help you communicate with dogs. Reading a dogs body language can help protect you and your dog from dangerous situations. Without a sound, your dog can tell you that it senses a threat. When watching your dog interact with other dogs, you can watch its body language to see when harmless play may turn into a dog fight. Interpreting body language can also help with dog training and the identification of common behavior problems.
WHY do DOGS BOW their HEADS? (THE TRUTH)
When it comes to reading dog body language, some of your pet’s actions are crystal clear: A beeline for the front door when you come home means they’re happy to see you; staring at the treat jar says they’re craving a snack; and a lethargic walk suggests they may not be feeling well.
Other expressions, though, can be less obvious. As you share your life together, experiencing everything from camping trips to catnaps, you can learn to better understand your best friend—and strengthen your relationship—if you know how to interpret their way of speaking.
Research has established that dogs can understand over 150 cues. Some breeds—Labradors, Border Collies, Poodles, German Shepherds, Doberman Pinschers, Shetland Sheepdogs, and Golden Retrievers—can comprehend up to 250 words, signals and sounds.