In this 2024 review, Prottoy Bhadury and Arundita Bhattacharjee analyzed a wide range of canine behaviors to understand how dogs communicate stress, emotion, and social intent through body language, vocalizations, and environmental responses. Their study sheds light on how factors such as stress, social interaction, breed tendencies, and evolutionary influences shape behavioral expressions.
The authors highlighted key communication signals including yawning, blinking, sniffing, tail wagging, growling, ear posture, and pawing. These cues are shown to reflect not only behavioral intention but also deeper emotional states such as anxiety, arousal, fear, relaxation, and affection.
Particular emphasis was placed on how stress triggers observable physiological and behavioral shifts. For example:
• Yawning may signal conflict, anxiety, or emotional regulation.
• Ear posture communicates alertness, fear, or social engagement.
• Tail movement varies in direction, speed, and elevation to indicate stress, excitement, or social intent.
• Paw lifting, lip licking, and blinking often reflect uncertainty, appeasement, or submissive emotional states.
The review also examines social interactions, noting that dogs use nuanced combinations of visual, auditory, and olfactory signals to communicate with both humans and other dogs. Breed-specific traits influence how these signals are expressed and interpreted, underscoring the importance of considering genetic and evolutionary context.
By synthesizing contemporary research, the authors conclude that understanding canine communication signals is critical for strengthening human–dog relationships, improving training outcomes, and advancing animal welfare practices. Recognizing subtle emotional indicators helps prevent miscommunication, stress escalation, and unwanted behavioral responses.
Source: Bhadury, P., & Bhattacharjee, A. (2024). Unraveling Canine Behavior: Insights into Communication Stress Signals, and Social Interactions. International Journal of Research and Innovation. Published 2024.
