Dog Behavior & Training Glossary
Dog behavior can be confusing, especially when the same behavior gets described ten different ways online. Search by term, category, or the signs you are seeing.
58 terms found
Canine Communication
Freezing
A sudden pause or complete stop in movement that may signal uncertainty, conflict, fear, guarding, or preparation to act.
Social and Greeting Behaviors
Greeting Frustration
Barking, pulling, whining, or lunging when a dog wants social access but cannot reach the person or dog.
Canine Communication
Growling
A low vocal warning or communication signal that may indicate discomfort, fear, conflict, guarding, pain, or play.
Canine Communication
Hackles
Raised hair along the shoulders, back, or tail caused by autonomic arousal.
Canine Communication
Hiding
Moving behind furniture, people, walls, crates, or other cover to reduce exposure to something concerning.
Household Behaviors
House Soiling
Urination or defecation indoors when the location is inappropriate for the household.
Social and Greeting Behaviors
Jumping
Placing the front paws or body onto a person, object, door, or surface, often during greetings or excitement.
Leash and Movement
Leash Pulling
Forward, sideways, or backward pressure that keeps the leash tight or moves the handler.
Canine Communication
Lip Licking
A quick tongue movement over the lips or nose that may appear with anticipation, uncertainty, stress, or social pressure.
Leash and Movement
Lunging
A sudden forward movement toward a person, dog, object, sound, or other trigger.
Social and Greeting Behaviors
Mounting
Placing the front legs over and thrusting against another dog, person, object, or bedding.
Social and Greeting Behaviors
Mouthing and Nipping
Using the mouth on hands, clothing, leashes, or bodies without a full-force bite.
Household Behaviors
Object Stealing
Taking and carrying household items, clothing, food, or objects that are not intended for the dog.
Behavioral Issues
Overarousal
Overarousal is a state in which excitement, stress, frustration, or stimulation rises beyond a dog’s ability to think clearly and regulate its behavior.
Leash and Movement
Pacing
Repeated walking along the same path or through the same area, often associated with anticipation, distress, discomfort, or inability to settle.
Canine Communication
Panting
Rapid open-mouth breathing that may reflect heat, exercise, pain, stress, excitement, or illness.
Canine Communication
Paw Lift
Holding one front paw off the ground, which may appear during uncertainty, anticipation, pointing, or social tension.
Social and Greeting Behaviors
Play Biting
Mouth contact that occurs during play and may become too hard, persistent, or poorly controlled.
Social and Greeting Behaviors
Play Bow
A lowered front end with the rear raised, commonly used to invite or maintain play.
Social and Greeting Behaviors
Predatory Behavior
A quiet sequence that may include orienting, stalking, chasing, grabbing, biting, and shaking.
Behavioral Concerns
Reactivity
An intense response to a trigger that may include barking, lunging, pulling, freezing, spinning, or difficulty disengaging.
Canine Communication
Recovery Time
Recovery time is the period a dog needs after stress, excitement, frustration, fear, or intense activity before returning to a more functional baseline.
Behavioral Concerns
Resource Guarding
Behavior used to maintain access to food, toys, spaces, stolen objects, or other things a dog values.
Household Behaviors
Scavenging
Searching for and consuming discarded food, trash, animal remains, or other edible material.