Shih Tzu Body Language
Overview
Top 6 Types of Shih Tzu Body Language Signals for Communication
#1 Tail Position and Movement
Reading tail positioning with Shih Tzu dogs is diverse in some ways compared to canines in general, due to this breed’s natural tail set.
Curled over the back: For breeds like the Shih Tzu, their tails typically curl over their back. This is their relaxed and neutral state, indicating contentment.
Tail Height: Even in breeds with high-set tails, variations can be observed. When a Shih Tzu is highly excited or feels dominant, their tail might stiffen and the curl may become more pronounced. Conversely, if the tail uncurls and drops slightly, it can indicate a less confident or more relaxed state.
Tail Movement: The way the tail wags can also convey different emotions. A vigorous, fast-wagging tail, even in its high position, often signifies excitement or happiness. If the wagging involves the whole rear end, it's usually a sign of a very happy and relaxed dog.
Lowered Tail: If a Shih Tzu's tail is lowered or uncurled to the point where it's no longer in its natural high position, this can be a sign of anxiety, fear, or submission. This change from their typical posture is a clear indicator of their emotional state.
Tucked Tail: In extreme cases of fear or submission, a Shih Tzu might tuck their tail between its legs, a significant deviation from its usual high-set position. This is a universal sign of fear or submission across dog breeds.
Context and Other Signals: As always, it's important to consider the context and other body language cues when interpreting a dog's tail position and movement. For instance, a tail that's wagging rapidly in a high position might mean something different during play than in a new, potentially threatening situation. Observing changes relative to a Shih Tzu’s normal tail position is key in these cases.
#2 Ear Position
The position of a dog's ears is a crucial element in understanding their emotions and intentions, but this can be a bit more challenging to read with the Shih Tzu breed that has drop ears (aka floppy ears) which hang down along the sides of their face. The changes are often very subtle but are there.
Neutral Position: In a relaxed state, the ears of a Shih Tzu will hang naturally. They may not protrude prominently but will have a natural, easy drape, indicating the dog is in a comfortable and calm state.
Alertness: When alert or interested in something, a Shih Tzu might not be able to raise their ears upright, but you can still notice changes. The base of the ears may lift slightly, causing the ears to shift forward or the ears may rotate towards the direction of the sound or object of interest. This subtle movement is often more noticeable at the base than at the tips.
Fear or Submissiveness: In fearful, emotionally stressed or submissive states, a Shih Tzu may pull the base of their ears back against the head. This movement might not be as pronounced as it is in dogs with erect ears, but you can still observe a change in the positioning. The ears will appear more flattened against the head than in their natural hanging position.
Aggression or Tension: In cases of aggression or tension, the ears might stiffen and pull back slightly. This is a subtle cue, and you'll often need to look at it in conjunction with other body language signals, like the position of the tail or the posture of the body.
Observing the Whole Picture: It's important to remember that with long-eared dogs, ear positioning can be more subtle and should be interpreted in the context of other body language cues. Looking at the dog's eyes, mouth, tail, and overall posture will give you a more complete understanding of its emotional state.
#3 Eye Contact
The way your Shih Tzu looks at you can reveal a lot. Let’s look at how a Shih Tzu communicates with their eyes.
Prolonged Staring: Prolonged, direct eye contact can be a sign of challenge or aggression in dog language. This type of stare is often hard and unblinking. It can be seen in confrontations between dogs or in situations where a dog feels threatened.
Soft Eye Contact: This type of eye contact is characterized by relaxed, soft eyes, often accompanied by a blinking gaze. It's a sign of trust and affection. Shih Tzu dogs may offer soft eye contact to their trusted humans as a sign of comfort and connection.
Avoiding Eye Contact: Dogs often avoid eye contact to show submission or discomfort. This can be seen when a dog is being scolded or in an uncomfortable situation. It's a non-threatening way to communicate that they are not a challenge.
Whale Eye: This occurs when a Shih Tzu shows the whites of their eyes (sclera), often by turning their head away but still watching you. It's a sign of anxiety, stress, or fear. They may be feeling trapped or threatened.
Dilated Pupils: In addition to eye contact, the state of a dog's pupils can be telling. Dilated pupils can indicate high arousal, excitement, fear, or aggression. This change can happen quickly in response to stimuli.
Glancing or Looking Away: Glances towards or away from a person or another dog can be calming signals. Shih Tzu dogs do this to show they are not a threat or to calm themselves in a tense situation.
Squinting or Blinking Eyes: Squinting or blinking can indicate that a dog is feeling pain or discomfort. It can also be a submissive gesture in social interactions with humans or other dogs.
Context and Other Signals: It's important to consider the context and other body language cues, as the same type of eye contact can mean different things in different situations. Observing these subtle cues can help build a stronger, more empathetic bond with your sweet Shih Tzu.
#4 Mouth and Facial Expressions
There are several mouth and facial expressions a Shih Tzu can make that can mean certain things. Let’s take a look at these.
Relaxed Mouth: A relaxed mouth is often slightly open, with a lolling or gently panting tongue. This indicates a Shih Tzu is calm and comfortable. The mouth may close when a Shih Tzu is focused or attentive but without signs of tension.
Panting: Panting is typically done to cool down, but heavy panting can also be a sign of stress, anxiety, or pain, especially if it's out of context with the environment (like panting in a cool setting).
Lip Licking: If a Shih Tzu does quick flicks of the tongue over the lips, this can be a self-calming action, indicating they are feeling anxious or stressed and are trying to soothe themselves or diffuse tension.
Yawning: Like lip licking, yawning can be a sign of stress or anxiety in dogs. It can also be a calming signal, used to show that they are not a threat, especially in tense situations.
Baring Teeth: A dog showing its teeth, especially with a snarl, is a clear warning sign. It indicates aggression or fear and serves as a threat to back off. It's essential to take this sign seriously to avoid a potential bite.
Smiling: Some Shih Tzu appear to "smile" by pulling their lips back and panting, which typically indicates happiness and relaxation. However, it's important to differentiate this from baring teeth in aggression.
Furrowed Brow:
A furrowed brow or raised brow area can indicate confusion, curiosity, or concentration. It might occur when a Shih Tzu is trying to understand a command or is intrigued by a new object. And, of course, this is more noticeable if facial hairs are trimmed short or shaved.
#5 Body Posture
A Shih Tzu’s overall body posture can be very telling. Let’s look at the most common positions and what they can mean.
Relaxed Posture: A relaxed stance is characterized by a neutral back, neither stiff nor arched, and a tail in its natural position. The mouth may be slightly open, with a relaxed, lolling tongue.
Stiff or Alert Posture: This posture, often accompanied by a stiffened and/or more curled tail, indicates heightened alertness or potential aggression. A Shih Tzu’s weight might be distributed evenly or leaning slightly forward, ready to react.
Crouched or Submissive Posture: In a submissive posture, a Shih Tzu may crouch low to the ground, with their tail lowered and uncurled. This is a sign of submission or fear.
Play Bow: This is when the front end of a dog is lowered while the hindquarters are up in the air. It's a sign of playfulness and an invitation to play.
Rolling Over: When a dog exposes their belly, it’s often a sign of submission and trust.
Freezing or Stillness: A dog that suddenly becomes very still or "freezes" is indicating intense focus, which can be a precursor to aggression. It can also indicate fear, especially if the dog is cornered.
Leaning In or Away: A Shih Tzu leaning towards someone or something often indicates interest or affection. On the other hand, leaning away signifies discomfort or a desire to avoid interaction.
Pacing or Restlessness: A pacing Shih Tzu can be exhibiting signs of anxiety, nervousness, or excitement. It's essential to consider the context to understand the underlying cause. Lots of Shih Tzu with Separation Anxiety pace around.
Curled Up: A Shih Tzu curled up into a ball might be trying to conserve body heat or protect its vital organs, a behavior often seen when canines are resting or sleeping. However, if accompanied by other stress signals, it can indicate discomfort or unease.
Paw Lifting: A Shih Tzu lifting one paw in the air can be a sign of uncertainty or anticipation. In some contexts, it can also indicate interest in something or a mild form of anxiety.
#6 Sniffing
Canines have an incredibly keen sense of smell, and a lot of their communication and understanding of the world comes through their nose. Let’s look at the top reasons a Shih Tzu will sniff.
Information Gathering: Dogs use sniffing as a primary way to gather information about their environment, other animals, and people. Sniffing can tell them about the age, gender, general health status and even the emotional state of another dog or human.
Communication: Dogs also use scent to communicate with each other. They may sniff the ground where another dog has marked or left its scent. This is akin to reading a social 'bulletin board' where dogs leave messages for each other.
Calming Signal: Sniffing can be used as a calming signal in situations of stress or discomfort. If a Shih Tzu feels anxious or unsure, they might start sniffing the ground to calm themselves down or to indicate to others that it does not pose a threat.
Distraction or Avoidance: Sometimes, sniffing is used as a method to avoid interaction or to distract themselves from an uncomfortable situation. For instance, if a Shih Tzu is approached by a more dominant dog, it might start sniffing the ground to avoid confrontation.
Interest or Curiosity: A Shih Tzu intensely sniffing a particular object or area is often showing interest or curiosity. This could be in response to a new scent in their environment or something that has piqued their interest.
Tracking Behavior: Even breeds like the Shih Tzu that were not bred for hunting will have an urge to track certain scents. This focused and purposeful sniffing is used to follow trails or locate objects or people.
Sign of Health Issues: Excessive sniffing, especially if accompanied by other unusual behaviors, could sometimes indicate a health issue. For example, if a dog is constantly sniffing its own body, it might be experiencing discomfort or pain in that area. Or sniffing along with discharge can indicate your Shih Tzu has a cold or flu.
The Emotions of Fear, Happiness, Shyness and Contentment Through Body Language
The following summarizes all the body language cues for these 4 emotions.
Fear:
- Tail Position: The tail uncurls from its natural high-set, curled position and may be lowered or tucked between the legs.
- Eye Contact: Avoiding eye contact or showing "whale eye" (visible whites of the eyes).
- Ears: The ear base may be pinned closer to the head, though this change can be subtle due to the Shih Tzu’s drop ears.
- Body Posture: Crouched low to the ground, possibly trying to appear smaller.
- Mouth: Lips might be pulled back slightly; the dog could also yawn or lick its lips, indicating stress.
Happiness:
- Tail Position: The tail is held in its natural curled, high position and wags in a relaxed, circular or side-to-side motion.
- Eye Contact: Soft, relaxed eyes, possibly with blinking.
- Ears: Ears in a natural, resting position, neither pulled back nor stiffened.
- Body Posture: Relaxed posture, possibly with a playful bounce or wiggle.
- Mouth: The mouth may be open in a relaxed manner, with a lolling tongue.
Shyness:
- Tail Position: The tail might be lowered slightly from its natural curl, though not tucked completely.
- Eye Contact: Glances, avoiding prolonged eye contact.
- Ears: Ears held back slightly or in a natural, resting position.
- Body Posture: The body might be slightly lowered, with a hesitancy in movements.
- Mouth: Closed, or the dog might lick its lips nervously.
Contentment:
- Tail Position: Tail held in its natural high, curled position, possibly gently wagging.
- Eye Contact: Comfortable eye contact, neither hard nor avoiding.
- Ears: In a natural, resting position, indicating relaxation.
- Body Posture: Relaxed, possibly lying down or sitting with a calm demeanor.
- Mouth: Mouth closed or slightly open in a relaxed manner, with no tension around the lips.