19 Dog Gestures and What They Mean

Dogs read our gestures, like pointing, better than any other animal. Neither wolves nor chimpanzees follow our gestures as well as dogs. But are we equally adept at reading our dogs’ gestures? 

Dogs learn to understand human gestures from a young age, looking when we point to an object on the ground (Research has shown that puppies can follow a human pointing gesture by just six weeks of age) or sitting when we motion to do so (when they feel like it). The ability to non-verbally communicate in a consistent way and elaborate on a gesture if the desired action isn’t undertaken is called referential gesturing, and it is a surprisingly rare trait in non-human species. A new study, however, provides strong evidence that dogs use these gestures during every day communication with us.

In order to investigate “cross-species referential signaling events in domestic dogs,” researchers at the University of Salford in Greater Manchester followed 37 dogs and their owners, recording all communications to identify the gestures most commonly used by dogs and decode what corresponding actions the dogs wanted undertaken. The study found four main desired outcomes the dogs were attempting to communicate: Give me food/drink (unsurprisingly), as well as Scratch me, Open the door, and Get my toy/bone. 

According to the study’s findings, the most common gestures you may see your furry friend making and the four desired actions they could be indicating are:

Head Turn—Your dog looks at an object, looks at you, looks back at the object. He’s saying, “Fill my food bowl!” or “I want to go outside,” depending on what he’s looking at.

Licking—Your dog wants pets or scratches. Don’t leave him hanging!

Flicking a toy—Your dog holds a toy in his mouth and throws it forward toward you, he wants something to eat or drink.

Rolling over—Your dog wants scratches, and is using body language to direct petting towards his belly.

Plunging Head-First under an object or human—Get my toy or bone!

Understanding what your dog is trying to communicate via gestures can go a long way towards strengthening your bond and making sure your dog’s needs are taken care of. 

Read on for all 19 of the study’s recorded canine actions and their corresponding meanings.

Roll over = “scratch me; rub my tummy” Rolling onto one side of the body and exposing the chest, stomach and groin

Head under = “get me my toy” Plunge headfirst underneath an object or human

Head forward = “scratch me or give me food/drink” (also less frequently used for “open the door) Move the head forwards and up to direct a human’s appendage to a specific location on the body

Hind Leg Stand = “I’m hungry or I want your attention” Lift front paws off the ground and stand on hind legs, front paws are not resting on anything

Back leg up = “scratch me” Lifting of a single back leg while lay on one side of the body

Head turn = “get me that” Head is turned from side to side usually between a human and an object of interest

Shuffle = “scratch me” Shuffle whole body along the ground in short movements, performed whilst in roll over position

Paw hover = “give me that object I desire” Hold one paw in mid-air whilst in a sitting position

Crawl under = “get me my toy” Move entire or part of body underneath an object or a human’s appendage

Jump = “give me food/drink OR open the door” Jump up and down off the ground, human or an object, usually while staying in one location

Flick Toy = “feed me/give me something to drink” Hold toy in the mouth and throw it forwards, usually in the direction of a human

Paw reach = “give me that” Placing a single paw or both paws underneath another object to retrieve an object of apparent interest

Nose = “scratch me” Pressing nose (or face) against an object or human

Lick = “pet me” Licking an object or human once or repetitively

Front paws on = “open it” Lifting both paws off the ground and resting them on an object or human

Paw rest = “scratch me” Lifting a single front paw and resting it on an object or human

Head rub = “pet me” Involves rubbing the head against an object or human on which the signaller is leaning on

Chomp = “play with me” Involves opening the mouth and placing it over the arm of a human whilst repeatedly and gently biting down on the arm

Paw = “I want” used to convey a desire, most commonly a toy, but also food or water, petting, or a door opened. Lifting of a single front paw to briefly touch an object or human

Want to learn more about your pup's behaviour? Learn more about reading your dog's signals.