Dog owners often dream of having a quiet companion who rarely barks, settles easily and never causes trouble. But according to one canine behavior expert, silence alone says very little about how a dog is actually feeling.
The common belief that “a quiet dog is a happy, well-behaved dog” can be misleading because quietness is a behavior, not an emotion, said Ali Smith, canine behavior consultant at Maven.
“Quiet tells us very little about how someone is actually feeling,” Smith told Newsweek. “They might be content, but they might also be anxious, overwhelmed, frightened, exhausted or feel like they can’t safely express themselves. Dogs are the same.”
Instead of focusing on whether a dog is vocal or still, Smith encourages owners to look at the dog’s body language and the context of the situation.
“One of the biggest mistakes I see is people judging a dog’s emotional state from one behavior instead of looking at the whole picture,” she said. “Dogs communicate primarily through body language, so a dog can be completely silent while still telling us they’re deeply uncomfortable.”
Likewise, a barking or noisy dog should not automatically be labeled badly behaved.
“They might be excited, frustrated, worried, under-stimulated or simply trying to communicate,” Smith said. “For me, quietness is never the full answer. It’s one tiny piece of information.”
Calm vs. Shut Down
A genuinely relaxed dog typically appears physically soft and comfortable. Smith said calm dogs move freely, breathe normally, blink naturally, sniff their surroundings, explore and willingly engage with people or treats.
A dog that has shut down, however, often looks much different.
“They may freeze, avoid interaction, carry tension through the face and body, keep their tail low or tucked, pin their ears back, hesitate to move or appear as if they’re waiting for life to happen around them instead of participating in it,” Smith said.
Rather than asking whether a dog is sitting quietly, Smith recommends asking a different question: “Is this dog choosing to be still, or do they feel like they have no other option?”
“I always say: look at the whole dog, not just one behavior.” Ali Smith
The Subtle Signs Owners Miss
Dogs often communicate discomfort long before they growl or bark.
Smith said early signs of stress can include lip licking, yawning, turning the head away, avoiding eye contact, freezing, lifting a paw, whale eye—when a dog turns its head slightly away but remaining focused on something, exposing the whites of the eye—holding the mouth tightly closed, carrying a stiff tail, adopting a low body posture, excessive sniffing or repeatedly looking for an exit.
While none of these behaviors alone necessarily signals stress, several occurring together—particularly in response to a specific person, place or situation—can paint a clearer picture.
“I always say: look at the whole dog, not just one behavior,” she said.
Why Rescue Dogs Can Seem ‘Easy’
The misconception can be especially common with newly adopted rescue dogs.
Smith said owners often describe a new rescue as unusually calm during the first few days at home, only to worry weeks later when the dog begins barking, playing, seeking attention or showing mischievous behaviors.
“The dog hasn’t necessarily become worse,” she said. “They may finally feel safe enough to be themselves.”
What initially appears to be calmness may instead reflect uncertainty or overwhelm while the dog adjusts to an unfamiliar environment.
Smith cautioned against labeling a newly adopted dog as naturally laid-back too quickly. While some breeds may have calmer tendencies than others, she said each dog’s individual personality and emotional state matter far more than breed stereotypes.
Building an Emotionally Healthy Dog
Ultimately, Smith hopes owners shift their focus away from striving for a “perfectly behaved” pet and toward raising one that feels comfortable expressing itself.
“An emotionally healthy dog communicates,” she said. “They tell us when they’re excited, worried, frustrated or uncomfortable. That isn’t automatically bad behavior. That’s information.”
Rather than rewarding silence above all else, owners should pay attention to the dog’s ears, eyes, mouth, tail, muscles, breathing, movement and surroundings to better understand how they are feeling.
“At the end of the day, we’re not trying to raise robots who listen 11 times out of 10,” Smith said. “We’re trying to build a relationship where a human and a dog can happily live together for the next 10 to 15 years. That means understanding each other, not suppressing each other.”
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Rebecca Flood and Emma Lee-Sang