Belly Up or Belly Rub?
It can be easy to misconstrue shut down behaviors as calm behaviors when working with unfamiliar dogs in high stress environments (like shelters and adoption events). That’s why it is so important for us, as dog-advocating volunteers, to know the difference between a dog who is soliciting a belly rub and a dog giving their belly in fearful submission.
Understanding dog body language is the first step in knowing if a dog is fearful, feisty, or friendly. With fearful dogs, we often see them slowly turn their body over, tail tucked, tense body, and some may submissively urinate. With more social dogs, we may see a dog flop over, offer their belly, with a loose body, and relaxed mouth. Watch out though, sometimes puppies pee when they are excited, too!
It is always important to consider context when interpreting body language—are they asking for a belly rub? Are they just trying to sleep with their belly up? Or are they asking for space and to be left alone? We hope that the illustration below in conjunction with this article by Eileen Anderson are helpful in understanding more about what our four-legged, furry companions are trying to communicate.
After evaluating a dog’s body language and the context in which you are meeting this dog, it is always a good idea to employ a consent test. A consent test is an easy way to ensure a dog is soliciting affection. Thankfully, Eileen Anderson has a post about consent tests, too.
When in doubt, allow a dog to “vote with their feet.” If they approach you, with a loose and wiggly body, then perhaps they are asking for affection and would enjoy a pet. Otherwise, the safest thing may be to toss the dog a treat, shower them with happy talk, and allow them the time and space they need (the dog decides!) to warm up.
