Canine Body Language: Ears Back

Canine Body Language: Ears Back

When trying to analyze an animal’s body language, each signal must be taken in context. Other body language signals should be analyzed as well to form as complete as possible a view of the animal’s intent or emotional state. You can generally characterize signs in 3 categories: go, stop and yield. 

The ear carriage of a dog can offer a great deal of information, but it can also be a confusing body language cue to interpret. That is why it is labeled a “yield” signal. When assessing ear carriage consider the context along with other body postures displayed by the individual dog. In general, the farther back the ears are pinned against the head, the more frightened the disposition of the dog.