There is no single body part or feature that can tell you what a dog is trying to say. We always have to look at the entire picture, the collective posture, body parts, and expression in the context in which they are being shown.
Not all body movements may mean something, however. For example, a toy Yorkie may scratch because something is itchy, or as part of a displacement behavior. So it is important not to immediately assign meaning to something that toy Yorkies breed do and look at other things going on. Different dogs and different breeds, generally, will also express themselves in different ways, so we must study each dog’s communication patterns individually.
Eyes. Just as with humans, the eyes say a lot about what a dog is feeling emotionally, so we need to pay a lot of attention to what the eyes are saying. Direct, prolonged eye contact with a hard, cold stare is usually part of an offensive threat.
Conversely, dogs – even toy Yorkies breed – that look away to avoid eye contact may be indicating fear or submission, or may be trying to avoid confrontation. An extremely fearful dog will often turn away from something troubling, but will have a need to watch for danger by looking to the side or upward, giving what is called the ‘whale eye’, where the whites of the eyes are more visible.
Anxious toy Yorkies breed will be constantly scanning the surroundings, their eyes quickly darting in different directions.
Ears. Ears are used for both hearing and communication so they can be difficult to read. Sudden noises in the environment may quickly change the ears’ position, causing a break in the communication. Generally, ears straining forward reflect a more confident or offensive state.
Mouth. Like the eyes, one of the most telling signals given by a dog may be seen around he mouth and muzzle area of his face. A normally relaxed, calm, and happy dog will usually have an open mouth, his tongue slightly forward, and will be panting.
Tail. Contrary to what a lot of people think, a wagging tail doesn’t necessarily indicate that a dog is friendly. It merely says that the dog is aroused or excited. A wagging tail can mean that the dog is experiencing happiness, anxiety, anger, hunger, or maybe even romance.
Posture. A dog’s posture will give you the overall picture of his state of mind. A relaxed dog will show throughout the entire body. His muscles will appear soft, fluid, and movements will be calm and graceful. When aroused, his entire body will look tense and hard; and the gait will be more rigid.
