In the taxonomy of domestic dog ( Canis lupus familiaris ) , there are canines of all build and sizes , but balance assured , they are all good . A real pup enthusiast cognize that within this theoretical account , there are even more intricatestrata : there are doggos , puppers , pupperinos , shoobs , shibes , shooberinos , and longboys , for example . While we know all dogs are good son ( and girls ) , the question remains — do dogs get it on ?

For this week’sGiz Asks , Gizmodo verbalise to fauna demeanor expert and scientists who ’ve dedicated their lives to examine dogs . obviously , dogs know when they ’re making their possessor happy , but have their own moral codification when it comes to defining “ goodness . ”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SM6Es8yX8ak

Image: Sam Woolley/Gizmodo

Image: Sam Woolley/Gizmodo

Cesar Millan

hotdog behaviourist and star of “ Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan ” ( 2004 - 2012 ) , and “ Dog Nation ”

Can humans tell when dogs are happy? How do they show us with body language?

We should be able to , and we can if we ’re paying attention . A wagging hind end is only one signal , although a card does n’t always necessarily indicate a happy dog . There are cases where a tail wag can be a admonition , peculiarly if it ’s boring and measured , and primarily to the left instead of the right .

The matter to ascertain for in eye tooth torso language when gauging happiness is a deficiency of tension . Is the dog ’s sassing slightly open without puff ? Are her ears up and her can level ? Is she standing normally and not crouched down or hyper - merry ? Are her eyes undefended normally instead of squinted or so wide you may see the whites ?

Another big sign of happiness in a dog is calmness . If your dog is spinning in circle or jump off up and down , those are not signboard of felicity — they ’re signaling of over - excitement . ideate a human tempo back and onward nervously . That ’s what a hot dog is doing when it jumps or spins . But if he ’s sitting quietly and looking to you , then he ’s happy .

Argentina’s President Javier Milei (left) and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., holding a chainsaw in a photo posted to Kennedy’s X account on May 27. 2025.

Do dogs know when they’re being good?

In a sense : They know when you ’re happy with them , and they can make a connection between conduct that they do and a positive reaction on your part . Of course , dogs do n’t really have a definition of “ good . ” Since they hold out in the bit , it ’s more a matter of them think — but not really in words — “ Is nothing bad happening to me in good order now ? ” That ’s their only real way of gauging whether they ’re behaving in the “ right ” way .

This is also why the timing of a correction is so important . You have to make certain that it happens the instant a wienerwurst has decided to engage in a behavior you do n’t want . If your dog piss on the rug at two o’clock and you protrude scream at her for it at three o’clock , she ’s never going to get in touch one with the other . rather , she ’ll think you ’re punishing her for whatever she was doing when you started scream .

Matthew Cobb

Cobb is a prof of Zoology at the University of Manchester . He ’s co - authored a study on dogs

Do dogs know they make their owners happy?

It ’s bit complicated as it revolve around what you mean by “ know . ” Can dogs detect if you are happy / distressing ? Yes — you sound and behave differently . Do they know what that means ? There ’s grounds , so probably “ no . ” you’re able to explain their behavior by reinforcement . Beware human interpretation — see , for example , theguilty dog study .

Marjie Alonso

Executive Director , International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants . Also a beagle possessor

Do dogs have their own understanding of what constitutes as good?

There ’s two thing : the first is that I do n’t make out how we ’re operationalizing “ full . ” This could stand for “ successful ” from the point of view of the dog . For example , I have this beagle , who is quite happy with herself when she manducate a guitar tuner — it was amazing ! So my definition of “ bad ” and her definition of “ good ” are unlike .

Do dogs know that their owners love them?

for sure there ’s a loyalty , and sure as shooting there ’s a reinforcer history , which is where all of this go : a reinforcement story between that animate being and that human , which made the bond very strong .

When we spill the beans about trueness , making love and all these things , I in person do think they exist . I ’ve seen vast differences in how my hot dog treats one somebody versus another person in the crime syndicate . I ca n’t say exactly how we valuate [ a dog ’s ] love , but I can say one of the ways we can expect at the relationship between a dog and a human is the reinforcement chronicle . That could be through traditional grooming , it could be repay the blackguard with a cookie for sitting . But it could also be the fact that we wish to cuddle at night — that ’s reinforcing for both of us .

Colleen Benson

Director of Animal Behavior at the Humane Society of Indianapolis

How can humans make their dogs happy?

People can do some matter need interactive preparation . The reinforcement for each frank would be unlike , though . For one dog , food might make them really delirious and glad . For another heel , the [ reinforcement ] could be their favorite orchis or toy . It could be as simple as the blackguard going for a manner of walking with their human . Most dogs are going to enjoy a cuddle on the lounge or a treat thrown out to them .

Unlike humans , detent ca n’t speak English , so they differentiate us thing through their body language . They can distinguish us when they ’re well-chosen or frightened — we’ll know if we see them waggle their tail end really boastful or wiggling .

Can dogs smile?

They sure have small grinning about them , but I do n’t make love if it ’s the same thing as what we see in human . But they sure enough look like it to us .

Do you have a question forGiz Asks ? Email us at[email   protected ] .

DogsGiz AsksScience

William Duplessie

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