Research on positive emotions in dogs, such as happiness, is limited, as highlighted in a report in Frontiers in Psychology.
According to Marc Bekoff, PhD, a renowned animal behaviorist and former professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Colorado, “happy dogs look happy.
Although this may hold true, it's important to keep in mind that you have the deepest understanding of your dog compared to anyone else.
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Any interpretations of dog behavior depend on each dog’s personality,” he says. “There often aren’t cut-and-dry answers, so knowing your dog’s personality will help you know their feelings.
During my childhood, our family dog would exhibit bursts of energy, known as the "zoomies," when he was joyful – a lively 85-pound mix of Labrador, greyhound, and Doberman racing around the Ping-Pong table.
While overt joy may be easy to recognize, other indicators of happiness can be more subtle.
“Using a wagging tail as a sole indicator of a dog’s emotional state can be tricky,” cautions Bekoff.