What Do Ears Back Mean in a Dog?

Dogs rely heavily on body language to express what they are feeling, both physically and emotionally. Contrary to popular perception, a dog holding its ears back is not always aggressive. It might be nervous, submissive, or even ready to flee.

  1. Basic Behaviors: Communication

    • According to the Humane Society of Silicon Valley, "A dog basically uses five parts of his body to communicate. These are the tail, ears, mouth and teeth, eyes and the fur along the dog's back." Dogs will also adjust their posture, including the position of their ears, to reflect their emotions or physical status.

    Aggression

    • An aggressive dog will hold its ears back, tight against its head. The ear leather (the soft part that forms the flap or cup of the ear) may rest against the back of the dog's neck. Very rarely, a dog will hold its ears up and forward in an aggressive posture.

    Anxiety

    • A dog that is stressed or that feels anxious will hold its ears down and partially back to its skull. Stressed dogs, like aggressive dogs, may draw their lips back; however, the dog will pant rapidly and may begin to draw itself into a submissive position.

    Submission

    • A submissive dog will hold its ears down and against its skull. According to the Art of Dog Training, the dog's eyes will be closed and one forepaw will be raised. A submissive dog's lips will also be drawn back, but its expression might be characterized as a "grin."

    Fear/Flight

    • These two expressions resemble each other, in that the dog's ears are pulled back to lay flat against its skull. Unlike the smooth forehead associated with submission, the fearful dog will have a wrinkled forehead. A fearful dog may flee; however, if the dog feels threatened, its fear may turn into aggression.