Guides
Dog and cat body language, one signal at a time
Short, friendly guides to the signals pets show every day, from play bows to slow blinks. Each one is built on the same body-language tables the Pawfect app uses, and each one ends with the most useful rule of all: look at the whole animal.
Dogs
Why does my dog do a play bow?
Front legs down, rear up, tail going: what the play bow usually means, what it gets mixed up with, and which other signals to check.Does a wagging tail always mean my dog is happy?
Not every wag is a friendly one. How broad, helicopter and short, stiff wags differ, and why the rest of the body matters more than the tail.Why does my dog tuck its tail between its legs?
A tucked tail usually goes with worry or appeasement. What the tables pair it with, how breed changes the picture, and how to help.Why does my dog keep licking its lips?
A quick tongue flick with no food around is often a calming signal. What it usually means, and when to look a little closer.Why does my dog yawn when it isn't tired?
A yawn in a tense moment is often a calming signal. How to tell a sleepy yawn from a stressed one, and what to look for next.What does it mean when my dog shows the whites of its eyes?
Whale eye, a crescent of white at the corner of a dog's eye, is a sign of discomfort. What it usually means and how to respond.Why does my dog suddenly freeze and go stiff?
A sudden, stiff stillness is one of the most important signals to notice. What a freeze usually means and why giving space matters.Why does my dog lift one front paw?
A raised front paw often signals uncertainty or polite deference. What it usually means, and which other signals help you read it.What are my dog's ears telling me?
Forward, neutral, back or flattened: how dog ear positions are usually read, and why breed and the rest of the face matter.Why do my dog's hackles go up?
Raised fur along the back means high arousal: fear, excitement or tension. How to tell which from the rest of the body.
Cats
Why does my cat slow blink at me?
The slow blink is one of the warmest things a cat does. What it usually means, and how to answer it.What does it mean when my cat holds its tail straight up?
A tail held high, sometimes with a little hook at the tip, is a friendly hello. What it usually means, and what a quivering tail adds.Why is my cat's tail twitching or lashing?
A twitching tip and a lashing tail say very different things. How to read cat tail movement, and when to give your cat space.Why does my cat headbutt me?
The head bunt is a cat's way of including you in its circle. What it usually means and how to respond.Does purring always mean my cat is happy?
Purring usually goes with a relaxed, content cat, but not always. How to read a purr in context, and when to check with a vet.Why does my cat knead me?
Kneading, pressing the paws in and out on something soft, belongs with a cat's friendliest signals. What it usually means.Why does my cat arch its back?
An arched back can mean play or fear. How the sideways play hop differs from a defensive arch, and what to look at.Why does my cat flatten its ears?
Ears turned sideways or pinned flat are a sign of a worried or upset cat. How to read cat ear positions and when to back off.Why does my cat wiggle its bottom before pouncing?
The pre-pounce wiggle is play and hunting at their most focused. What it usually means, and how to make the most of it.Why does my cat's tail puff up?
A bottle-brush tail means a cat is highly aroused, from fright, upset or sudden excitement. How to read it and what to do.
See it on your own pet
Point Pawfect at your dog or cat and it picks out the tails, ears, eyes and postures from these guides, then plays them back as a playful caption you can keep.