How do you tell if a dog is happy?

Answer 1

Watch especially the ears, eyes, mouth and tail. I think these are the most expressive parts. You might want to go to a dog park and watch how the dogs interact. What do you think they're saying to each other as they approach?

Fast wagging tail means excitement. But a wagging tail doesn't always mean friendly dog. A slowly-wagging tail along with other body signals can signal aggression.

A bow (front down, back up) means "let's play."

Ears up and alert mean he's interested.

Ears pulled back mean he's scared or sad.

Mouth half open (but not panting) often mean he's happy or wants to play.

Well, there's a lot more than that, but that's a start. A book called Canine Body Language is excellent for learning this. It goes a lot deeper than just happy/sad/etc., but it's really an interesting book. Well-illustrated. I'd highly recommend it. Also, a book called On Talking Terms with Dogs talks about certain kinds of dog body language ("calming signals"). This is also very interesting, but the first book is more aligned with your question.

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Answer 2

A happy dog will often wag its tail, have a relaxed body posture, show interest in playing, and may even make vocalizations like a playful bark or growl. You can also look for signs such as bright eyes, a wagging tail, relaxed facial expressions, and an overall alert and engaged demeanor.

Answer 3

When the dog move its tail horizondally very fast ( half circle) or kneel down its front legs

Answer 4

tail wagging and playful behavior