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5 Signs Your Dog Feels Safe and Happy With You

Zoomies and naps are a good start.

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Getting a dog is the easy part. Figuring out whether that dog actually feels safe in your home is where things get complicated. Dogs can’t tell you when something’s wrong, and a lot of owners spend years misreading the signals.

According to Shannon Walker, a dog trainer and canine behaviorist based in the Pacific Northwest and owner of Man’s Best Friend kennel and training facility, the answer is written all over your dog’s body. “When a dog feels safe at home, it relaxes, seeks connection with you, the owner, and trusts you to lead,” Walker told Newsweek. “True safety breeds calm confidence. This is ultimately the sign of a happy and content dog.”

Here’s what to look for.

Relaxed Body Language

Walker says the first indicator is physical. Soft eyes, a loose mouth, relaxed ears, and a tail that’s not on........

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