The more bonded you are with your canine companion, the better you will understand your dog’s body language. However, you may not always be correct, and it does not give you an advantage when trying to read another dog’s body language.
HOCKS
To clarify the definitions of the terms Hocks and Hackles. They are not interchangeable, yet they are often used incorrectly.The hock connects the talus and calcaneus bones of the paw with the tibia and fibula bones in the shin. The hock is also called the tarsal joint in a dog. On a human, it would be the ankle.
You can quickly identify the hocks on a dog by the sharp angle on the back legs. The hocks are usually very prominent on a German Shepherd.
The confusion between hocks and hackles may be the expression “when a dog sits with his hocks up,” meaning that the dog is not sitting correctly. When your dog sits, his hocks should be on the ground. Your dog can be overly anxious and experiencing an impulse to get up or may have a medical reason causing pain and discomfort and needs to be seen by a veterinarian. A canine’s hocks are susceptible to injury or arthritis in much the same way as a human’s ankles.
HACKLES

Hackles are the hairs along the backbone, from the neck to the tail. The involuntary rise of these hairs is a piloerection function. All breeds can raise their hackles, but it’s more apparent in some breeds and not in others.
Look for other signs related to your dog’s body language to help understand why his hackles are raised. Be aware that reading body language is not an exact science and may not be what you think.

Raising hackles is a physical reaction to an emotional response. It is often considered a sign of aggressive behavior, but that is untrue. This is an involuntary reflex triggered by anxiety, excitement, or fear. When a dog raises its hackles, this is not considered a behavior. Think about when you get goosebumps.
The most pronounced signs pet parents verbalize about are only involuntary impulses or reflex reactions. What does that mean? Here are four (4) additional conspicuous telltale “tell-tail” canine body language standouts.
TAILS
Looking at the position and movement of a dog’s tail is the first thing we tailless humans seem to notice. Does a wagging tail mean a happy-go-lucky and friendly dog? No, it does not. It may, but it is a reaction of excitement. Excitement can translate to happy, annoyed, agitated, anxious, jump, overstimulated, provoked, or aggressive. YES, a dog wagging its tail may bite you! A tucked tail is usually a sign of fear or anxiety. A ridged raised tail is usually a sign of “freeze” vs fight or flight. In the freeze position, a dog is literally deciding its next move, which will be fight or flight. A stiff tail can also mean the dog is aware of something, distracting him momentarily. Did you know that “ATAIL” and “ATAILOUS” mean a species without a tail? Those words are not in the dictionary as they are more commonly used in the scientific or specialized fields that study animals.
EARS
The pinned-back position of a dog’s ears is not a tell-all sign of an emotional tempest. Aggression is possible, but the dog can also be showing a sign of respect, fear, and submissive behavior. If a dog’s ears are pinned back, you must also consider other body language signs, such as a tucked tail or bared teeth. Lowering a dog’s shoulders and head extended forward would considered a warning sign. In most cases, when a dog’s ears are straight up, like in the photo to the right, it means the dog is alert and listening. Even the position of the dog’s head tilting to the side is an indication of focusing on something or waiting for the next signal from a pet parent or trainer.
EYES
“Eyes are windows to the soul,” an expression used by Shakespeare, means that our eyes reveal our emotions, feelings, and thoughts. As dog lovers, we all have witnessed a version of a dog seducing us with puppy eyes. However, though a dog’s emotions, whether aggressive, fearful, or anxious, will be visible by looking at his eyes, I believe that in most situations, the dog’s eyes are the last place a person will intently or intentionally look at.
POSTURE
Posture is a great indication of what mood your dog is in. If he is standing, sitting, or lying down, his posture is a giveaway of what you can probably expect his next move to be.
Even when your dog is given the command “down,” his body language in a down position is a good way to predict if he will remain in a “down” position or is waiting to get up. Next time you ask your dog to lie down, notice if he is in a “Sphinx” position or has rolled slightly to his side. Your dog is more relaxed in his “down” position when he is slightly on his side and will most likely remain there longer,