Your pets may not be able to talk to you but you can learn a great deal about them from their body language.

Most people understand that a dog’s growl is a warning sign. He may be warning a visitor not to come into the yard or telling his owner that he has heard something which should be investigated.

If he trots along with his tail held out, he is feeling confident.

Lowering the tail indicates a certain wariness and if the tail goes between the legs, then he is afraid. Best of all is the wagging tail and cheerful expression on his face that says he is a happy dog.

If your cat swishes her tail, that is an entirely different matter.

Swishing accompanied by narrowed eyes should tell you that she is getting very annoyed, (probably with you). At other times she may swish her tail before pouncing on some unfortunate victim.

When a pet, either cat or dog, sleeps on its back, then that pet is showing that it feels perfectly safe where it is and can relax completely.

These are just the basics. Spend time with your pets, watch them carefully and gradually you will learn what they are trying to tell you. Of course, they learn to watch you and judge your moods at the same time. That is how your pets knows it is time to offer a sympathetic lick or to snuggle next to you when you are feeling down.