What is what does it mean when a dog puts his ears back?

A dog putting his ears back can mean several things, and it's important to consider the context and other body language cues to accurately interpret the behavior. Here are some possible interpretations:

• Submission or Appeasement: When a dog feels threatened or wants to show that they are not a threat, they may flatten their ears back against their head. This makes them appear smaller and less confrontational. This behavior is often accompanied by other submissive signals, such as lowered head, tail tucked between the legs, avoiding eye contact, and lip licking. See more on submission and appeasement%20behaviors.

• Fear or Anxiety: Similar to submission, a dog may flatten their ears back when they are scared or anxious. This can be in response to a loud noise, an unfamiliar person, or a perceived threat. Look for other signs of fear, such as trembling, panting, wide eyes ("whale eye"), and a tucked tail. More information can be found on dog%20anxiety.

• Relaxation: Sometimes, flattened ears can simply indicate that a dog is relaxed and content, especially if the rest of their body language is loose and relaxed.

• Attention: A dog may put their ears back to better hear or focus on something. This might be accompanied by tilting the head. It shows the dog is trying to understand what is going on.

• Affection: Some dogs flatten their ears back when they are being petted or receiving attention as a sign of enjoyment.