Animal expert warns of subtle sign your dog is unhappy - and it's easy to missExpert Alyssa Ralph says many dog owners mistake what their pet is actually telling themView Image You might not know your dog as well as you thinkFrom tail wagging to so-called “guilty looks”, many of the behaviours dog owners think they understand are routinely misread. Those misunderstandings could be quietly affecting dogs’ stress levels, feeding habits and long-term wellbeing, according to experts at Years.com. The Dog Behaviours Owners Most Commonly MisinterpretTail wagging always means happinessA wagging tail doesn’t automatically signal joy. The head tilt is just a ‘cute reaction’‌That familiar head tilt is a dog actively trying to process sound and facial cues. “Dogs tilt their heads to better understand us and triangulate where sounds are coming from,” explains Alyssa.