Dog owners often dream of having a quiet companion who rarely barks, settles easily and never causes trouble. But according to one canine behavior expert, silence alone says very little about how a dog is actually feeling. Read More on LifeInstead of focusing on whether a dog is vocal or still, Smith encourages owners to look at the dog's body language and the context of the situation. "Dogs communicate primarily through body language, so a dog can be completely silent while still telling us they're deeply uncomfortable." Why Rescue Dogs Can Seem 'Easy'The misconception can be especially common with newly adopted rescue dogs.