In a viral TikTok video, the owner of a 10-month-old German shepherd/Belgian Malinois pup named Aura shared the top seven signs that a dog is happy, so we spoke to a veterinarian to learn more.

The poster says in her clip, shared on Sunday under the username @_auratheexplorer_, that if your dog is happy they will do things that they wouldn’t otherwise do unless they felt comfortable enough.

Number one on her list is exposing their belly to you, followed by initiating play with you, looking at you with a loving gaze, getting the zoomies, relaxing around you, “they smile at you,” and lastly, according to the TikToker, “they seek your attention.”

Newsweek spoke to Dr. Jamie Richardson, head of veterinary medicine at Small Door Veterinary, to learn more about it from an expert’s point of view, and these are the signs she says you should look out for, to know if your pup is truly happy.

Richardson told Newsweek that a happy dog will usually have a relaxed body posture, a wagging tail, and a soft, open mouth that might look like a smile.

“They may seek out interaction, play, or cuddle time with you, and show interest in their surroundings. Happy dogs often have bright eyes, a good appetite, and healthy sleep patterns,” she said.

“Every dog is different, but generally, if they’re engaged, energetic, and responsive, that’s a great sign.”

How Can You Make Your Dog Happy?

According to Richardson, meeting your dog’s physical, mental, and emotional needs is key to making them happy.

“That includes daily exercise, a balanced diet, regular veterinary care, and plenty of enrichment—whether that’s playtime, training, puzzle toys, or simply time with you. Positive social interactions and a consistent routine also help dogs feel secure and content,” she said.

Toys can be a great support for dogs, but there is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to deciding which are best for them, because each individual pup has different needs that some types of toys can meet better than others.

There are all sorts of toys out there for your dog, ranging from chew toys, to tug toys, comfort toys, and interactive ones, but which toy is best for your pup depends on their personality and play style.

Rotating your dog’s toys will make play time much more interesting, and will also keep them from getting destroyed easily. It’s important to remove damaged toys promptly, to eliminate the risk of your dog ingesting loose parts.

The video quickly went viral on TikTok and it has so far received over 2.7 million views and 404,500 likes on the platform.

One user, Notorious t.i.v., commented: “It kills me that every single dog in the world doesn’t feel like this.”

Ved said: “Do I know that my dog has a happy life and do my best to keep it that way? Yes. Did I watch whole thing just to be sure and smile whole time? Hell yes I did.”

Beepboop added: “You have no idea [how] happy it makes me to know that my baby is too.”

Newsweek reached out to @_auratheexplorer_ for comment via TikTok comments. We could not verify the details of the case.

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