If You Have Dogs, This Might Concern You

heightened hackles

Your dog is displaying intense emotions when the hairs on its back stand up. This could indicate that they're nervous, thrilled, or even a little irate. We refer to these protruding hairs as "hackles."

Check out what else your dog is doing to get an idea of how they are feeling. Are they growling or are they wagging their tail? They may be preparing to act aggressively if you see that they are growing tense and raising their hackles. This is when you should intervene. To prevent any problems, try to grab your dog's attention and calm them down.