Getting a dog is the easy part. Figuring out whether that dog actually feels safe in your home is where things get complicated. Dogs can’t tell you when something’s wrong, and a lot of owners spend years misreading the signals .

According to Shannon Walker, a dog trainer and canine behaviorist based in the Pacific Northwest and owner of Man’s Best Friend kennel and training facility, the answer is written all over your dog’s body. “When a dog feels safe at home, it relaxes, seeks connection with you, the owner, and trusts you to lead,” Walker told Newsweek . “True safety breeds calm confidence. This is ultimately the sign of a happy and content dog.”

Videos by VICE

Here’s what to look for.

Relaxed Body Language

Walker says the first indicator is physical. Soft eyes, a loose mouth, relaxed ears, and a tail that’s not on high alert all point to a dog that’s comfortable rather than bracing for something. A tense dog looks tense.…