Dogs communicate with their owners primarily by body language that involves their tail, body position and movement, and ear, eye, and head positions. Dogs will also make noises such as barking and whining. And some dogs may even make different facial expressions. For example, barking can be aggressive when a dog feels threatened but they will also bark when they are excited to go for a ride or play ball.
There are so many different body movements and sounds a dog can display that it is sometimes difficult to know for sure what your dog is trying to communicate. But, once you get to know your dog and he/she gets to know you, communication with each other gets easier.