Nervous: Sometimes dogs put their ears back when they are nervous, and that will often be combined with other body language such as tongue flicks, panting, tension in the body, or other signs of anxiety. This is a common behavior in dogs who must be in the car but dislike road trips, or dogs who are overwhelmed by too many children at once. You might also find your dog do this when you are petting them, that indicates they aren't enjoying themselves.