Is My Dog Stressed? Body Language Every Owner Should Learn
As dog owners, we all want our pets to feel safe, happy, and relaxed. But unlike us, dogs can’t tell us with words when they’re stressed or uncomfortable — they communicate through body language. Learning to recognize the signs of stress in dogs is one of the most important skills you can have as an owner!
By understanding your dog’s body language, you’ll be able to step in before stress escalates, offer support, and cultivate resilience!
Why Dog Body Language Matters
Dogs experience emotions just like we do, and stress can affect their behaviour, training progress, and overall wellbeing. Recognizing early signals of discomfort helps you:
Prevent problem behaviour (like reactivity or aggression).
Support your dog in overwhelming situations.
Build a stronger bond based on trust and communication.
Be attuned to changes in your dog’s health and wellbeing.
Common Signs of Stress in Dogs
Now, everyone knows the obvious barking, growling and lunging, but there are lots of subtle cues that owners might miss that can indicate their dog is feeling worried or overwhelmed by something! Look out for these body language signs that can be indicators our dogs are feeling uncomfortable:
Yawning – If your dog hasn’t just woken up, but keeps yawning, particularly frequently, it could be a sign of stress or discomfort.
Pinned ears - Ears pinned flat to head or back
Licking lips or nose – A subtle but common way dogs show unease.
Panting – Especially if it’s not hot or after exercise.
Whale eye – When the whites of the eyes are visible, you might also see eyes darting around or fixating.
Tucked tail – A clear indicator of fear or discomfort.
Shaking off – Like shaking off water, but after a stressful interaction or event.
Pacing or restlessness – Unable to settle in one place.
How to Help a Stressed Dog
If you notice these signs, here are some ways you can support your dog:
Give them space – Encourage movement away from what’s making them worried, or if possible, move away the thing that is worrying them!
Stay calm and confident – Dogs pick up on our tone of voice and body language! Don’t crouch down over your dog but do reassure in a calm, but confident tone.
Offer a safe retreat – A bed, crate, quiet room, or the car (if out and about) can provide a safe place for our dogs to retreat to.
Use a known behaviour - Pattern games or known behaviours can act as a brilliant reset, and provide something productive to focus on. Practice and play these outside of stressful settings!
Avoid punishment – Imagine if you were stressed or worried, and someone told you off? It wouldn’t feel great, would it! Using punishment can make dogs feel worse in stressful situations, and damage your relationship.
Stress vs. Resilience: Finding the Balance
It’s important to remember that stress itself isn’t always harmful. Just like us, dogs build resilience and confidence by experiencing small, manageable challenges and learning how to cope with them. Shielding a dog from all stress can actually limit their ability to handle everyday life.
The key is to strike a balance:
Observe your dog when they are experiencing new things and respond accordingly. If they need help, give them help!
Set up ‘challenges’ for your dog where they can strengthen that ability to problem-solve and build resilience. Think about things like: free work, shaping games and scent work. Remember, you want challenges to be achievable and rewarding to build resilience!
Expose them gradually to new sights, sounds, and situations. Keep exposures short, positive, and always try to end on a good note!
Use ethical training methods, so they build confidence in handling the world around them.
By teaching your dog resilience, you help them develop the skills to bounce back from stressors and feel more secure in different environments.
When to Seek Professional Help
If your dog frequently shows signs of stress or struggles to cope in everyday life, it may be time to get professional support. A qualified dog trainer or behaviourist can help you understand the root cause and create a tailored plan to support your dog.
Recognizing stress signals is key to building a happy, healthy relationship with your pet. By paying attention to subtle changes in body language, you can prevent small worries from becoming big problems!
If you’d like support with reading your dog’s body language or helping them feel more confident, book a free discovery call here!