Unexpected Signs Your Dog is Stressed

Here’s a controversial take: dogs do talk. Sure, they may not use words, but they communicate through movements and sounds. As their caretakers, it’s our responsibility to understand their language and help them thrive. In our experience as dog parents, one of the most important aspects of their language to learn is recognizing signs of stress.

Why is this so important? Because identifying and addressing signs of stress in dogs can:

• Strengthen the bond of trust and respect between you and your dog

• Prevent dog fights

• Reduce the risk of a dog from biting people

• Enhance a dog's mental health

Maverick, the sitting pretty dog

So, what are the signs you may be missing? Here are some of them:

• Licking his or her lips This is a sign we see frequently in stressed dogs right before they take additional action to separate themselves from a situation or to protect themselves. It could be slow, often combined with dogs' attempts to avert eye contact or very quick tongue darting.

• Tail wag A slow wag is something for which to watch. It can man apprehension. When in doubt, treat it like a sign of a nervousness.

• Averting eye contact This may look like side eye, but it's can be an attempt to communicate appeasement and disengagement. In our experience with reactive dogs and nervous dogs, it's a classic early warning sign that a dog is trying to get out of a stressful situation, whether it's playing a dog no longer wants to do or another dog acting aggressively.

• Walking away Let them. When dogs walk away, chasing them can initiate a fight or flight response. And, if dog feels flight is not working or not available, he or she can next resort to fight, meaning a bite.

• Hiding In our experience, dogs rarely hide as part of a game; they are hiding from fear or apprehension and are seeking refuge. Allow them their space. Yes, a dog hiding is not a game. It's usually a sign that a dog wants to get out of a situation. We once fostered a dog's whose hiding was misinterpreted by his parents as a "fun game" he played with children. In reality, he was very, very scared and trying his best to find safety. One day, after years after being chased and hiding, he was cornered his his hiding place and bit a child. After this, he snarled at and attempted to bite people 24/7. He was facing being euthanized when we committed to fostering him and helping him mentally heal. It took months of patience and trust-building before he was able to once again have fun, just be a dog, and finally find a forever home that was committed to listening to needs and helping him thrive.

• Ears back A dog's ears going back can simply mean a dog is concentrating, something we see often in Corgis, for example, but it can also be a sign of showing submissiveness in what a dog perceives to be a stressful situation.

• Dog yawn A dog's yawn can just mean a dog is tired, but watch for this during times of play or interactions. If not occurring after a nap or before bedtime, heed this warning sign that your dog is stressed.

What we do when we notice signs of stress:

• If running, yawning, averting eye contact, licking lips or hiding, we make sure to give the dog space. We do not allow anyone to chase or corner him or her. We do not engage. We give him or her time to de-stress and approach people on his or her own.

• When the stress is being caused by an external factor, such as a child's sounds or another dog acting aggressively, we get our dog out of the situation he or she is currently in as quickly as we can. That can mean removing the stimulus or removing our dog from the situation, if we safely can. When our dog is already stressed, he or she may react negatively to any interaction, including actions we intend to be helpful, so iwe keep our hands away from the dog's mouth, when possible. We have, when needed, created a loop with a leash and placed the loop over the the dog's head to facilitate quick removal without proximity to a dog's mouth.

• We avoid eye contact; this can intensify an already stressful situation.

• We maintain calm energy. We take slow, deep breaths and try to keep our heartbeats steady. A deep inhale and a longer exhale can often help slow one's heartbeat.

Each situation is nuanced, but, in our experience, the keys are to identify the signs of stress early and reduce or remove the stress as quickly as possible. The information is provided for informational purposes only. This content is not intended to substitute for professional guidance or personalized training programs tailored to individual needs. By using this information, you acknowledge that you are voluntarily engaging in activity at your own risk. The author, provider, or platform of this advice is not responsible for any accidents, injuries, or adverse outcomes resulting from the use or misuse of this content.