10 Signs Your Dog is Stressed

Stress... Ughh. We all get stressed. As humans, we know that familiar feeling of strain or pressure that slowly creeps up on us. And, we have figured out ways to reduce our own stress (hopefully!). Prolonged stress can wreak havoc on our health and well -being. Our canine companions can also feel stress. Just like us, they need ways to reduce their stress or the body will respond through illness and disease. Unfortunately, we humans don't speak dog and dogs don't speak human. It's up the the canine owner to recognize the signs your dog is exhibiting through "dog language" that they are stressed.

To recognize the signs of stress in your dog, you must first know your dog's baseline behavior and body posture. Often, stress cues in your dog are very subtle and can mimic normal behaviors. It's up to you as the human to know your dog's normal communication behaviors and then differentiate when something is off a bit:

1. Pacing and Shaking: Dog's will "shake it off" when they are stressed. It looks a lot like shaking off water. An example of this is when you take your dog to the veterinarian and they shake immediately after getting off of the exam table. Shivering is also another cue, but can also be from fear. As for pacing, it's pretty explanatory: you dog will pace around an area. Usually it will be in a predicted path.... over and over again. 
2. Whining and Barking: With this one, you need to know your dog's baseline barking level. It will be out of the ordinary and you will need to pay attention to body language to know if it is an alert bark (like someone is coming up the walkway) or a bark/ whine of stress. 
3. Yawning, drooling and licking: Dogs will yawn when tired or bored, but a stressed out yawn will be more intense and prolonged. It may also be accompanied by a whine. Dogs will also lick excessively when stressed or drool.
4. Changes is eyes and ears: When a dog's ears are pinned against the head, it's usually a good indicator that they are stressed. Their eyes may blink rapidly and/or be wide open with the sclera (whites of the eyes) showing. 
5. Panting: Dogs pant when excited, hot or stressed out. It's up to you to decipher the environment to know which one. 
6. Changes is bodily functions: Some dogs immediately pee when meeting another dog to mark their territory or to relieve the stress/ excitement of meeting a new dog. Under stressful situations, dogs will also refuse food or lose function of their bowels. 
7. Shedding: All dogs shed. Some dogs shed more excessively than others. If your dog is shedding "more than usual", check to see if it is something they could be stressed about and assess other behaviors they may be exhibiting. Prolonged excessive shedding could be a medical issue and needs to be checked out by a veterinarian. 
8. Changes in body posture: Unless your dog has an orthopedic problem, posture is usually evenly distributed between all four paws. A stressed out dog will shift their weight to the rear legs and cower. Their body will be rigid and tail will be tucked between the legs. 
9. Avoidance or displacement behavior: When in a stressful situation, some dogs will try to "escape" by focusing on something else. This could include: sniffing the ground, licking genitals, turning away or completely ignoring the stressful object. When this happens, do not force your dog to pay attention to whatever is stressing them out. This could make the problem worse or initiate aggression. 
10. Hiding or Escaping: When a dog is stressed, they will often find a quiet place of solitude. Please respect the solitude. As with the avoidance or displacement behavior, if you force them to be in a stressful environment, you could initiate aggression. 

As I said before, you must know your dog's baseline behavior to know what is and isn't out of the ordinary for your dog. As a dog owner, you must also check your own stress levels. Often if the owner is stressed, the dog will be stressed out as well. The owner will be communicating "stress" to the rest of the pack (aka dog) and it can become a cycle of stress.  Here are a couple of tips to help regulate your dog's stress level:

• Regulate your own stress. 
• Mental and physical exercise: A bored dog that does not get enough exercise is a recipe for A) misbehavior B) aggression and C) stress. They need that daily exercise to get rid of extra energy!
• Remove your dog from the stressor. This can include providing a quiet sanctuary in the household. If your dog is in their sanctuary, please keep all humans (including children) out. Allow your dog to be by themselves if that is what they need. 
• Do not over comfort your dog. Sometimes, well intended love and attention can make the situation worse: The owner is reinforcing the stress behavior. If you are using treats or positive reinforcement during a stressful situation, make sure your dog is "working" for the treat by making them perform a command like "sit" or "stay". 
• If your dog is consistently stressed out, visit a veterinarian to rule out any medical issues. 

With all that said, please remember that prolonged stress will break down a healthy body! Take care of yourself and your four-legged family members. 💓