Is my dog stressed?

Identifying signs of stress in your canine companion

It's (hopefully) well known by now that dogs can experience stress, and whilst stress in dogs is not identical to that experienced in humans, we can certainly empathise with their situation enough to want to help them relieve it. The tricky part is that the signs of stress in dogs are often quite subtle - dogs don't slam down the phone, cry uncontrollably or lose it with their boss – and sometimes stress behaviours in dogs can even mimic normal behaviours.

INDICATORS OF STRESS IN DOGS

In order to differentiate signs of stress from normal behaviours, you will need to know your dog's regular demeanour. When relaxed, your dog should have semierect or forward-facing ears, a soft mouth and round eyes. His weight will be distributed on all four paws. If you learn to recognise his 'unstressed normal', you will more easily spot changes that occur during stress. Some of the most common behaviours you may encounter when your dog is stressed include:

SHAKING

Shaking off after a bath is completely normal behaviour, but shaking off after a stressful situation shows that your dog was experiencing or is still experiencing stress that he is trying to alleviate.

PACING

Dogs, just like people, pace when they feel agitated. Some dogs will repeatedly walk in the same pattern around the room or garden when feeling anxious.

CHANGE IN TAIL POSITION

When scared, dogs often tightly tuck their tails.

WHINING OR BARKING

Vocalising is everyday selfexpression in dogs but may intensify when stressed. Fearful or tense dogs may whine or bark to get your attention or self-soothe.

YAWNING

Dogs yawn when tired or bored, but they also yawn when stressed. A stressful yawn is more prolonged and intense than a sleepy yawn.

DROOLING AND LICKING

Dogs may drool and lick excessively when they are nervous.

PANTING

Dogs pant when hot, excited or stressed. If your dog is panting even though he has not exercised, he may be experiencing stress.

AVOIDANCE OR DISPLACEMENT BEHAVIOUR

When faced with an unwelcome situation, dogs may 'escape' by focusing on something else. They may sniff the ground, lick their genitals or simply turn away. Sometimes, as a means of escape, they will engage in diversion activities such as digging or circling.

CHANGES IN BODY POSTURE

Dogs usually bear weight evenly on all four legs. If a healthy dog with no known skeletal problems shifts his weight to his hind legs or cowers, he may be showing stress.

HIDING OR ESCAPE BEHAVIOUR

An extension of avoidance, some tense dogs literally move behind their owners to hide. They may even nudge their owners to keep moving away from the scary object or situation. When out and about, dogs may hide behind trees or parked cars.

CHANGE IN EYE APPEARANCE

Stressed dogs have dilated pupils and blink rapidly. They may open their eyes wide and show more of the white of their eye than usual, causing them to appear shocked.

CHANGE IN EAR POSITION

Stressed dogs often pin their ears back against their head.

CHANGES IN BODILY FUNCTIONS

Like people, nervous dogs can feel a sudden urge to go to the bathroom. When your dog urinates shortly after meeting a new canine friend, he may be marking territory and reacting to the stress simultaneously. Refusal of food and a loss of bowel control are also stress indicators.

SHEDDING

Shedding of the coat often occurs when a dog is anxious.

HELPING YOUR DOG TO HANDLE STRESS

If your dog is stressed, the first thing to do is remove him from the stressor. Ideally, you want to find a quiet place for him to settle. Try not to comfort him too much, as this can cause him to become even more overstimulated. However, if you feel you want to pet him or give him treats, ask him to perform an activity, like sitting, for the treat, as this will help distract him from the stress and give him a sense of normality.

If, on the other hand, your dog is consistently stressed, you should speak to your vet. After ensuring that your dog's behaviour does not have a medical cause, your vet may give you some suggested activities, refer you to a behaviourist or even prescribe anxiety-reducing medications. These generally anxious dogs can also benefit from regular exercise and having a safe place in the home to retreat to when life becomes too much.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Stress is not always bad and sometimes helps to keep our dogs safe from danger. Yet, when it occurs in response to more innocuous stimuli or occurs very frequently, we need to find ways to help our dogs to handle stress and live happy and calm lives!