Signs your dog is feeling anxious
Recognising fear or anxiety in your dog can help you resolve or avoid situations they find difficult.
If you can recognise the first signs of fear or anxiety in dogs, then you’ll be able to help your dog avoid the things that worry them and keep clear of potential conflicts.
This will help prevent your dog from developing more established fears and keep everyone in the family, including your dog, feeling safe.
How to tell if your dog is feeling anxious
Many dog body language signals are subtle and often happen very quickly so it can be easy to miss them. You need to consider your dog’s whole body and the context of the situation.
It’s also useful to recognise the signs that your dog is relaxed, so you'll also know when they’re not feeling this way. Our guide to understanding your dog’s body language should help you.
If you see any of the signs below, consider what might be causing your dog to behave in this way, and how you can help them to feel better. They may be various ways you could manage the situation, including calmly moving your dog away from something worrying them, or ending an activity and leaving your dog alone.
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Why might dogs show aggression?
Dogs are naturally very social and cooperative animals. When dogs show aggression it’s usually a clear sign that they’re frightened and feel that they’re in direct threat.
They show aggression as an attempt to increase the distance between themselves and whatever is worrying them. If the behaviour works, they’re likely to repeat it again the next time they’re in a similar situation.
The more you practise recognising the subtle, initial signs that a dog is feeling uncomfortable or afraid, the sooner you’ll be able to respond appropriately and prevent the situation from getting worse.
If you can respond to their subtle signs of discomfort, your dog will be less likely to communicate by lunging, baring teeth, snarling, growling, snapping, or biting.
The more we can show our dogs that we understand and respect how they are feeling, the more they can trust us to help them. And the safer they will feel.
Ignoring or discouraging these kinds of signs from your dog could teach them that there’s no point in showing subtle signs of fear because it doesn’t work. So next time they might feel that they have no other option than to lung or bite straight away.
If your dog shows any signs of aggression, avoid the triggers for that behaviour as much as possible. This might mean keeping your dog completely away from whatever appears to be making them feel uncomfortable. Then seek help from your vet or a qualified behaviourist as soon as possible.
Pain and medical disorders can affect your dog’s behaviour. If your dog shows signs of being fearful, speak to your vet to check if there are no underlying health problems that might be contributing to their behaviour.
If the vet finds that your dog is in good health, then ask for a referral to an accredited behaviourist for individual support.
Contact our Behaviour Support Line
Need help with your dog’s training or behaviour? Contact our Behaviour Support Line for free expert advice.
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