How To Tell If Your Dog Is Stressed

Below, there is an extended list of some of the signs that your dog may exhibit if he or she is experiencing stress. Keep in mind that many of these signs do not always mean that your dog is stressed. It could mean a variety of things, but if your dog is experiencing more than one of these symptoms, or you have determined that the sign is not an indicator of something else, then you probably have an anxious dog on your hands.

The most important thing is to be aware of your dog’s reactions when they are in stressful situations so you understand how they display their anxiety. Getting to know your dog is one of the best ways to determine whether your dog is trying to tell you that he or she is stressed.

Why It’s Important to Understand The Degree to Which Your Dog is Stressed

Since stress and anxiety is experienced at different levels, it’s not only important to assess whether your dog is anxious, but also how anxious he or she might be. Pet Remedy works with dogs of all anxiety levels, but if your dog is experiencing a high level of stress, it’s important to address the situation immediately in order to prevent it from escalating into violence.

If your dog is experiencing a lower level of anxiety, it’s nice to be set at ease knowing that your dog is actually only showing symptoms of mild anxiety. This is also a sign that your dog would probably respond really well to preventative stress measures; even once your dog has calmed down, it is useful to invest in anxiety prevention as you may have a dog that is slightly more prone to stress than others.

Here are some signs that your dog might be experiencing mild anxiety:

Shaking or panting

Dogs sometimes shake if they are stressed, but it could also be a sign that they are excited or cold…or that they have figured out that you give them attention when they shake! If your dog’s shaking is ongoing, or if they have other signs that they may be ill, shaking could also be a sign that your dog is not feeling well. Shaking could well be a sign that your dog is experiencing anxiety, but make sure that you rule out other possibilities before assuming that they are actually stressed.

Excessive panting is another sign of mild anxiety, although this too can occur if a dog is thirsty or overheated.

Licking or chewing more than usual

A certain amount of licking or chewing is normal for any dog and actually a sign that he or she is healthy. If you’re noticing that your dog is doing this more often than usual, however, this may well be a sign that your dog is experiencing some form of stress.

Hiding or seeking comfort

Depending on your dog’s personality, stress could be expressed either by wanting solitude or by seeking your company and attention. All dogs love affection and it’s healthy for all dogs to have time time on their own, but if your dog is seeking more comfort from you than usual, or if your dog is isolating him or herself more than is typical, this could mean that they are feeling a little anxious.

Reduced appetite

If your dog isn’t normally a picky eater, a reduced appetite may be an indication that your dog is feeling stressed. It could mean that your dog does not feel comfortable enough to eat, which means that it would be useful to address your dog’s anxiety prior to expecting them to chow down on their dinner.

The more you get to know your dog, the more you’ll be able to recognize the mild signs of anxiety. Essentially, any behaviour that is out of the ordinary could be an indication that something is making your dog feel uncomfortable. If you’ve tried Pet Remedy and your dog is still exhibiting those signs, or if the symptoms haven’t changed over a period of time, it’s advisable to have your dog checked out by a vet to be sure that the symptom isn’t an indicator of an illness.

Here are a few signs that your dog is stressed and might suffer from moderate to severe anxiety:

Unlike the signs for mild anxiety, where the symptoms may not necessarily indicate stress, most of the moderate to severe anxiety signs are clear indicators that your dog is suffering from stress.

Excessive Barking

Barking is a normal form of communication for dogs, but if they start barking excessively, it’s quite likely a sign that they are experiencing stress of some kind. It can be especially stressful if your dog’s incessant barking causes you stress, which can then cause more anxiety for your dog, resulting in an endless, vicious cycle.

Trying to Escape

If your dog is continuously trying to escape, this is a clear sign that the home environment is causing them stress. This could be for a wide variety of reasons, but the best approach is to address the anxiety that your dog is feeling first, as your dog may simply not be able to calm down on his or her own.

Keep in mind that some male dogs try to escape to find a female to breed with, but even this drive to mate can be minimized by treating his underlying stress. Also, be sure that your dog isn’t being confined for too long, especially in a crate, but if the times that he or she is alone is reasonable, this is a strong sign that your dog is experiencing stress.

Lots of Energy

Especially with small dogs, when dogs have a lot of energy, it can be really fun and entertaining to watch. Keep in mind, however, if your dog is continuously needing to burn energy or if he or she suddenly starts doing laps around the living room when company is over, the excess energy is probably a sign that your dog is suffering from moderate to severe anxiety.

Aggressiveness

Aggressiveness is every dog owner’s worst fears come true. While aggressive behaviour needs to be addressed directly with training and appropriate discipline, it’s important to recognize that the underlying cause of aggression is stress.

Excessive Chewing

The more stressed a dog is, the more their chewing tends to escalate. This is not the case for all dogs, but it is a good idea to monitor your dog’s chewing, as it is a fairly easy way to monitor the anxiety level of your dog. In addition to implementing proper chewing training and finding good chew toys to help curb the destructive behaviour, addressing the stress that is causing the chewing is a good way to solve the problem for good…and helping your dog calm down at the same time.

Excreting Indoors

Not all indoor excretion is a sign of stress, especially as some dogs’ bladders can be weaker when they get older or if they are not let outdoors often enough. But if this is a recurring problem, especially if your dog is younger, it could be a sign that they are too stressed to wait to go outside. Be sure to check with your vet to make sure there isn’t a health problem that is causing your dog to urinate inside, but if it turns out that your dog is healthy, it’s time to double down on reducing your dog’s stress.
Whether your dog is only moderately anxious or is experiencing a high level of stress, a variety of stress-relieving measures would be useful, starting with Pet Remedy: a natural, effective stress remedy  Keep in mind that daily exercise, nutritious food and a calm environment are also useful ways to reduce or eliminate your dog’s anxiety. Click here to learn more about how Pet Remedy works, how it has been clinically tested to reduce stress, and how you can purchase Pet Remedy now to instantly reduce your dog’s stress.