The #1 Sign Your Dog Is Stressed, According to Experts
Interacting with a dog can lower anxiety and improve mood, and there's research to prove it. However, dogs experience stress too, and it's up to their humans to help them through it—first, by recognizing the signs of stress in dogs.
"No one wants to be stressed, even your dog," says Kait Hembree, the head of training at GoodPup. "The biggest reason to recognize that your dog is stressed is so that you can prevent their stress from escalating further."
Hembree says that as dogs become more upset, they'll send more pronounced SOS signals via undesired behaviors, including biting.
"[It's] the last thing we want," she says.
As with humans, stress can also affect a dog's overall health.
"A dog who is stressed may hide, no longer seek attention, eat less and have less energy," says Leslie Gillette, DVM, a veterinarian at Chewy. "Many stressed dogs have urinary or fecal accidents in the house or even vomit or have diarrhea...By helping your dog manage their stress, you can keep them healthy and engaged."
Knowing the signs of stress is the first step to helping your dog stay physically and mentally well. Experts shared the various ways a dog might be telling you they're stressed, including one telltale red flag.
Related: Keep Your Pup Playful and Happy—9 Ways To Fill Your Dog’s Emotional Cup, According to Pet Experts
Why It's Hard to Figure Out if a Dog Is Stressed
Pet parenthood can be rewarding but challenging. One hurdle? Determining whether your dog is stressed.
"A lot of the time figuring out a dog’s stress comes to challenge some preconceived ideas about dogs, such as that they’re always happy," says Ali Smith, a positive puppy expert and Rebarkable founder. "Sure, their [American Kennel Club] description says they’re outgoing, friendly and brave, but yours may get stressed just looking at a local fire truck."
Also, dog stress isn't one-size-fits-all, even for pups within the same breed.
"All dogs are individuals, and each dog...will express their stress in ways that are unique to them," says Philip Tedeschi, human-animal connection expert with Rover.
What Are the Risks of a Stressed-Out Dog?
Not to pile on the stress for you, as a dog parent, but stress is a risky business in pets. Dr. Gillette explains that stress in dogs can cause:
Weight loss
Injury to self or others
Loss of desire to engage in normal social interaction
Depression
Lethargy
Loss of sleep
Overgrooming
Inappropriate urination or defecation
The No. 1 Sign Your Dog Is Stressed
It's a challenging one to answer because each dog is unique. However, vocalizations like growling are a hallmark sign of stress.
"[A growl] normally a sign we associate with aggression, but it’s the ultimate sign that your dog is stressed in the situation they’re in," Smith explains.
Dr. Gillette also flagged growling.
"Dogs manifest stress differently, just like people, so there is no one sign of stress that would fit every dog and scenario," Dr. Gillette says. "However, common behavioral changes may include vocalization, like whining, barking and growling."
Why Is Growling a Sign of Stress in Dogs?
Growling isn't just a sign your dog is stressed—it's one of the last signs they're not in a good headspace.
"A growl [is a sign] their stress is reaching a point where they’re warning you, very loudly, to leave them alone," Smith says. "This can happen because we allowed our child to use the family dog like a climbing frame or because your dog is confronted with the thing they fear most in the whole world: a bath."
Related: The 5 Love Languages of a Dog and How To Offer Them Daily
Other Signs Your Dog Is Stressed
Physical signs
Stress can manifest physically. Dr. Gillette says common physical signs of dog stress include:
A stiff, wide-based stance
Ears pinned back against the head
Tucked tail
Crouching or making themselves smaller
Dilated pupils
Yawning
Lip licking
Panting
Trembling
Sneezing
Yes, really.
"One of the oddest yet highly indicative signals that my personal dog is stressed is sneezing," Hembree says. "I suspect that when she is stressed, physiologically, her body releases hormones that cause some swelling of her mucous membranes, and this results in her sneezing."
Your gut
Dog parent intuition is a thing—no one knows your pet better than you.
"With our own dogs, we know them well, quickly recognize changes in demeanor, social interactions, vocalizations, energy level and other behavioral indicators, such as lack of interest in food or play," Tedeschi says.
Knowing your dog's "normal" can help you determine any significant deviations from it.
"This requires that we both know our dogs well and are being observant of changes in their everyday functioning," Tedeschi says.
Related: Your Dog Communicates More Than You'd Think—Veterinarians Share How To Decode Their Body Language
How To Help Your Stressed Dog
1. Remove them from the situation if possible
As a pet parent, you may be able to get your dog away from whatever is stressing them out.
"Take them to another location that is familiar and comfortable, ideally a safe space," Hembree says. "You can even create a safe place for your dog such as a crate or small room."
Hembree says a safe space should have creature comforts like toys, a cozy bed and perhaps food.
"Guardians can even leave a piece of clothing with their smell," Hembree adds.
2. Play white noise and calming music
Like tiny humans, stressed-out pups can benefit from white noise and soothing tunes.
"Music such as jazz and classical, soft rock, and reggae has been shown to alleviate stress and anxiety behaviors for dogs," Dr. Gillette says.
Chewy put together a calming playlist for pets on Spotify.
3. Provide plenty of exercise
Dogs require physical and mental stimulation daily, and not getting it can be seriously stressful.
"This can be as simple as a sniff and stroll on a long leash in a quieter area," Hembree says. "These appropriate activities can serve as great stress-reducing outlets."
4. Give plenty of positive reinforcement
Raise your hand if you like it when someone yells at you to relax when you're stressed.
No takers? OK. Your dog has similar feelings.
"Calm behavior should be rewarded with high-value treats, and stress behaviors should not be punished," Dr. Gillette says. "Negative reinforcement of unwanted behaviors will often raise anxiety levels and can make the existing situation worse if your dog becomes fearful of being punished, crated or otherwise isolated away from family and companion pets, particularly if separation anxiety is the root cause of the issue."
5. Remember, they're a dog
Humans mean well when they say they consider their dogs a baby. But pups aren't humans.
"We seem to really struggle with that," Smith says. "We expect cats to be cats and do whatever they please. We expect rabbits to dig holes and hamsters to come out at night, but dogs? No one seems to quite understand that they’re a dog."
They may naturally bark at the door because the wind is blowing or accidentally eat your shoe from time to time. Try not to become too stressed yourself, and your pup may follow suit.