Is my dog stressed or happy? What is my Dog Behavior + Body Language telling me?
"Dogs do speak. You just have to learn how to listen.ā - Anonymous
It can be challenging to try and understand your dogās behavior and why they do the things they do. Paying attention to slight changes in body language and behavioral cues can give us a lot of insight into what they may be feeling!Ā
Dogs can pant for many reasons. The obvious reasons are it being warm outside or your pup has been playing hard or exercising. Panting can also mean your dog is in pain or has just experienced a traumatic event. Something as simple as moving to a new apartment or losing their favorite toy can be a traumatic experience for a dog!
āThankfully, dogs live in the moment, so repetition and consistency can move them out of that negative event and association. Often, we pet parents have a tendency to shield our pups from things that give them anxiety, this could in fact make the problem worse. If you believe it is behavior and psychological, contact us, or find a local canine behavior specialist.ā (Desh Rain)
If you think your dog could be in distress, you may see other signs such as restlessness, shaking, change in breathing rate, or signs of other illnesses. Be sure to determine the source of pain as soon as possible to start the healing process. Always check with your veterinarian or canine behavioral specialist for a detailed course of action.
A dog who is under stress or has anxiety may also pant excessively. A dog visiting the vetās office, for example! Be sure to watch for body language signals and if itās possible, remove the dog from the situation that is causing discomfort. If you cannot determine the panting is stress related, then we recommend taking your pet to the vet. It is important for your dog to be seen by a professional and know that if your dog has discomfort visiting the vet, try searching for a veterinarian local to you that does home visits!
If you anticipate your dog will be in a stressful situation and would like to be proactive, contact Applehead City Pet for tips and solutions to help you and your dog through it.
Tail wagging is often misunderstood as a dog being happy and friendly. In reality, tail wagging could mean a dog is feeling a wide range of emotion from excitement to fear. To determine which emotion your dog may be feeling, pay attention to the way they hold their tail and the directions itās wagging. Relaxed and happy dogs usually hold their tails at a neutral level and wag them from side to side. A dog feeling assertive or aggressive will usually hold their tail upright and have shorter, more twitch-like wags. A tail wagging down low between a dog's legs could mean he or she is scared or stressed.Ā
Most people associate yawning with tiredness but yawning can actually be a big indicator as to what emotion your dog is feeling. A dog who yawns excessively is usually under some sort of stress or feeling anxious. A pup who dislikes car rides or experiences motion sickness may yawn frequently. The yawn is a way for the dog to try and calm him or herself down.
It can also mean a dog is feeling submissive and wants to show a sign of indifference to its encounter or situation. You may see this situation with a dog who is entering an area such as a dog park and wants to tell the other dogs that itās not a threat. Yes, dogs do have behaviors to communicate with other dogs!Ā
Ā The best way to determine how your dog is feeling is to pay detailed attention to how he or she acts and looks during a neutral state. From there, it will be easier to notice any slight changes in behavior and body language. If you'd like to talk through your dog's behavior to determine what is right for you - we invite you toĀ contact us for more information and a free consultationĀ
Sources:Ā https://www.akc.orgĀ and Desh Rain of Applehead City Pet
