Do you sometimes feel stressed, unwell, or tired and not want a kiss or a cuddle, preferring a little quiet time or maybe to settle down with a bath and a book after a long day? It’s easy (most of the time!) to communicate that to your husband or wife, isn’t it? How do you think your dog communicates the same need for a bit of space? How do you “speak dog” when you’re not one yourself? It can all be quite confusing can’t it! Luckily scientists have done YEARS of research on the subject as we all want to understand man’s best friend. 

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Did you know dogs yawn not only because they are tired, but to communicate anxiety about a stressful situation?

Yawning is one of the many ways our dogs use their bodies to let us know how they feel. 

Do dogs “speak” to each other?

Dogs have lots of ways that they communicate with each other using their bodies. They frequently use physical body language over vocalisation in fact, unlike us humans. Our communication styles are really quite different, but dogs have also developed ways to communicate specifically with humans, in fact, my puppy has ME quite well trained already!

How might I know If my dog is getting anxious or uncomfortable in a situation?

In most instances there is a progression of signs that your dog will show to let you know they are uncomfortable. Each communication or warning sign escalates up a “ladder”, from the more subtle signs to the end point of a bite, if your dog feels the “threat” or uncomfortable situation they are feeling isn’t resolving and they are fearful. It is important we are aware of our dogs’ body language so we can make sure they stay feeling safe and happy, so we don’t inadvertently cause a dangerous situation. 

What are the first signs my dog is uncomfortable?

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Most dogs will start trying to avoid an uncomfortable situation and their body language can be quite subtle, so you must watch closely. There are typically lots of signs before a dog bites. Just like people, some dogs are better communicators than others! We have to be on the look-out and react appropriately.

YAWNING is one of the early signs of stress, discomfort, or fear in a dog. 

They could just be tired though! Anxiety yawns tend to be more frequent and last longer than yawns induced by being tired. You can also take a look at the other signs your dog may be displaying to communicate with you, there’s usually more than one. 

Take a look at the infographic for a little help. 

So, yawning can be a sign of anxiety for my dog, what should I do?

Yes, indeed, you should look out for the signs of anxiety we’ve identified here, to help you understand if your dog is feeling uncomfortable with your interactions and if so, respect your dogs boundaries and give him some space. Some dogs are super cuddly and love social interactions and others prefer their space. It may be that you just picked the wrong time, and your dog is not in a cuddly mood and so a kiss may not be off the cards altogether – just right now. 

What could happen if I don’t recognise the signs of anxiety my dog is communicating?

Recognising signs of anxiety and stress in your dog is important. When a dog feels their communication signals are being ignored, their anxiety levels grow, until they escalate their behaviour in an attempt to stop the situation. Escalation due to anxiety, fear or stress, is a defensive mechanism designed to protect the dogs emotional or physical wellbeing. It isn’t because the dog is just a bad dog. Unfortunately, we do hear of dogs that have “bitten out of nowhere”. Whilst it is possible, as a learnt behaviour, for dogs to not demonstrate signs of anxiety and escalate straight to a bite, most of the time, there will have been signs and signals. Unfortunately, owners may not have known what to look for, missed the signals, or ignored them, without knowing the potential consequences.  

If my dog growls or bares his teeth, what should I do?

Give them some space! A time out, changing the situation or stopping the interaction altogether is advised. Do NOT be tempted to tell your dog off. A dog that is told off for displaying anxious behaviour can learn over time to skip steps of the warning “ladder” and may go straight to biting. This is a dangerous situation as you may not have time to pick up on the earlier cues of anxiety before people or animals are injured. De-escalation is much more important. Give them space. 

I see signs of anxiety in my dog often, can I get help?

Absolutely, your veterinarian is the first place you should turn. Your vet is best placed to make sure your dog is in tip top health and that there isn’t an underlying cause of anxiety or fear, in situations they should otherwise be comfortable in such as pain or an illness. Your dog may have been happy with a nice big kiss previously; but now is showing signs that they are less than happy with that interaction, if something has changed, you should definitely seek medical advice. Fear and anxiety are not the only reasons why your dog may bite and so it is best left to professionals to diagnose and treat behavioural concerns. 

The vet may suggest medication and/or refer you on to a specialist behaviourist. It’s important the team work together with yourself, to make sure your dog is as supported as possible so they can lead a happy, healthy life alongside you. 

References:

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