We had just moved back in to our newly renovated house in 2006. Our vintage and new wood floors were finished to a mirror-like sheen that was truly lovely to look at. They also bore the sweaty paw prints of our newly adopted Rottweiler, Willie. If you had asked me at the time, I would have told you that he was adjusting well, happy with his new routine and fitting into our busy family.
His paw prints told another story.
I’ve said it before; dogs are masters of subtlety. If your pooch is exhibiting one or more of these behaviors, chances are he’s feeling more anxious than you may have guessed.
Sweaty Paws: When we get stressed, our hands may start to perspire. Yup, same holds true for our dogs.
Drooling: If he’s not anticipating his next meal, your dog may be worried about his current situation.
Panting: He’s not hot and he hasn’t just exercised.
The following are considered displacement behaviors, which are actions your dog may exhibit that appear to be out of context:
Lip Licking: Hungry? Maybe, but he’s probably feeling little stressed by what’s going on around him, or what’s being done to him.
Scratching: If you’ve ruled out allergies or fleas, chances are that your dog is asking you to slow down as he throws an important calming signal your way.
Moving Very Slowly: Walking at a snail’s pace may be fatigue, but it could be reluctance to move forward and face whatever is coming next.
Yawning: Your dog is probably not tired if he starts yawning when you ask him to do something that he is uncomfortable or unsure about.
Excessive Drinking: If there’s no medical reason for your dog to be drinking like a fish, but he sucks down the water in his bowl like a dog stranded in the desert, he could be stressed or bored.
Shaking Vigorously: He hasn’t gone swimming or taken a bath.
Extreme Sniffing: If your dog’s nose suddenly drops to the ground and he becomes very, very interested in smelling every blade of grass, he may be feeling conflicted.
Do any of these signs look familiar? Ask yourself why your dog could be feeling anxious. Is it a change in his environment? Are you stressed? Does your dog understand what is being asked of him? Is he comfortable enough to perform (i.e. meeting new people, walking down the street, sniffing a dog, handling whatever mood you’re in)? Is your dog getting enough enrichment and interaction appropriate for his personality and physical ability?
Subtle changes on your part can make a big difference to your dog, and reduce or stop his anxious behaviors.
Question: Have you seen your dog perform any of these signs of anxiety?
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