How do stress and restlessness manifest in dogs?
Dogs have drawn the short straw by having to live as four-legged creatures in a world of bipeds. Often, they have to find their way in our daily lives and submit to it. The loud TV, a child running by, or a car ride to the grandparents—completely normal and everyday things for us can be quite stressful for your dog.
Sometimes you don't even notice the signs because the dog tries so hard not to lose its composure and only shows subtle calming signals shows. That's why it's especially important to familiarize yourself with →dog body language and to observe your own dog closely and get to know them well.
Calming signals in dogs
Dogs usually communicate quite clearly with us. Often, we just don't interpret certain so-called calming signals correctly. These are body language behaviors through which our dogs communicate with each other and also with us. After all, your dog can't say, "Um... that child is a little too close for me right now." Instead, they might turn their head away or yawn, signaling that it's a bit much for them at the moment.
Yawning seems so normal, but it can be a clear sign of stress in your dog!
First signs of stress or nervousness in dogs are
tail tucked in
Turning away of the head
Yawning
frequent shaking
repeated lip licking
Tension, stiffening up or restlessness
increased drooling
Panting with lips pulled up into a point (looks like your dog is grinning)
If the first signals are not noticed and the stress-inducing factors are not reduced or your dog is not calmed by you, nervousness increases. You can then usually observe the following additional signs of stress in your dog:
unpleasant odor from the mouth or the dog in general
Trembling
crouched body posture
Raising of the neck hairs and the rear back hairs (called hackles or brush)
Chewing or licking the paws
increased hair loss and/or →dandruff
noticeable, repeated barking
Whining, howling
destroying objects
However, keep in mind that just like every person, every dog reacts differently to stress and therefore the signs can vary and be diverse. Some dogs get really wound up when stressed and bark or destroy things, while others suffer in silence, get upset stomachs, or are constantly tired.
Gnawing at the paws or excessive licking can be a sign of stress and may lead to a lick granuloma.
Physical triggers for restless behavior in dogs
If your dog is showing signs of stress, it's a good idea to seek veterinary advice. Hormonal changes, discomfort, and pain cause stress in our dogs just like in us humans and lead to behavioral changes. Your trusted veterinarian can give your pet a thorough check-up and see if perhaps a disease or something else is bothering your dog.
Possible causes of physically induced stress could be:
(upcoming) →heat cycle
(excessive) sexual drive
Cushing's syndrome
Infections such as a urinary tract infection
Inflammations such as →pancreatitis
a heart condition such as →heart cough
a tumor disease
If your dog shows acute stress symptoms such as severe panting or trembling, you should go to an animal clinic immediately. This could be an emergency due to a →poisoning, gastric torsion, or respiratory distress caused by, for example, a swallowed object.
Psychological causes of stress in dogs
Stress factors are not always tangible or diagnosable as diseases. If the stress is psychological, even simple things like the vacuum cleaner, car rides or visits from strangers can trigger stress and restless behavior. Why, for example, bicycles or children trigger stress in your dog may have various causes and should be discussed together with dog trainers or behavioral therapists.
Possible causes of psychological stress in dogs can include:
traumatic experiences
stress factors in daily life
insufficient →socialization
overstimulation
excess energy
Sometimes the causes of stress are interrelated. For example, a →dog from a shelter who was not properly socialized as a puppy and exposed to environmental stimuli may be overwhelmed by life in a city apartment and develop fears. That's why it's so important that you work with professionals on the cause, to relieve your dog of stress and give them a relaxed life.
Dogs from animal shelters have often been through a lot and carry some emotional baggage. For them, our everyday life is often quite stressful at first.
What can I do if my dog is very stressed?
To help your dog sustainably so that they become more relaxed, it's important to find the underlying cause of the stress. If it's a disease, then of course the appropriate treatment should be started. Once your furry friend has fully recovered, they should be able to relax again and the stress should subside after a while. To make the treatment as pleasant as possible for your dog, you can hide tablets for example in tasty treats like →in our liver pâté. Visits to the vet can be rounded off with an especially delicious treat.
Delicious Rewards for Brave Dogs
With psychological stress it's (unfortunately) not quite so simple. But even here, you can help your dog to calm down better and deal with stressful situations more confidently. Since every dog is quite individual, you should look for a good dog trainer. Together, you can work with your furry friend so that car rides, being left alone, meeting other dogs, children, and more are not so stressful anymore.
Plenty of rest
In general, you should make sure that your dog gets enough rest at home. Normally, dogs rest 16-18 hours a day—does your dog manage that? Some dogs have to learn this first, while others are naturally good at relaxing. A dedicated retreat where no children just pop in to say "hi" or lots of people walk by, is very important for dogs. Here, they can really recharge their batteries and be ready for new, challenging situations.
Step by step
Also make sure not to overwhelm your dog. Sometimes we want too much too quickly, because we don't find certain situations all that bad. If your dog is insecure and shy, don't force them to say hello to your friends. Give your dog time to gradually get used to stressful situations. Stand by your pet calmly and relaxed and they will surely thank you with a vigorous wag of the tail!
Be there for your dog! You are still the greatest help for your four-legged friend. If you are relaxed and calm, he can learn to be as well.
Measures to reduce stress for dogs
Depending on the cause of the stress and your dog's personality, you can also help them reduce stress more quickly. Maybe you know it from yourself, that in a stressful situation you have a lot of pent-up energy inside you that you somehow need to get rid of. Many dogs feel the same way. Some of them find it helpful to literally shake off the stressshake it off. Others prefer something calmer like sniffing and still others find physical contact with their person helpful.
Maybe your dog finds it helpful in a stressful situation to:
pull on a tug toy.
search for a few treats scattered on the floor.
lick on a treat tube like our →poultry pâté to lick.
be gently petted by you.
If you can't get your dog to relax, you should seek help from dog trainers or behavioral therapists. They are familiar with possible causes and effective training methods and are happy to support you and your dog on your journey.
