How do stress and restlessness manifest in dogs?
Dogs have drawn the short straw by living as four-legged creatures in a world of two-legged ones. Often, they have to find their way in our daily lives without being asked and submit to it. The loud television, a child running by, or a car ride to the grandparents - even completely normal and everyday things for us can be quite stressful for your dog.
Sometimes, you might not notice the signs at all because the dog is trying so hard not to lose its nerves and only shows slight calming signals. For this reason, it is particularly important to engage with the →body language of dogs** and to observe and know your own four-legged friend well.
The calming signals in dogs
Dogs usually communicate quite clearly with us. Often, we just don't know how to properly interpret certain so-called calming signals. These are body language behaviors through which our dogs communicate with each other and also with us. After all, your four-legged friend can't say, "Um... that child is a bit too close for me." Instead, they might turn their head away or yawn, indicating that it's a bit too much for them right now.
[TRANSLATION ERROR] Gähnen scheint so normal, kann aber ein eindeutiges Zeichen für Stress bei deinem Hund sein!
Initial signs of stress or nervousness in dogs are
- tucked tail
- turning the head away
- yawning
- frequent shaking
- recurring licking of the lips
- tension, stiffening, or restlessness
- increased salivation
- panting with ears pulled back (looks like your dog is grinning)
If the first signals are not recognized and the stress-inducing factors are not reduced or your dog is not calmed by you, nervousness increases. You can usually then observe the following additional signs of stress in your dog:
- unpleasant smell from the mouth or the dog in general
- trembling
- crouched body posture
- raised hackles and back fur (called a comb or brush)
- →diarrhea
- nibbling or licking of the paws
- increased hair loss and/or →dandruff
- noticeable, recurring barking
- whining, howling
- destruction of 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 four-legged friends really ramp up when stressed, barking and destroying things, while others suffer in silence, getting stomach upsets or being constantly tired.
[TRANSLATION ERROR] An den Pfoten herumnagen oder viel Lecken kann ein Zeichen von Stress sein und zu einem Leckekzem führen.
Physical triggers for restless behavior in dogs
If your dog shows signs of stress, it is advisable to seek veterinary advice. Hormonal changes, discomfort, and pain cause stress in our dogs just like they do in humans and lead to behavioral changes. Your trusted veterinarian can give your pet a complete check-up and see if perhaps a disease or something else is troubling your dog.
Possible causes of physically induced stress could be:
- (upcoming) →heat
- (excessive) sexual drive
- Cushing's syndrome
- →epilepsy
- →itching, for example due to an →allergy
- →parasite infestation
- infections such as a urinary tract infection
- inflammations such as →pancreatitis
- a heart disease like →heart cough
- a tumor disease
If your dog shows acute stress symptoms such as heavy panting or trembling, you should immediately go to an animal clinic. This could be an emergency due to a →poisoning**, a twisted stomach, or breathing difficulties caused by, for example, an ingested object.
Psychological causes of stress in dogs
Not all stress factors are tangible or diagnosable in the form of diseases. If the stress is psychologically induced, even simple things like the vacuum cleaner, car rides, or visits from strangers can trigger stress and restless behavior. The reason why, for example, bicycles or children cause stress for your dog can lie in different causes and should be discussed together with dog trainers or behavior therapists.
Possible causes of psychological stress in dogs can include:
- traumatic experiences
- stress factors in daily life
- insufficient →socialization
- overwhelm
- →fears
- excess energy
Sometimes the causes of stress can also influence each other. For example, a →dog from a shelter that was not properly socialized during puppyhood and exposed to environmental stimuli may become overwhelmed by life in a city apartment and develop fear. It is all the more important that you work together with professionals on the cause to relieve your four-legged friend of stress and enable them to have a relaxed life.
[TRANSLATION ERROR] Hunde aus dem Tierschutz haben oftmals schon viel erlebt und bringen das ein oder andere Päckchen mit. Nicht selten ist für sie unser Alltag anfangs ziemlich stressig.
What can I do if my dog is very stressed?
To sustainably help your dog become more relaxed, it is important to find the triggering cause of the stress. If it is a disease, appropriate treatment should of course be initiated. Once your furry friend has fully recovered, they should be able to relax again, and the stress should dissipate after a while. To make the treatment as pleasant as possible, you can hide pills in tasty snacks like →in our liver pâté. Visits to veterinarians can be nicely concluded with a particularly tasty treat.
Leckere Belohnungen für tapfere Hunde
With psychological stress, it is (unfortunately) not quite that simple. But even here, you can help your dog to calm down better and handle stressful situations more confidently. Since every four-legged friend is quite individual, you should look for a good dog trainer. Together, you can work with your furry friend to make car rides, being left alone, encounters with other dogs, children, and more not so stressful anymore.
Plenty of Calm
In general, you can ensure that your dog can relax well at home. Typically, dogs rest 16-18 hours a day - can your four-legged friend manage that? Some dogs need to learn this, while others can relax very well on their own. A designated retreat area, where no children can just say "Hello" or many people pass by, is also very important for dogs. Here they can recharge their batteries and be ready for new, challenging situations.
Step by Step
Also, be careful not to overwhelm your dog too much. Sometimes, we want too much too quickly because we don't find certain situations that bad. If your dog is unsure and shy, don't push them to say "Hello" to your friends. Give your four-legged friend time to gradually deal with stressful situations. Stand by your beloved pet calmly and relaxed, and they will surely thank you with a vigorous wag of their tail!
[TRANSLATION ERROR] Sei für deinen Hund da! Du bist immer noch die größte Hilfe für deinen Vierbeiner. Bist du entspannt und ruhig, kann er es auch lernen.
Measures to reduce stress for dogs
Depending on the cause of the stress and how your dog is doing, you can also help them reduce stress more quickly. Perhaps you know from your own experience that in a stressful situation, you have pent-up energy that you need to release somehow. Many dogs feel the same way. Some of them benefit from literally shaking off the stress. Others prefer something calmer like sniffing, and some find physical contact with their caregiver helpful.
Perhaps in a stressful situation, your dog might benefit from:
- tugging on a tug toy.
- searching for some treats scattered on the floor.
- licking from a food tube like our →poultry pâté.
- being gently petted by you.
If you can't manage to help your dog relax, you should seek help from dog trainers or behavior therapists. They are familiar with possible causes and effective training methods and are happy to support you and your dog on your journey.
