Stress signals in dogs
7 Early Stress Signals You Shouldn’t Ignore….
Did you know that many dogs show signs of stress long before they bark, growl or snap? Recognising early signals can prevent behaviour from escalating. Here’s a few signs to look out for:
* Yawning
* A lip‑lick when no treat is present
* Paw lift or shifting weight
* Turning away / avoiding eye contact
* Ears pinned back or lowered body
* Slow motion gait or freezing
* Whale‑eyes or tense facial muscles
When reading body language it’s important to look at the context - one signal on its own doesn’t tell the full story. Look at the whole dog and what’s going on around them.
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About the Author
Vivienne Moore is a Certified and Accredited Dog Behaviourist and Trainer based in Norfolk and founder of Walkies Dog Behaviour & Training.
She holds a Level 5 qualification in Canine Behaviour, is an Accredited Canine Behaviourist (ACB-KSA), a Certified Dog Trainer (PCT-A), ACE Certified Practitioner, Kids Around Dogs Approved Professional, and an accredited member of the Association of INTODogs.
Vivienne specialises in helping dogs struggling with reactivity, fear, anxiety, frustration, and other behavioural challenges using ethical, reward-based methods that focus on understanding the emotions driving behaviour.
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