Become a Body Language Detective! Recognizing more subtle signs of stress

Did you know that fear is natural? Adult dog (and other animal!) brains are wired to catalogue familiar sights and sounds as “safe” and new things as “scary.” Imagine a young animal in the wild – as they grow more coordinated and “leave the nest”, fear of unfamiliar things helps keep them safe throughout their lives.

When puppies are first born, everything is new to them! It wouldn‘t be useful to be afraid of everything. Research suggests that puppy brains categorize most of these early experiences as familiar and safe until around 12-16 weeks of age, which is why all your early socialization efforts are so important!

Why It’s Important
As our puppies mature into adolescence and beyond, we want to be aware of how they are experiencing the world. Our goal is for new things introduced later in life to join the “familiar and safe” category, even if mother nature is working against us. To do this, we want detective-level skills at reading their body language, so we can identify even the most subtle signs that a pup is feeling uncomfortable and adjust our plan.

Illustration ©Lili Chin

Subtle Signs of Fear, Anxiety, or Stress
A puppy's body language can tell you a lot about their state of mind. Here are some commonly missed signs a puppy is worried:

Lip licking (even when not receiving food)
Refusing food or physical touch that is normally enjoyed
Furrowed brows with ears pulled back or out to the side
Stressing “Down”:
- Moving stiffly or in slow motion
- Seeming “sleeping” (low energy, exaggerated blinking or squinting)
- Yawning
Stressing “Up”:
- Excessive panting
- Hyperarousal (pacing, pulling, sniffing, itching); unable to settle
- Hypervigilant (constant scanning or looking around); unable to focus

Do some of the behaviors in the stressing “up” group sound a lot like a puppy who is acting “naughty”? Sometimes fear and stress can appear like distraction. Is the pup giving you a hard time or having a hard time? Emotions play a huge role in how dogs behave. When we troubleshoot undesired behaviors, it’s important to change anything that could be affecting their emotional state too!

Fear Not

Check out an illustrated guide on the body language of fear in dogs.

Poster: Body Language of Fear in Dogs

Practice your body language detective skills!
Can you identify the body language signs that suggest dogs are uncomfortable? Click on the video links below to watch short clips to see if you can spot the signs. Some signs are obvious, but others are more subtle. Remember, reading dog body language is all about the whole picture!