Signs of stress in dogs: how to spot them and what to do

Your dog yawns in the vet’s waiting room, licks their lips when a child hugs them, or shakes off like they just climbed out of a pool right after passing a big dog. These gestures are so quick that most people miss them, but they’re signs of stress in dogs, and learning to spot them lets you step in before your dog is truly overwhelmed or reacts with a growl.

In this guide you’ll find a table of the most common signals and what else they might mean, how to tell stress apart from other causes, what long-term stress looks like, and what to do the moment you notice it.

What stress is in dogs and when it becomes a problem

Stress is the body’s response to something a dog perceives as a threat, a change or a challenge. Hormones like adrenaline and cortisol are released, preparing the body to flee, defend itself or freeze. In small doses it’s normal and useful: a vet visit or distant thunder triggers acute stress that fades fairly quickly.

It becomes a problem when it’s intense, frequent or prolonged. Chronic stress is linked to digestive upset, lick wounds, behavior changes and a lower quality of life. There’s also a pattern worth knowing about, often called trigger stacking: a dog who has already dealt with fireworks, a houseguest and a walk full of dogs may overreact to a fourth trigger that wouldn’t have bothered them on a calm day.

The most common signs of stress: a quick-reference table

No single signal means much on its own: context is everything. Use this table to recognize the signs and rule out other explanations.

Signal	What it looks like	It could also mean
Yawning	Out of context, during an interaction or in a new place	Sleepiness or fatigue, especially after waking up
Lip or nose licking	A quick flick of the tongue over the nose or lips	They just ate or smell food
Panting	Mouth open with tense, pulled-back corners, no heat or exercise	Heat, exercise, pain or a breathing problem
Whale eye	Head turns away but the eyes stay fixed, showing the whites	Rarely neutral: almost always signals discomfort
Dilated pupils	Very dark eyes even in good light	Dim light or high excitement during play
Ears pinned back	Flat against the head or constantly swiveling	A friendly greeting if the body is loose
Low or tucked tail	Lower than usual for that dog	Breeds with naturally low tails, like greyhounds
Trembling	Shaking when it isn’t cold	Cold, pain, nausea or illness
Shaking off	Like shedding water, right after something tense	After a bath or getting up from a nap
Sudden scratching	In the middle of a greeting or a training exercise	Itching from fleas, allergies or dry skin
Raised front paw	With the body still and tense	Focus or “pointing” in hunting breeds
Sweaty paws	Damp paw prints on the vet’s exam table	A hot room
Sudden shedding	Lots of loose hair all at once during a vet visit	Seasonal shedding
Refusing treats	Won’t take food they usually love	Nausea or simply being full
Tuning out or sniffing the ground	Suddenly sniffs instead of greeting	Normal exploring if the dog is relaxed

Here’s a handy test on walks: offer a treat your dog adores. If they won’t take it, or snatch it roughly, they’re probably too stressed to think, and it’s time to move away.

Mild, moderate and severe: how stress escalates

Signals tend to show up in a fairly predictable order:

Mild. Yawning, lip licking, turning the head, blinking, sniffing the ground, moving slowly. Many of these are known as calming signals, a term popularized by Norwegian trainer Turid Rugaas: the dog is trying to lower the tension in the situation.
Moderate. Ears back, low tail, crouched body, panting, whale eye, trying to move away or hide behind you.
Severe. Stiffening, intense trembling, trying to escape, growling, showing teeth, urinating or expressing the anal glands (a strong, distinctive smell).

The sooner you step in, the easier it is for your dog to calm down. If severe signals show up often and end in growling or snapping, it’s no longer just a stress problem: read our guide to dog aggression and how to help.

How to tell stress from other causes

Three questions will help you interpret what you’re seeing:

What just happened? A yawn after a nap is sleepiness; the same yawn when a stranger leans over your dog probably isn’t.
Are several signals showing up together? One lip lick says little. Lip licking, ears back, a low tail and a stiff body all at once is a clear message.
Is this normal for your dog? Know their baseline: how they carry their tail, ears and body when they’re relaxed at home. Stress shows up as a change from that baseline.

Stress and pain share many signs: panting, trembling, stiffness, irritability, hiding. If you can’t find an obvious trigger, review the signs your dog is in pain. To read the rest of the body in more detail, see our guide to dog body language.

Signs of chronic stress: when it lasts for weeks

Ongoing stress doesn’t always show up as one specific gesture. More often, it appears as changes that creep in gradually:

Destructive behavior, especially when left alone.
Excessive licking or chewing of paws or flanks, sometimes with sores or reddish-brown staining on light fur.
Repetitive behaviors: tail chasing, spinning, barking at nothing.
Sleeping poorly or always being on alert, even at home.
Appetite changes and diarrhea that comes and goes.
Startling at every noise or reacting to things they used to ignore.
Peeing in the house without a urinary problem.
Withdrawing, or the opposite, refusing to leave your side.

What stresses dogs the most

Loud noises: fireworks, thunderstorms, construction. If that’s your dog, we have a specific plan for the dog afraid of fireworks and thunder.
Being left alone, especially without gradual practice. Start with our guide on how to teach your dog to stay alone.
Vet and grooming visits, particularly handling and slippery surfaces.
Changes at home: moving, renovations, a new baby or pet, schedule changes.
Too little activity, or too little rest. A day with no sniffing or play is stressful, and so is not getting enough sleep: adult dogs typically need around 12–14 hours of sleep and rest a day.
Forced interactions: hugs, kids chasing them, being picked up, or dogs crowding them at the park.
Punishment and unpredictable environments, where your dog never knows what’s coming next.

What to do when you see signs of stress

In the moment:

Add distance from whatever is bothering your dog: cross the street, turn around or move to another room.
Don’t force or scold. Speak calmly and offer contact if your dog seeks it. Comforting a scared dog doesn’t reinforce fear: it helps them feel safe.
Offer something that lowers arousal: scatter treats in the grass to sniff out, a snuffle mat or a lick mat.
Give them a safe spot: a quiet corner away from foot traffic, where no one bothers them.
Write down what happened. Time, trigger, signals and how long it took to settle. That log is gold for spotting patterns and for your vet or trainer.

Long term, the key is reducing triggers, keeping routines predictable and teaching your dog to relax. We walk through it step by step in how to calm a stressed dog.

Frequently asked questions

Does yawning always mean my dog is stressed?

No. Dogs yawn when they’re sleepy, waking up or stretching, just like we do. A yawn counts as a stress signal when it happens out of context: during an uncomfortable interaction, in the vet’s exam room or while being scolded. Also check whether it comes with other signals, such as ears back, lip licking or a tense body.

Can a dog wagging its tail be stressed?

Yes. Tail wagging signals emotional arousal, not necessarily happiness. A high, stiff tail with short, fast movements can go along with tension or alertness, and a low tail wagging quickly can signal insecurity. Read the tail together with the rest of the body: a happy dog wags in wide, loose sweeps with a relaxed body.

How long does it take a dog to recover after a scare?

It depends on the dog and how intense the scare was. Many dogs bounce back within minutes, but after a big fright it can take hours to fully settle, and some stay more sensitive for a day or two. During that time, avoid demanding situations and stick to calm walks, sniffing games and plenty of rest.

Can stress make my dog sick?

Chronic stress is linked to recurring diarrhea, poor appetite, skin damage from licking and flare-ups of some existing health problems. Acute stress can also cause short-lived diarrhea, for example after a trip or a stay at a boarding kennel. If digestive signs last more than 24–48 hours or you see blood, call your veterinarian.

Do pheromone diffusers or calming supplements work?

The evidence is limited and results vary a lot from dog to dog. They may help as an add-on in some cases, but they don’t replace identifying and managing the cause of the stress. Check with your veterinarian before buying a supplement: some products interact with medications, and not all have research supporting their effectiveness.

Sources

American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA): Canine and Feline Behavior Management Guidelines.
Fear Free Pets: resources on signs of fear, anxiety and stress in dogs.
Merck Veterinary Manual: normal social behavior and behavioral problems of dogs.
RSPCA: guidance on recognizing stress and fear in dogs.
Rugaas, T. On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals. Dogwise Publishing.