Doggy communication is made up from body language and sounds – some of which are very subtle. As humans we tend to miss a lot of what our dog is trying to tell us!
Dogs can show a variety of different behaviours both subtle and obvious when they are stressed, uncomfortable, frustrated and or confused.
Here are some common ‘stress’ behaviours dogs may exhibit:
- Lip licking
- Sniffing the ground
- Yawning – although the dog is clearly not tired
- Turing their head away
- Turning their body away for you
- Panting – not a hot day or the dog has not been exercised
Other behaviours include:
- Drooling
- Avoiding eye contact
- Body shaking or Shivering – even though they are not wet
- Whining
- Barking
- Growling
- Baring teeth
- Stress shedding of coat
- Body freeze – stiff and still body position
- Slow tail way
Each dog is different and may show different behaviours in certain situations. It is important as owners to observe your dog’s body language and learn to read what your dog is trying to tell you.