My buddy in the back, Bob, is really nervous. How many stress signals can you name? There are four that will jump out to savvy dog people.

Most people understand that dogs who whine, tuck their tails and generally act frantic are stressed out, but there are a whole host of very subtle signs that an alert and savvy dog person will be able to see before a dog reaches full meltdown stage. Knowing what to look for and being willing and able to help a dog feel more safe and secure is an all too often overlooked and unappreciated aspect of responsible pet ownership, but one that can make or break a successful dog adoption.

This is especially true in homes where a new dog is being brought in to live with pre-existing pets. Too often rushing the introduction and acclimation time can lead to difficulties that place the new dog at risk for a fast ride back to the kennel.

Today, let's focus on the subtle signs of stress that many people miss or discount because of their very subtlety.

And frankly, in a society such as ours that values extroversion, some people simply lose patience with dogs with delicate temperaments and rather than helping the dog, respond with frustration.

And if the dog is in public, the owner may do so even moreso as shy dogs are embarrassing if everyone else seems to have outgoing, buoyant dogs because too often we look to our pets to present US in a certain way. Don't be that pet owner.

So looking at that photo above, did you see the pulled back ears, head turned away, 'whale eye' with Bob's whites showing, and his panting? It may be hard to tell he is panting but if you look at the middle dog for comparison, one face says "CHEESE?! I'm so ready, yes!" Meanwhile, you would never know that I was holding one of Bob's high value treats by looking at him. That is not a tongue out in anticipation of deliciousness.

Let's look at another...

Did you know that yawning is one way a dog shows stress? Yes, sometimes a yawn is just a yawn but if, when introducing dogs to new situations or unfamiliar dogs, you see a yawn, boredom is an unlikely reason.

YOU are your dogs biggest advocate in times of stress! If you don't respond to subtle signs, you will give your dog no choice but to escalate until they get their message across. If you will only pay attention when the dog either bolts and hides or, worse, panics and bites....that's on you. Avoiding that scenario is why education and working with trainers is so important.

If you notice yawning, or lip licking, take is as a sign that your dog has had enough and intervene to decrease their stress, and re-establish a sense of safety for them.

Common signs of stress in dogs include:

Lip Licking

Yawning

Freezing

Turning Away

Pacing

Panting

Whale Eye - showing the white part of their eye

As for these guys, I've known these dogs a long time and I knew the introduction of the camera would be stressful for Bob. I knew getting his photo was the END game, and that just getting him to accept that I was holding a camera without him running to hide in the hallway was the real task at hand.

This is where having other non-anxious dogs can really help. Roxie's ultimate boredom with the whole desensitization process helped Bob to consider that the camera was not dangerous. Note the change in his posture and overall demeanor.

Respecting that and taking it slow, working on desensitizing him with treats to the fact the I was holding a camera and that it made clicking sounds allowed me to ultimately capture his sweet, gentle, and yes, still shy self.

Meanwhile, this schmoe...



Need to know more about safe dog-to-dog introductions? Here's a nice article on the topic.

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