Your dog may be communicating with you but you don’t know it. We all know that dogs sometimes communicate with us through barking but they have another way of telling you how they are feeling. A dog’s body language can reveal a lot. Here are some signs that your dog is feeling uncomfortable, from slightly uncomfortable to very.
Discover our latest podcast
Yawning and nose licking
If your dog is yawning, it can be a sign of tiredness but it is also a way for them to relieve tension in their jaw. This can be a sign that your dog feels uncomfortable.
If your dog keeps licking its nose it is a self-soothing movement, similar to when children suck their thumb. If your dog is continuously licking its nose, it may be stressed and trying to calm itself. Your dog may also try and lick the nose of the person or animal they want to leave.
Looking or walking away
Just like people dogs need space too. If your dog is starting to look away from someone or a situation, it is their way of telling you that they have had enough.
If you don’t pick up on that first clue, your dog might turn around completely and sit with its back to you. This is a clear sign that your dog has had enough and needs space.
Your dog might also start pawing someone away when it needs space.
If after all of these signs the person or animal hasn’t removed themselves from your dog’s space, your dog will move instead. If your dog is feeling very uncomfortable it will remove itself from the situation and will often find its safe space.
Growling, snap and bite
If for some reason no one has picked up your dog’s uncomfortable behaviour, things can escalate if the dog is unable to remove itself from the stressful situation.
Your dog may start to growl to show its discomfort. This may be one of the most obvious signs that your dog is uncomfortable and if your dog starts to growl you should definitely step in to help ease the situation.
If you don’t, your dog may snap at people or other animals. If your dog snaps, they are warning the element that is making them uncomfortable that they will do the necessary to make themselves feel more secure.
The last step your dog will do when it is extremely uncomfortable and nothing has been done is bite. If the dog sees the element as a threat or simply scary, it will bite if none of its other steps have worked.
Read more:
⋙ This is what your dog’s sleeping position reveals about their mood
⋙ Should your dog go vegan? New study suggests plant-based diets are healthier for dogs
⋙ This common hygiene mistake could be harmful to you and your dog
