Why is My Dog so Anxious? Helping Owners Understand their Dog's Emotions

“Fido, why are you so anxious? There’s nothing to be afraid of. You’re safe.”

This is something that I hear on a weekly, if not daily basis. It’s disheartening to see dogs pacing, panting, circling, and unable to get comfortable. My clients tell me “I think my dog is picking up on how stressed I am.” Although there is some truth to this, understanding your dog’s emotions is not as easy as humans would like it to be.

“Anthropomorphism refers to the practices in which humans attribute human emotional and behavioral features to non-human animals.” -NIH A good example is the perceived comfort dogs offer when their owners are sad. Dogs live their lives in the moment and if something is out of the ordinary, they will do what works to bring your emotional state back to normal. Owners may assume their dogs feel similar but really, their dog knows that if they attend to their owner, they’re likely to get a good head scratch.

“Studies have shown that dogs are experts at human communication, but scientists haven't been able to show conclusively that dogs feel empathy or truly understand the pain of others.”-Stephanie Pappas, 2012

If our dogs look sad or anxious, owners may think it’s because their dogs are “smart enough” to pick up on their own emotional state. It’s natural for humans to desire connection with their pets so it makes sense that they project their emotions onto what it ‘looks’ like their dogs are feeling. It’s important to understand though, that dogs are dogs and it’s unfair to assume that they react similarly to how humans would in certain situations.

Let’s take the example of humans assuming that dogs enjoy hugs. Most humans hug their loved ones to show they care but, a lot of times, dogs associate hugs with danger.

“Dogs are not human children. Dogs are technically cursorial animals, which is a term that indicates that they are designed for swift running. That implies that in times of stress or threat, the first line of defense that a dog uses is not his teeth, but rather his ability to run away.”-Stanley Coren, Ph.D., FRSC.,

As you can see, the dog in the photo is very uncomfortable. These behaviors, which occur simultaneously, clue behavior experts into how any dog is feeling at that moment. But, to humans, hugs are normal and acceptable. Since their brains are similar to children’s, doesn’t that mean that dogs should enjoy them too? Nope. They are two completely different beings. In general, it is better to show your affinities by petting, praising, or giving a treat.

In general, studies are showing that your dog cares about you but, it’s important to separate your emotions from theirs. When trying to determine how your dog is feeling, try to look at the signals and triggers of the environment. What is happening before, during, and after any given situation? What could be motivating or demotivating a behavior? Are there stress signals your dog is communicating that you are inadvertently missing? Is there a way you can be setting your dog up for success?

For answers to these questions and/or more information on canine behavior, please reach out to us today!