10 Signs of a Fearful Dog

What looks like aggression may be fear-based reactivity.

Ioften get questions regarding “aggressive” dogs. While there are dogs who truly mean to cause harm, the vast majority of what we term “aggression” is actually fear-based reactivity. If we learn to recognize the signs that a dog is uncomfortable or afraid, we can react appropriately rather than unintentionally escalate the situation to a point where the dog feels he must defend himself.

10 COMMON SIGNS OF STRESS OR FEAR IN DOGS

1. Averted eyes

2. Turning away of the head and/or body

3. Lip licking

4. Yawning

5. Scratching

6. Sniffing

7. Weight back

8. Ears back

9. Tail lowered or tucked

10. Growling

When a dog does not want to face something that is frightening him, whether a person, other dog, or something else, he’ll often turn his body partially away from it. Eyes may be cast to the side and down, and the dog might even turn his head and entire body away from the threat.

Lip licking and yawning are commonly referred to as cutoff signals or calming signals. Dogs display them when nervous and sometimes use them to let another dog know they are not a threat. Look around your veterinarian’s waiting room and you’re likely to see furry patients giving quick lip licks or yawns.

Scratching and sniffing are meant to diffuse tension. When my former dogs Soko and Mojo would play, I could always tell when Soko was becoming overwhelmed. I’d elbow my husband, point toward them, and count 3, 2, 1… sure enough, Soko would suddenly either develop a sudden itch or discover something fascinating on the ground. She’d turn away from Mojo, chewing furiously at her hindquarter or stand facing away, sniffing at something non-existent. Her body language created a break in the play, effectively stopping it before it escalated and boiled into aggression.

When a dog is scared, everything about him becomes smaller. He may lower his body, and the weight will shift to his back end. The ears are likely to be back or even flattened, and the tail will be lowered or even tucked. It is important to know the dog’s normal ear and tail position so that any variations can be recognized. An Akita, for example, normally has a very high tail position while a sight-hound has a low one.

Growling is a dog’s way of communicating that he’s uncomfortable with something. Many people punish dogs for growling. This is a very bad idea, because it is, in effect, removing the dog’s early warning system. Trainers see many dogs who bite with no warning due to the growl having been punished. If your dog growls at you, defuse the situation by moving away slowly and carefully. Then, when emotions have settled down for you both, formulate a plan to address the problem and seek professional help if necessary.

Of course, all of these signals can mean other things as well, depending on the context, and must be interpreted as a whole, rather than individually, but knowing how to “read” your dog will help you properly interpret your dog’s actions so you can address the true root of the behaviour.

For more on helping dogs with fear issues, check out Nicole’s book Help for Your Fearful Dog (nicolewilde.com), which contains information and photos of fearful body language and has extensive advice for helping dogs overcome fear issues.