Reading Your Dog's Stress Signals
Owners spot trembling and whining, but often miss yawning, lip licking and looking away. What the studies say, and why no signal means one thing.
Written by thecanineledger
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In a 2012 survey of 1,190 dog owners by Italian researchers, “The behavioral indicators of stress most frequently identified by owners were trembling and whining, followed by aggressiveness, excessive barking, and panting” (Mariti et al., Journal of Veterinary Behavior 2012, abstract).
While those are clear signs, the subtler ones were missed more often. And a 2026 study suggests that none of these behaviours means “stressed” every time. This page explains what the research found, and why context matters.
1. What owners miss
Subtle signs. The survey found that “More subtle behaviors such as looking elsewhere, turning head, yawning, and nose licking were more rarely reported, suggesting that few owners are able to correctly interpret and intervene in early stages of stress.”
How often owners think their dog is stressed. “The vast majority of respondents indicated that dogs were stressed seldom or only in specific situations.”
Why it matters. The authors argue that spotting stress early lets owners help a dog avoid stressful situations before things escalate.
What it doesn’t show. The survey asked what owners believed. It didn’t watch dogs, so it can’t say how often owners were right.
Our note: The list of subtle signs comes from the survey’s abstract.
2. Why one signal isn’t enough
A 2026 study. Italian researchers filmed 64 dogs in a standard test of separation from and reunion with their owner, and measured hormones linked to stress and bonding (Riggio et al., Veterinary Quarterly 2026).
What it found. The behaviours “were not expressed linearly in relation to expected stress levels”. The authors concluded that these behaviours “do not function as simple stress indicators”.
Context matters. “Rather, their meaning appears to be contingent upon the individual’s internal state and the socio-environmental context.” The paper notes that lip licking has been seen in both positive and negative situations.
What it doesn’t show. It was one test in 64 dogs. It doesn’t mean these signals are meaningless, only that they need reading in context.
Our note: The 2026 study challenges the idea of a simple list of stress signals.
3. Reading the whole dog
- Look at the situation. A yawn at bedtime isn’t the same as a yawn when a stranger reaches for the dog.
- Look for clusters. Several signs together, such as lip licking, looking away and a lowered body, say more than one alone.
- Watch for changes. A sign that’s new for your dog, or more frequent, is worth noticing.
- Give space. If your dog seems uneasy, let it move away. Don’t force contact.
Our note: These points are ours. The “clusters” point isn’t from the studies on this page.
Our note: If stress signs start suddenly, ask your vet to check for pain.
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4. What we could not verify
| Commonly said | What we found |
|---|---|
| “A yawn always means stress” | No. A 2026 study found these behaviours depend on context. |
| “Owners know when their dog is stressed” | Often only the obvious signs. In one survey, subtle signs were rarely reported. |
| “A wagging tail means a happy dog” | Not checked. We didn’t find a study on this for this page. |
| “Infographics of stress signals are evidence-based” | Partly. The signs appear in research, but no list works the same in every context. |
Sources
- Riggio G, Borrelli C, Atilgan D, et al. Rethinking dog stress behaviours: contextual and physiological insights from the attachment framework. Vet Q 2026: experimental study, 64 dogs. No external funding
- Mariti C, Gazzano A, Lansdown Moore J, et al. Perception of dogs’ stress by their owners. J Vet Behav 2012. ⚠️ abstract read, on the University of Pisa repository. Owner questionnaire, 1,190 owners. DOI
Always confirm with your vet before acting on anything on this page.