Is My Dog Anxious? Spotting the Subtle (and Not-So-Subtle) Signs

When we think about anxiety in dogs, many of us picture the classic signs: trembling during fireworks, hiding during thunderstorms, or tearing the house apart when left alone. But canine anxiety can be much more complex and often goes unnoticed, especially in its earlier stages.

Anxiety isn't just a behaviour problem, it's an emotional state, and it can affect your dog’s ability to feel safe, learn, and enjoy life. Understanding the signs is the first step in supporting your dog and improving their welfare.

Hypervigilance, Inattention, and Increased Movement

One of the most overlooked signs of anxiety is hypervigilance. This is when a dog is on high alert, constantly scanning their environment for potential threats, whether that’s something they see, hear, or smell. You might notice your dog wandering the house and peering out of windows, seemingly unable to relax. They may avoid resting or sleeping during the day because their brain is too busy assessing the environment for danger. Even if you can't see what they're reacting to, your dog might be responding to subtle cues like a faint sound outside or a distant scent.

Pacing is another tell-tale sign. A dog who walks back and forth repeatedly, often with their ears pricked and muscles tense, may be experiencing a heightened state of anxiety. While this movement might seem mild compared to more overt signs like barking or growling, it's often the foundation of a more serious stress pattern developing.

Hypervigilance also makes it harder for dogs to focus on known cues or follow instructions, especially in distracting or busy environments. From a behavioural science perspective, this is because their nervous system is locked into “fight or flight” mode. Their brain is focused on survival, not on learning—or even performing behaviours they already know.

As Lindsay (2001) notes, hypervigilant dogs may struggle to recognise safety signals, making it even harder for them to differentiate between real threats and harmless triggers. This, in turn, can lead to reactive or even aggressive responses, especially in dogs who’ve had negative experiences in the past.

Vocalisations: More Than Just “Barking for No Reason”

A barking dog can be many things: bored, excited, frustrated or anxious. But it’s the context and the type of vocalisation that matters most. Dogs who bark at subtle sounds or who bark seemingly "out of nowhere" may be reacting to stimuli their humans can't hear or interpret. These could be distant noises, changes in routine, or associations they've built over time.

Barking is often a first line of defence, an alert. But when a dog perceives the threat getting closer, that bark can turn into a growl: a clear signal they want the perceived danger to back off. Whining or howling tends to reflect distress, particularly in cases of separation anxiety. And these aren’t random sounds, they carry very specific emotional signatures.

Yin (2002) studied the vocal patterns of barking and found that barks triggered by disturbances were generally lower in pitch and longer in duration, whereas barks caused by isolation were shorter and higher-pitched. This suggests that different emotional states lead to different kinds of barking. So, listening closely to what your dog is trying to communicate can provide valuable clues about their inner emotional state.

Impulsivity and Aggression

Chronic anxiety can disrupt a dog’s emotional regulation system, making them more impulsive or reactive. Over time, stress can lead to chemical changes in the brain. For example, research by Riva et al. (2008) found that dogs with ongoing anxiety had reduced serotonergic function, which is linked to lower impulse control and higher likelihood of aggression.

Dogs experiencing this type of stress often respond without “thinking", they react quickly and sometimes disproportionately to perceived threats. You might see this if your dog suddenly growls or snaps in a situation they previously tolerated. It’s not always about dominance or stubbornness. It's often about an overwhelmed nervous system and a lack of coping capacity.

Lindsay (2001) describes how low serotonin levels can make dogs more irritable, increasing the chances of aggressive behaviour. And if cortisol (the stress hormone) is being released regularly say, due to frequent exposure to noise, other dogs, or unpredictable environments, this fight-or-flight state becomes the dog’s baseline. This is what we refer to as trigger stacking, when stressors pile up one after the other, pushing the dog closer to their threshold and making explosive reactions more likely.

Freezing, Hiding and Shaking

On the opposite end of the behavioural spectrum, some anxious dogs don’t bark, growl or lash out, they freeze. A dog might suddenly stop in place and seem rooted to the spot, particularly if they feel cornered or overwhelmed. Shaking, trembling, and looking physically smaller are often signs of high fear or anxiety. These behaviours may be seen when a dog perceives a direct threat, especially if they’ve been punished in the past or associate certain people or objects with fear.

For example, a dog with a history of punishment may freeze or cower when a particular person enters the room. Or a dog afraid of storms may start to shake before the rain even starts, responding instead to barometric pressure changes or distant rumbles that signal an incoming storm.

Hiding is a survival behaviour too, one that allows the dog to escape a perceived threat. Fireworks, loud bangs, or the sound of a neighbour’s dog barking may drive a dog to retreat to a quiet corner, under furniture, or into a crate if they’ve learned it’s a safe place. These aren’t just quirky behaviours, they’re your dog’s way of trying to manage their anxiety and feel safe.

Destructive Behaviour and Separation Anxiety

Chewed doors, scratched carpets, overturned bins, these are often seen as “naughty” behaviours. But in dogs with separation anxiety, they’re usually symptoms of deep distress. When dogs are left alone and become anxious, they may vocalise, destroy items, or even attempt to escape. These behaviours aren’t about revenge, they’re panic responses.

A large-scale study by De Assis et al. (2020), which surveyed over 2,700 dogs, found that vocalisation and destruction were the most common behaviours seen in dogs with separation anxiety. This study also reinforced what behaviourists already know: separation-related behaviours don’t stem from a single cause. Genetics, early life experience, environment, and even owner lifestyle can all play a role.

Stereotypies: When Coping Becomes Compulsion

Some anxious dogs develop repetitive behaviours that don’t appear to serve a clear purpose. These might include tail chasing, excessive licking, pacing in circles, or chewing at their own limbs. These are known as stereotypies and they often develop when a dog is under chronic stress or confined in an unsuitable environment.

A dog placed in a boarding kennel for the first time may start to lick themselves obsessively as a way to self-soothe. Over time, this can turn into a compulsive habit, continuing even when the initial stressor is removed. In severe cases, changes in neurotransmitters such as dopamine can alter the way the brain processes information. According to Veteriankey (2020), excessive dopamine has been linked to stereotypic behaviours and even psychotic symptoms in animals.

The Takeaway

Anxiety in dogs doesn’t always look dramatic and that’s what makes it easy to miss. From subtle pacing and alert ears to more overt aggression or destruction, your dog’s behaviours are always telling you something. They may not have the words to explain what’s wrong, but their body and actions are a loud and clear communication system.

If you're noticing any of the signs mentioned here, the first step is to take a compassionate, investigative approach. Start logging what you observe and when it happens. Is there a pattern? Are certain triggers more obvious than others? And most importantly, don’t wait for the behaviour to get worse. Anxiety rarely resolves on its own.

If you're concerned your dog might be experiencing anxiety, reach out today and see how I can help. Visit my page HERE to contact me. With the right support, your dog can feel safer and you can both enjoy a better quality of life together.