- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Dogs show calming signals when they feel nervous or uncomfortable to let others know they don’t want any trouble. These calming signals include licking their lips, yawning, sniffing the ground, or giving a side-eye.
Dogs use calming signals and body language cues to communicate their stress or anxiety with humans and other dogs. These signals help create a calm situation or show that the dog is not a threat.
Keep reading to learn more about calming signals, what they look like, and how you should respond when you notice them!
Why Should Dog Parents Understand Calming Signals?
When we learn to understand our dog’s body language, it helps us communicate better and build a stronger connection.
”Calming signals usually indicate the dog is feeling overwhelmed, frightened, or anxious about a situation,” says Irith Bloom (CPDT-KSA), a dog trainer/behavior consultant and the owner of The Sophisticated Dog.
If you recognize these signs of stress, you can help your dog feel more comfortable. For example, you might ask a stranger to give your dog more space or take your dog out of a stressful situation.
By noticing these calming signals early, you can reduce your dog’s stress and prevent them from acting out, like growling or lunging.
What Are the Most Common Dog Calming Signals?
Dogs use different calming signals to show how they feel. Here are seven of the most common ones:
- Yawning
- Lip licking
- Turning away
- Sniffing the ground
- Slow movements
- Sitting or lying down
- Blinking or averting eyes
- Freezing
- Walking in a curve
- Low tail wagging
- Licking other dogs’ mouths
- Paw lifting
These signals are important because they help dogs show when they’re uncomfortable or to calm down in a tense situation, says Elliot Rosenberg (CDPT), a master dog trainer and behaviorist at K9 Mania Dog Training.
Dogs might show these calming signals in different situations, such as:
- Vet visits: They might yawn or lick their lips when they feel anxious.
- Meeting new people or dogs: They may turn away or avoid eye contact if they’re uncomfortable.
- Loud noises: They might seek shelter or look nervous during storms or fireworks.
- Tight spaces: They could drool or try to escape if they feel cramped.
- Training sessions: They may lie down or turn away if they feel overwhelmed.
Knowing these situations can help first-time pet parents recognize when their dog is uncomfortable, Rosenberg says.
How to Respond When You See These Signals
When you see your dog showing calming signals, knowing how to help them feel better is important. Bloom shares the following steps on how to respond:
- Give them space: Back away or lean away from the dog to give them more “personal space.”
- Observe: If the calming signals don’t stop, watch your dog and try to figure out what’s making them anxious or scared.
- Reduce stress: Once you understand what’s causing the stress, try to make things easier for your dog. This might mean moving them away from a person, another animal, or a situation bothering them. You can also ask others to move away to give your dog more room.
“In most cases, if you give the dog enough space, they will feel better, and the number of stress signals they are giving will reduce,” she adds.
How Dogs Use Calming Signals with Other Dogs
When dogs play or interact with each other, they use calming signals to keep things friendly and avoid fights. Rosenberg says that if, for example, a dog senses another dog is nervous or reactive, they may turn their head away or yawn to show that they mean no harm.
“It’s their way of saying, ‘I’m not a threat,’” he explains. These signals help dogs communicate with each other and keep their interactions peaceful.
iStock/miljko
How to Use Calming Signals During Training
Sometimes, even when we try our best, Bloom says we can accidentally overwhelm our dogs during training. By noticing their calming signals, we can improve our training and help our dogs feel more comfortable and confident.
Here are three examples of how to recognize and respond to your pup’s signals during training:
- Scratching when praised: If your dog starts scratching themselves whenever you praise them, it might mean that your body language or voice makes them uncomfortable. Instead of praising them, try just smiling and giving them a treat.
- Turning away after treats: If you give your dog a treat every time they come when called, but they turn away soon after, they might prefer just the treat and not being petted afterward.
- Licking lips during training: If your dog licks their lips when you’re training them to lie down, they might be uncomfortable in that position. You could try teaching a different behavior or having them lie on a soft mat instead of a hard floor. It’s also a good idea to talk to your vet to check for any health issues, like arthritis.
How to Reduce a Your Dog’s Stress
Calming signals help us understand how our dogs are feeling. To make them more comfortable and reduce their need to use these signals, Rosenburg shares these tips:
- Create a calm, positive environment. Keep a regular routine and provide a safe space where your dog can relax.
- Avoid high-stress situations. Some stressful situations, like vet visits, can’t be avoided, but try to limit your dog’s exposure to other stressful experiences whenever possible.
- Reinforce calm behaviors. Whenever your pup stays calm, reward them with training treats and praise to reinforce the behavior.
- Provide exercise and mental stimulation. Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise and fun activities. This is important for keeping them happy and healthy.
- Teach confidence-building exercises. Basic obedience training helps them feel secure and reduces their need to communicate discomfort.
- Practice gentle socialization. Introduce your dog to new people, dogs, and experiences slowly. This can help them feel more comfortable and less overwhelmed.
Calming Signals FAQs
Do all dog breeds use the same calming signals?
Yes, all dog breeds use calming signals. However, Bloom says some breeds might have trouble showing certain signals because of their physical features.
For example, Spitz dog breeds, like Pomeranians, Huskies, and Shiba Inus, have pointy ears and tails that curl over their backs, making it harder for them to express some body language.
Can dogs of all ages use calming signals?
Yes! Bloom says most dogs, no matter their age, use calming signals.
Are calming signals the same as submissive or fear behaviors?’
No, calming signals are different from being scared or submissive. Rosenburg says calming signals, like turning their heads or yawning, show that dogs want to relax and avoid tension.
Can I misinterpret my dog’s calming signals?
Yes, it’s possible. Bloom says some factors, like a dog’s breed or whether they’ve been taught not to use these signals, can make it hard for people and other dogs to recognize them. This can lead to miscommunication and other problems.
Can calming signals prevent aggression in dogs?
Yes! Rosenberg says while calming signals can help prevent aggression and conflicts, look at the whole situation and a dog’s behavior for a better understanding.
