Is My Dog Stressed? 2025 Vet-Approved 60-Second Checklist
You cannot ask your dog what is wrong. This guide provides a 60-second, vet-approved body language checklist to identify stress in your dog. It is based on guidelines from Fear Free® professionals and university veterinary sources [1]. The guide uses a photo-guided checklist, a printable scorecard, and a decision tree to help you understand your dog’s signals.
Jump to section:
- The 60-Second Checklist
- Printable Scorecard
- What to Do Next
- Quick Fixes by Cause
- Emergency Red Flags
- Frequently Asked Questions
Do this 60-second dog stress check now (photo-guided)
Set a 60-second timer. Stand 2–3 steps back from your dog and scan them from head to tail before you touch them.
- Look at Eyes (0–2):
- 0: Soft, almond-shaped, relaxed, minimal white showing.
- 1: Faster blinking or a sliver of white showing.
- 2: “Whale eye” (whites of the eyes are very visible), pupils are large and dilated [1, 2].
[Photo: Dog showing whale eye with wide, tense eyes and dilated pupils]- Alt text: A close-up of a dog showing whale eye, a classic sign of stress.
- Note: Bright light can dilate pupils. Check your lighting.
- Check Ears (0–2):
- 0: Neutral, relaxed position for their breed.
- 1: Pulled slightly back or to the sides.
- 2: Pinned flat against the head [1, 2].
[Photo: Dog with ears pinned back tightly against its head]- Alt text: A dog with its ears pinned back in a sign of fear or stress.
- Read Mouth/Face (0–2):
- 0: Mouth is closed and loose, or slightly open and relaxed (“soft mouth”).
- 1: A quick lip lick, a single yawn when not tired.
- 2: Lips are pulled back tight at the corners, drooling without food nearby, repeated yawning [1, 2].
[Photo: Dog with a tight mouth, panting with the corners of its lips pulled back]- Alt text: A dog showing stress with a tight mouth and a lip lick.
- Watch Tail (0–2):
- 0: Held in a neutral position or a loose, sweeping wag.
- 1: Held lower than usual, a slow or stiff wag.
- 2: Tucked tightly under the body, or held high and stiff like a flag [1, 2].
[Photo: Side view of a dog with its tail tucked completely under its body]- Alt text: A frightened dog with a tucked tail.
- Scan Body Posture (0–2):
- 0: Loose, relaxed, curved spine.
- 1: Mild tension, weight shifted slightly back.
- 2: Stiff and rigid, cowering, crouching low, or completely frozen [1, 2].
[Photo: A dog standing rigidly with a tense body posture]- Alt text: A dog showing stress through a stiff and tense body posture.
- Listen to Breathing (0–2):
- 0: Quiet, normal, barely noticeable breathing.
- 1: Light panting with slight tension around the mouth.
- 2: Rapid, shallow panting, often with the mouth corners pulled far back [3].
[Photo: A dog stress panting with a tense facial expression]- Alt text: Close-up of a dog’s face showing shallow stress panting.
- Note Quick Tells (0–2):
- 0: None.
- 1: A single, isolated yawn or a “shake-off” as if they’re wet.
- 2: Repeated yawning, trembling when not cold, sudden and heavy shedding (“blowing coat”) [2].
- A “shake-off” right after a stressful moment can be a calming signal.
- Watch Movement (0–2):
- 0: Moves normally and freely.
- 1: Pacing, avoiding eye contact, sniffing the ground excessively.
- 2: Actively trying to escape or hide, freezing in place [1].
[Photo: A dog turning its head away to avoid eye contact]- Alt text: A dog avoiding eye contact as a sign of appeasement or stress.
- Track Vocal Sounds (0–2):
- 0: Quiet, or normal happy barks/grumbles.
- 1: A brief, low whine.
- 2: Repeated whining, high-pitched “stress barks,” or growling [2].
- A sudden yelp, especially when touched, could mean pain. This requires a vet check.
- Consider the Context (0–2):
- 0: Normal, calm scene (e.g., lounging at home).
- 1: Mild trigger is present (e.g., a new person arrives, a distant noise).
- 2: Obvious major trigger (e.g., fireworks, vacuum cleaner, nail trim) [2].
Score it in under a minute (printable scorecard)
Add the scores (0, 1, or 2) from the 10 checks. Your total will be between 0 and 20. Find which zone your dog is in:
- 0–4 = Green Zone (Calm & Relaxed)
- 5–10 = Yellow Zone (Mild to Early Stress)
- 11–20 = Red Zone (Moderate to Severe Stress)
| Body Part / Behavior | Score 0 (Relaxed) | Score 1 (Mild Stress) | Score 2 (High Stress) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eyes | Soft/Almond | Faster Blink/Slight White | Whale Eye/Dilated |
| Ears | Neutral | Slightly Back | Pinned/Flattened |
| Mouth/Face | Loose/Open | Lip Lick/Yawn | Tight/Pulled Back Lips |
| Tail | Neutral/Loose | Lower/Slow Wag | Tucked/Stiff |
| Body Posture | Loose/Curved | Mild Tension | Stiff/Crouched/Frozen |
| Breathing | Quiet/Normal | Light Panting | Rapid/Shallow Panting |
| Quick Tells | None | Single Yawn/Shake-Off | Trembling/Shedding |
| Movement | Normal | Pacing/Avoidance | Hiding/Escaping |
| Vocalizing | Quiet | Brief Whine | Repeated Whining/Bark |
| Context | Normal Scene | Mild Trigger | Major Trigger |
| Total Score |
Follow the decision tree (what to do next)
Your score indicates the next step.
| Score Zone | Your Next Move |
|---|---|
| Green (0-4) | Maintain routine and reward calm behavior. |
| Yellow (5-10) | Lower the trigger. Create space. Toss treats to encourage sniffing. Use a soft voice. Allow decompression. |
| Red (11-20) | End the situation. Move to a safe, quiet room. Allow recovery. Contact a vet or behavior professional if this is a pattern. |
| Emergency | Go to an emergency vet now for breathing trouble, collapse, seizures, or severe injury. |
For information on making vet trips less stressful, learn about the Fear Free approach.
Quick fixes by cause (fast relief today)
- Calm the Environment: Move your dog to a quiet room. Use a fan or a white noise machine to block sounds. Close curtains or use a crate cover to block visual triggers [3].
- Handle Gently: Crouch down and turn sideways, letting the dog approach you. Do not loom over them. Reward them with a treat for checking in.
- Noise Fear (Thunder/Fireworks): Play calming audio or use a TV show to mask stressful sounds. Some options include:
- Music: The “Canine Noise Phobia Series” by Victoria Stilwell, “Through a Dog’s Ear” music (clinically tested solo piano), or long-form tracks on YouTube like “Hours Bioacoustic Music for Separation Anxiety.” Reggae and soft rock have also shown positive effects.
- TV/Video: DOGTV offers 24/7 programming that helps relax dogs (available via subscription on apps and cable). Free options on YouTube include nature channels like Paul Dinning’s, which offer 8-hour videos of walks with natural sounds. Studies have also shown that shows like The Mandalorian or Mr. Bean can reduce a dog’s heart rate.
- Separation Stress: A structured approach is needed. Do not leave your dog for longer than they can handle. Follow this protocol while always using a camera to monitor for stress signs like pacing or whining.
- Step 1: Find the Baseline. Use a camera to see how long your dog can be alone before showing stress. This might be only a few seconds.
- Step 2: Practice “Fake Departures.” Multiple times a day, perform your leaving routine (getting keys, putting on shoes) but then sit back down. This desensitizes the dog to these cues.
- Step 3: Begin Short Absences. Leave for a time shorter than their baseline (e.g., 5 seconds if their baseline is 10). Provide a high-value food puzzle, like a frozen Kong, that they only get when they are alone. Return before they show stress.
- Step 4: Gradually Increase Time. Add only a few seconds at a time to absences. If your dog shows anxiety, you have gone too fast. Go back to a shorter duration. Focus on slowly extending the first 40 minutes over weeks of practice.
- Step 5: Move to Longer Absences. Once your dog is calm for 90 minutes, you can test longer periods like 4 hours, then 8 hours, over a few days. Always monitor with a camera.
- Vet/Groomer Worries: Professionals and practices become Fear Free Certified, not individual dogs. This approach is widely endorsed throughout the veterinary community. You are an active participant in the process.
- Find a Certified Professional: Use the Fear Free certified directory to locate a certified vet, groomer, or trainer.
- Prepare for the Visit: Before an appointment, a Fear Free practice will ask you to complete a Pre-Visit Questionnaire (PVQ). This gives them information about your dog’s specific anxieties and triggers.
- Participate in the Visit: Bring a non-slip mat, your dog’s favorite blanket, and high-value treats to create a more positive experience.
- Know When to Postpone: If the professional assesses your dog’s Fear, Anxiety, and Stress (FAS) score as too high, they may recommend rescheduling with pre-visit medication to ensure a safer and less stressful experience.
- Boredom/Frustration: Add a 15-minute “sniff-walk” where your dog leads. Rotate different food puzzles daily. Use DIY enrichment, like rolling treats in a towel or placing them in a muffin tin covered by tennis balls.
- Pain/Medical: If stress appears suddenly, especially related to movement or being touched, contact your vet. Pain is a common, often-missed cause of behavioral changes [1].
How stress panting looks vs heat panting (spot the difference)
Not all panting is the same. Here’s how to tell them apart [3].
| Feature | Stress Panting | Heat Panting |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Fast and shallow. | Deeper and slower. |
| Face/Mouth | Face is tense, mouth corners pulled back. | Face is relaxed, tongue is loose and floppy. |
| Context | Happens even in a cool room, at rest, or with a trigger. | Follows exercise or being in a hot environment. |
If the room is cool and your dog has not been exercising, shallow panting with a tense face is likely stress. Always provide fresh water after any activity.
Choosing Effective Treats and Enrichment Tools
Using the right rewards is key for training and calming activities. “High-value” means the treat is especially motivating for your dog.
High-Value Treats
These are typically smelly and high in protein. Cut them into pea-sized pieces for training.
| Treat Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Commercial | Freeze-dried meat (beef lung, salmon, chicken hearts), soft training treats (Zuke’s, Pupford), food rolls (Natural Balance), or lickable pouches (Bark Pouch). |
| Homemade | Small pieces of fresh deli meat (liver, chicken, roast beef), liverwurst, or meatballs. |
Enrichment Puzzles
These engage a dog’s brain and encourage natural behaviors like sniffing and foraging.
| Puzzle Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Purchased | Snuffle mats, interactive puzzle balls, and various levels of puzzle toys are available at pet stores. |
| DIY | Create your own by placing treats inside an egg carton, a shoebox with holes poked in it, or a muffin tin with the cups covered by tennis balls. |
Red flags that need a vet now
These signs indicate an emergency. Go to an emergency clinic immediately.
- Breathing trouble: Labored breathing, choking sounds, or blue-tinged gums.
- Collapse, fainting, or unresponsiveness.
- Seizure activity: Especially a first seizure, one lasting over 5 minutes, or multiple in a row.
- Bloat signs: A swollen, hard belly with repeated, non-productive retching.
- Repeated vomiting or black, tarry stool.
- Suspected toxin ingestion: Chocolate, xylitol, medications, etc.
- Sudden, severe behavior change: New aggression, extreme confusion, or obvious severe pain.
Keep your emergency vet’s number accessible. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control number is (888) 426-4435 [4]. For more information on emergencies, see guidelines from Texas A&M [5].
Track patterns and progress (home log + video)
Data helps you and your vet understand the problem.
- Start a Daily Log: Note the time, trigger, body signals, stress score, duration, and what helped your dog recover.
- Record Short Videos: Take 20-30 second clips, including a full-body side view and a close-up of the face.
- Capture their Baseline: Record videos of your dog when they are completely relaxed. This provides a clear comparison.
- Bring to Your Vet: This log and your videos are very valuable for your vet or a behavior professional.
| Day | Trigger | Score (0-20) | Duration | What Helped? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Vacuum cleaner | 14 | 10 mins | Crate+Chew | Recovered slowly. |
| Tuesday | Mail carrier | 8 | 2 mins | Tossed treats | Barked but settled. |
| Wednesday |
Build a calmer routine this week (7-day mini-plan)
Small, consistent changes can lower baseline stress and help create a Fear Free Happy Home.
- Day 1: Set up a “zen zone” with a comfy bed, water, and a chew toy in a quiet corner.
- Day 2: Go for a 20-minute “sniffari” where the dog leads. Later, play a 3-minute training game.
- Day 3: Introduce one puzzle feeder for a meal in their zen zone.
- Day 4: Practice 5 fake departures. Then do one real 2-minute absence, watching on a camera.
- Day 5: Drive to the vet or groomer parking lot, give treats for 2 minutes, then drive home.
- Day 6: Have a 2-minute handling session. Touch a paw, give a treat, release. Touch an ear, treat, release. Stop before stress begins.
- Day 7: Review your stress log. Identify a common trigger and remove it for the next week.
FAQs (fast answers to common questions)
1. How do I get a stressed dog to relax?
First, remove the trigger. Give them space in a quiet room. Tossing treats on the floor can encourage sniffing, which is a calming behavior. Do not force interaction.
2. What can I give a dog for stress?
Always consult your vet before giving any medication or supplement. For mild to moderate stress, your vet may discuss supplements like L-theanine (Anxitane®) at a dose of 2-4 mg/kg or alpha-casozepine (Zylkene®) at 15-20 mg/kg daily for longer-term support. For situational or severe anxiety, a vet can prescribe medications like Trazodone, Gabapentin, or Fluoxetine. Dosages for these prescriptions are determined by your vet based on your dog’s weight, health, and specific condition [3].
3. How do I make my dog happy?
Meet their core needs with predictable routines, daily physical exercise, and mental exercise like puzzle toys or training games. Giving your dog a “job” can build confidence [1]. For more tips on holistic pet health and happiness, publications like Animal Wellness Magazine can be a great resource.
4. What do dogs with anxiety look like?
Anxious dogs appear tense. Watch for whale eye, pinned ears, a tucked tail, a tight mouth, rapid panting, and a stiff or crouched posture. They may also pace or hide [1, 2].
5. How long does stress last?
The immediate “fight or flight” response can clear in minutes, but the stress hormone cortisol can remain elevated for hours. With chronic stress, cortisol levels may rarely return to a healthy baseline.
6. Can stress cause diarrhea or shedding?
Yes. Acute stress can cause an episode of colitis (diarrhea with mucus) or sudden, heavy shedding known as “blowing coat.” If diarrhea lasts over 24 hours, call your vet [1, 2].
7. Will comforting my dog “reward” their fear?
No, fear is an emotion, not a reinforced behavior. You cannot make fear worse by providing comfort. The key is for you to remain calm and act as a source of security.
8. Are some breeds more anxious?
While genetics can play a role, a dog’s individual personality and life experiences are more significant predictors of anxiety than breed alone. For dogs coming from shelters, organizations like Fear Free Shelters work to make that experience less stressful.
9. When should I hire a professional?
If your dog’s stress score is frequently in the Red Zone (11+), it is affecting their quality of life, or you see escalating behaviors like aggression, seek professional help. Start with your veterinarian.
References
[1] https://vetmed.tamu.edu/news/pet-talk/understanding-canine-body-language
[2] https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/canine-body-language
[3] https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/signs-your-dog-is-stressed
[4] https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control
[5] https://vetmed.tamu.edu/news/pet-talk/common-emergencies/
