Care & how-to
Dog Anxiety Symptoms: Signs Your Dog Is Anxious
Common signs of anxiety in dogs include panting when not hot, shaking or trembling, pacing, drooling, whining or barking, hiding, a tucked tail and pinned-back ears, lip licking and yawning, accidents in the house, destructive chewing and, at its most serious, aggression. Several of these can also be signs of pain or illness, so a vet check is the right first step if they are new, frequent or getting worse.
By Matt GarnettUpdated November 13, 20264 min read3 sources
Early and subtle signs of anxiety
Anxiety usually starts small. Watch for lip licking when no food is around, long yawns, turning the head away, showing the whites of the eyes, ears pulled back, a lowered or tucked tail, a lifted front paw, and sniffing the ground suddenly as if to avoid something. Rapid blinking and dilated pupils are common too.
These early signals are your chance to help before fear builds. If you see them, create some distance from whatever your dog is looking at, and give it a moment. A dog that is ignored at this stage often moves on to bigger signals.
Obvious signs: panting, shaking and pacing
Panting without exercise or heat is one of the most common anxiety signs, and it often comes with drooling. Trembling or shaking, especially a whole-body shiver, shows a dog that is struggling to cope. Pacing, restlessness and an inability to lie down are also typical, as is whining, howling or barking at a pitch you would not usually hear.
Some dogs do the opposite and shut down: they freeze, go very still, refuse treats and stop responding. It is easy to read this as calm, but a dog that cannot eat in a situation is usually too stressed to learn or relax.
Anxiety peeing, accidents and tummy upsets
Nervous dogs often feel a stronger urge to pee or poop. Anxiety peeing can happen during greetings, at the vet, during storms or when left alone, and some dogs dribble urine when frightened or when someone leans over them. Stress can also cause vomiting, diarrhea and refusing food.
Because urinary and digestive problems have medical causes too, such as infections or diet issues, any new accidents in a house-trained dog should be checked by your vet before you treat them as anxiety. Never punish an accident; it adds fear and can make it happen more.
Destruction, escape attempts and aggression
Chewing or scratching at doors and windows, digging at carpets, and trying to break out of crates often point to anxiety, especially separation anxiety when it only happens while the dog is alone. These dogs can break teeth or tear nails, so self-injury is a reason to get help quickly.
Aggression is the most serious sign. A frightened dog that cannot escape may growl, snap or bite. Growling is a warning and should never be punished, because a dog taught not to growl may bite without warning. Seek help from your vet and a qualified behavior professional.
What else can look like anxiety
Pain, arthritis, ear infections, thyroid and hormone problems, stomach upsets and, in older dogs, cognitive dysfunction can all cause restlessness, panting, irritability and accidents. Heavy panting can also be a sign of heatstroke or breathing trouble, which are emergencies.
That overlap is why it helps to note when the signs happen, how long they last and what was going on at the time, and to take those notes to your vet. A pattern tied to a trigger, such as storms or your departures, points toward anxiety.
When to call your vet
Call your vet if the signs are new, sudden, getting worse or happening most days, if your dog is not eating, if it has hurt itself, or if it is showing aggression. Get urgent help for heavy panting with collapse, pale or blue gums, or signs of heat stress.
Your vet can rule out medical causes, help you build a behavior plan and, where appropriate, discuss treatment. Our guide on how to calm an anxious dog covers what you can do at home. If your vet agrees they could help alongside training, dog calming products and anxiety vests are options for some anxious dogs, and our guide to choosing a dog anxiety vest explains how vests are meant to work.
This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.
Common questions
Why is my dog panting and shaking?
Panting and shaking together are common signs of fear or anxiety, but they can also come from pain, nausea, overheating or illness. If there is no obvious trigger, or your dog seems unwell, call your vet.
Can anxiety make a dog pee in the house?
Yes. Fear and stress can trigger urination or accidents, even in a fully house-trained dog. Rule out urinary infections and other medical causes with your vet first, and never punish accidents.
What does dog anxiety look like?
It ranges from subtle signals like lip licking, yawning and looking away to panting, trembling, pacing, hiding, barking, destruction and, in severe cases, growling or biting. Signs usually appear around a particular trigger.
How do I know if my dog has anxiety or is just excited?
Excited dogs tend to have loose, wiggly bodies and still take treats. Anxious dogs look tense, with ears back, tail low, wide eyes and often refuse food. Context and recovery time help you tell the difference.
Sources we checked
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. If your pet is unwell or injured, contact your veterinarian.
