11/05/2025
Repost from - go to that account and comment with the word “Toddlerspeak” for a free Toddlers and Dogs Guide
❓️Which of these subtle stress signals does your dog display?
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Babies and dogs have to be supervised, but supervision is only as good as our knowledge of the dog’s body language and behavior.
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Often, the signs of discomfort are very subtle. If these signs are ignored, dogs will likely escalate to more obvious signals like showing teeth, growling, snapping, or biting.
Common stress signals (not a full list!)
yawning (when not sleepy)
panting (when not hot or just exercised)
lip or nose lick
frequent and pushy licking
tightly closed mouth
ears flat back
hard stare
wide eyes (the whites are visible)
frequent blinking
moving head away (to the side)
moving body away, backing up
tail clamped down over the butt or tucked under
stillness, body stiffness
crouched body
paw lift (when body is cowering, ears back, tail low or tucked under)
belly up (lying on their side, straight and tense body, legs and tail tucked)
sudden ground or floor sniffing (when nothing or nothing new on the ground)
sudden scratching or licking themselves (when not really itchy)
shaking off (when not wet)
zoomies
pacing
Pro tips:
Not every dog will display all the behaviors listed.
Some dogs have very expressive body language and are easier to read, while some are more subtle.
Answer: All 4 dogs are saying No to petting.
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