Veterinarian Kelly Moffat of VCA Mesa Animal Hospital and certified trainer Tatiana Yastremski of St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center say dogs can experience changes in emotional state that may look like waking up “on the wrong side of the bed.” These emotional fluctuations can manifest in various ways, and common signs that a dog may be feeling anxious or moody include panting, pacing, and trembling, alongside behavior such as drooling or hiding.

The distinction matters because those shifts — whether brief or persistent — affect how owners should respond and when they should seek medical or professional help. Both experts describe emotional changes in dogs as observable through whole‑body cues and caution owners to take behavioral shifts seriously rather than dismissing them as mere grumpiness. Dogs often show moods more openly and are more social with their expressions compared to other pets, like cats or rabbits, which tend to be more subtle.

“Just like humans, dogs also feel a range of emotions,” Moffat said, framing the issue as one of emotional variability rather than a simple personality change. This emotional state can also be influenced by regular physical activity—such as daily walks—which helps reduce stress and promote overall health. Yastremski prefers a clinical phrasing: “When it comes to animals, and in this case dogs, I prefer to refer to it as changes in a dog’s emotional state.” Positive social interactions also play a crucial role in enhancing a dog’s well-being, as they can increase oxytocin levels and foster bonding.

Those changes can appear in several ways: pacing, whining, barking, yawning, pinning the ears back, panting, digging, tucking the tail or withdrawing and hiding. Many of these signs echo common descriptions of anxiety or discomfort; local veterinary resources such as Potranco Veterinary Clinic catalog similar symptoms as indicators that a dog may be stressed or unsettled. According to experts, a dog’s body language often includes a low or tucked tail and ears pinned back, which signal unease or anxiety.

Yastremski highlighted a physiological link between emotion and behavior, explaining that the hormonal systems governing feelings operate in dogs as they do in people. “The hormones that govern the dog’s emotions are the same as human hormones, and therefore, dogs’ brains can go through the same or similar chemical shifts when their emotional state changes,” she said.

Moffat noted that distress in dogs does not always mirror human expressions of mood. “While dogs can certainly show signs of distress, it may not present in the same way that it does for humans,” she said, urging owners to look beyond faces to posture and movement for a clearer read.

Some dogs are also sensitive to environmental cues: changes in barometric pressure, for example, can make certain animals more restless or unsettled ahead of a storm. Observing context alongside behavior, the experts say, helps separate a one‑off reaction from a pattern that needs attention.

Both professionals recommend prioritizing medical assessment when a dog shows a sudden or marked change on waking. “If the issue remains consistent or your dog is acting out in a way that could be dangerous — such as digging under the fence and escaping — it might be a good time to check in with your veterinarian,” Moffat advised.

Once medical causes are ruled out, Yastremski urged owners to pursue behavior‑focused support. “Once a medical issue is ruled out, consulting with a certified professional trainer, a behavior consultant, or a veterinary behaviorist should be your next step,” she said. These professionals often guide owners towards techniques aimed at enhancing activity and establishing enriching routines, crucial for a dog’s emotional stability and health.

Veterinarians and trainers often point guardians toward research and practical techniques that address activity, enrichment and predictable routines as part of broader behavior plans; some published work on human‑dog interactions and enrichment appears in journals such as PLOS, which explores psychophysiological effects of those interventions. For owners, the combined message from clinical and training professionals is measured: pay attention to whole‑body signals, take sudden or dangerous behavior seriously, and use veterinary and certified behavior resources when a pattern emerges rather than treating every off day as mere sulkiness.

Source

Original reporting: view the original article.