Dogs are highly emotional creatures that experience a wide range of feelings, including sadness. As a dog owner, it’s important to be attuned to your dog’s emotions and behaviors so you can tell if your actions have negatively impacted them. There are several signs to look out for that may indicate your dog is feeling down due to something you did.
Changes in Energy Level
One of the most noticeable signs of a sad dog is a change in their normal energy level. Happy, content dogs are active and energetic. They want to play, go for walks, and engage with their surroundings. When dogs get sad, they often become less energetic. They may mope around the house, sleep more than usual, or show no interest in toys or activities they normally love.
For example, if your dog loves playing fetch but suddenly has no interest in chasing balls when you try to engage them in play, they could be feeling down. Or if your high energy pup didn’t even want to go for a walk after you scolded them, they may be experiencing sadness due to your correction.
Loss of Interest in Food
Another sign many dogs display when sad is a lack of appetite or loss of interest in treats, toys, and food. Even foods they find highly rewarding like peanut butter, cheese, or meat may not pique their interest. While loss of appetite can indicate medical issues, if your dog was eating normally until an event occurred to upset them, it’s likely sadness is the cause.
For instance, if you recently boarded your dog at a kennel and they seemed traumatized by the experience once home and now won’t eat their food, they probably associate that food with the negative experience. The emotional response is overriding their natural hunger.
Change in Facial Expressions
A dog’s facial expressions can communicate a lot about their emotional state. Ears that are no longer perky, a furrowed brow, tightly closed or half-closed mouth, tense jaw, whimpering, and watery eyes may indicate your dog feels sad, worried, or fearful. If your dog’s face seems to “light up” when you normally come home but recently has seemed expressionless when you return, they may not be their happy self.
Subtle changes around the eyes and mouth are especially telling. For example, if you pointed your finger at your dog in discipline and their mouth closed, their brows furrowed, and eyes got wide and watery, they likely felt frightened and sad about upsetting you.
Change in Vocalizations
Most dogs communicate through body language more than vocalizations. When they do make noise, the type of vocalizing can indicate mood. Happy dogs bark or make yip/yowl sounds in play. Anxious or sad dogs may whine, whimper, howl or even growl. Observe your dog’s typical vocalizations when content and compare that to moments when they seem bothered.
For instance, a short yelp when you accidentally stepped on your dog’s paw is normal. But if your dog is whining and repeatedly yelping after you yelled at them, it means they’re feeling fearful and sad due to your anger. They want reassurance everything is OK between you.
Appearing Anxious or Distressed
Dogs display anxious or distressed body language and behavior when sad. Pacing, trembling, tail tucked between their legs, hiding, ears back, licking lips, chewing paws, and inability to settle are signs your dog is unsettled. They may pace by the door after you leave, awaiting your return. Or repeatedly retreive a toy to your lap because they want attention.
For example, if your dog was shaking and pacing when you were packing for a trip, they likely associate your suitcase with you leaving and feel anxious and sad at the prospect of that separation from you. They don’t understand the duration or reason.
Seeking More Affection
When dogs are feeling down, they often seek more affection from their owners. It’s their way of getting reassurance when they feel unsure. This is evident when dogs that are usually independent shadow you around the house or lay at your feet when you’re home. They may also nudge your hand for pets more often.
For example, if you recently moved your dog’s bed to another room as punishment and your dog kept curling up next to you on the couch instead, sad feelings about their bed relocation could be the cause. They want the comfort of your touch.
Changes in Social Behavior
Most dogs are highly social. When they’re sad, you may notice they have little interest in interacting with human family members, other household pets, or dog friends at the park. They prefer to isolate themselves, sleeping or staying in another room away from everyone.
For instance, if your dogs normally gets excited and playful when another dog visits your home but recently has been hiding under the table ignoring the guest pooch, they likely feels sad and not up for social time. Something has lowered their mood.
Physical Symptoms
Emotional states can cause physical symptoms in dogs just like in people. Sadness and anxiety may cause vomiting, diarrhea, loss of bladder control, constipation, or other stomach issues. Watch for these signs that something intangible is bothering your dog.
For example, if you boarded your dog for 2 weeks while you were away and they seemed nervous boarding initially, diarrhea episodes in the days after you picked them up could mean the experience made them so anxious and sad that it manifested physically.
Excessive Licking or Chewing
Some dogs cope with sad feelings through obsessive self-grooming behaviors. Excessive licking of their paws, arms, legs or genital area can indicate a dog is unsettled. Dogs also chew items, furniture or their own fur to self-soothe stress. These behaviors can become compulsive over time.
If your dog normally doesn’t lick themselves excessively but has been licking their paws raw after you disciplined them, their anxiety about when you’ll correct them again could be causing this self-soothing. Their sadness makes them feel on edge.
Avoiding Eye Contact
When dogs feel down, they often avoid looking at their owners. In a happy, secure state, most dogs gaze at their owners frequently. Sustained eye contact cements the bond between human and dog. When that gaze time decreases, it may mean the dog is feeling upset with you.
For example, if you recently moved and your dog stopped making eye contact with you and glancing away when you try to get them to look at you, they could be angry or sad about the stressful relocation and change in their life. They blame you.
Seeking Attention from Others
If your dog is feeling sad due to your actions, they may pull away from you and seek attention from other human family members or another household pet. The dog is saying through their actions that they’re upset with you and want comfort from someone else.
For instance, if you scolded your dog harshly and afterwards they avoided you and kept going to your spouse for pets instead, they were likely hurt by your correction. Their Sadness made them lose confidence in you so they sought reassurance from your kinder spouse.
Destructive Behavior
Some dogs exhibit destructive behavior like chewing, digging, urinating or defecating in the house when they’re extremely distressed. These behaviors may present when you’re away or even when you’re present. The dog feels insecure and their sadness fuels acting out.
For example, if you boarded your dog at a kennel recently, afterwards they may rip up bedding, soil your rug, or rip curtains when you leave. Their separation anxiety about you leaving makes them unsettled. The destructive behavior releases stress.
Excessive Barking or Howling
Barking and howling are ways dogs vocalize discontent. Excessive, incessant barking at nothing can indicate a dog is feeling on edge and unhappy. Sad dogs may also howl more than usual due to feelings of loneliness or isolation.
For instance, a dog that normally quietly watches people pass by the yard may bark aggressively and incessantly after you scolded them for jumping on a visitor. Their confidence is shaken and it’s causing fear. The barking releases stress.
Staying Close to Their People
When dogs don’t feel safe and secure, their natural instinct is to stick close to their people. Dogs that are velcro dogs normally become even more glue-like. Following you from room to room, they keep you within sight. This appeals to their sense of protection.
For example, if your usually independent dog started following you everywhere, even waiting outside the bathroom door, after you returned from a trip, their stressed state likely makes them feel safer staying near you. They missed you terribly.
Acting Depressed
Dogs can exhibit symptoms similar to human depression when very unhappy. They lose pleasure in normal activities, sleep a lot, isolate themselves from family members, seem listless with low motivation levels, and can even seem irritable or aggressive if roused.
For instance, if your dog lost a canine companion in the home and afterwards started sleeping all the time, had no interest in playing or going for walks, and snapped when you tried to interact with them, they are experiencing profound sadness over the loss of the other dog.
Appearing Guilty
Dogs that feel bad about something they did respond differently than dogs feeling guilty over punishments they don’t understand. Dogs that know they did wrong may act “ashamed.” Ears back, tail down, backing away, hiding their face, and avoiding contact are signs your dog is feeling bad about their own actions.
For example, if your dog greeting you at the door with ears back, head lowered, and tail between their legs after you left them uncrated and they destroyed the couch cushions, they look guilty. Your body language communicates they betrayed your trust.
Exaggerated Responses
Dogs that feel afraid of upsetting their owners often develop exaggerated responses to mild reprimands. Yelping, running away, peeing, or pooping when told “no” mildly, a dog shows feelings of intimidation over disappointing you. They don’t understand moderation in your tone.
For instance, if your dog pees submissively every time you point at them and say “no” firmly, even for minor things like jumping on guests, they have an extreme fear response. To them your finger, voice and eye contact feel harsh.
Avoiding Physical Contact
If your actions caused a dog’s sadness, they may avoid physical contact with you. Dogs that love snuggling and being pet suddenly moving away when you reach out to stroke them illustrates your affection is unwelcome. They don’t want warmth from the source of their sadness.
For example, if your doggrowled or ran away when you tried to pet them after you yelled for stealing food off the counter, their response says they are hurt by the scolding. Being near you in that moment feels unsafe for them emotionally.
Loss of Tail Wagging
A wagging tail conveys a happy dog. When dogs are sad, scared, angry, or upset, tail wagging often decreases or disappears entirely. If your dog’s tail stays motionless and lowered when they’re normally wag-crazy, something is causing unhappiness.
For instance, if your dog’s tail didn’t wag at all after you bathed them even though they love water, the bathing experience may have made them nervous. That anxiety resulted in a lifeless tail despite your affectionate tone and pets.
Aslking for Affection
While some sad dogs avoid affection, others plead for it. Dogs asking for more petting, pressing their body against yours, resting their head on your lap and gazing at you, signal they need reassurance. Sad dogs want their people’s love.
For example, if your dog kept nudging under your hand insistently to be petted after you scolded them, they likely felt bad about displeasing you. Petting comforts them and renews their trust in you and your bond when words feel hurtful.
Clinging to a Favorite Person
When dogs don’t feel happy and confident, they cling to the person they feel closest to. Following them, staying by their side, hiding behind them for comfort, and resisting separation are signs they rely on that person for safety.
For instance, if you adopted a new dog into your home and your resident dog stayed right beside you when the new dog approached them, they look to you for protection in uncertain situations. Your presence soothes their sadness about the change.
Acting Shy or Fearful
If punishment or trauma causes a dog’s sadness, they may become fearful. Excessive shyness, jumping or cringing when approached or touched, and running away or hiding from people illustrate the dog feels unsafe and unhappy.
For example, if you yelled harshly at your dog recently and afterwards they acted terrified around all family members, hid under furniture all the time and urinated submissively when approached, those behaviors could indicate abuse to the dog. Your actions have overturned their confidence.
Avoiding Eye Contact with You
If your dog makes eye contact with everyone but you, they are likely upset with you specifically. Since eye contact signals trust in dog language, avoiding gazing at you demonstrates their unhappiness lies with you.
For instance, if you scolded your dog and afterwards they would seek affection from your spouse but not look at you, their sadness about your correction causes this shunning. They want space until they feel safe with you again.
Acting Aggressively Toward You
The most obvious sign a dog is upset with you is if they start displaying aggression toward you. Gutural barking, growling, baring teeth, snapping in the air, biting, and lunging are clear indicators they have anger and sadness to communicate.
For example, if you used harsh discipline on your dog and they started growling and snapping at your approaching hand, their aggression conveys profound unhappiness. To them, you now represent a threat, not trusted companionship.
Needing More Supervision
When dogs don’t feel secure, they require more support and supervision from their people. Separation anxiety, destructive chewing, indoor soiling, and excessive barking can happen when you’re gone or there. The dog is saying they need you present to feel OK.
For instance, if your dog started anxiously pacing, whining and urinating indoors only when left uncrated after you boarded them at a kennel they hated, they now feel sad and unsafe alone. Their trauma requires management and compassion.
Being Hypervigilant
If your actions have made your dog feel unsafe, they may act hypervigilant watching you. Following you closely, startling easily, shaking, panting rapidly and acting panicked illustrate you now seem threatening. Their emotional state is very unsettled.
For example, if you used harsh punishment on your dog and afterwards they started flinching and fleeing when you reached toward them, those reactions show your touch now seems harmful, not comforting. Their sadness lingers through this nervous behavior.
Conclusion
If your dog is displaying any of these signs after an event that may have upset them, it’s likely they are experiencing sadness and emotional distress. While some owners may not recognize that dogs have complex feelings, your canine companion truly can feel unhappy if your actions instill fear or make them feel unsafe and insecure. Understanding dog psychology helps you see your dog’s perspective when their behavior changes after you do something to sadden them. Being attuned to their personality and sensitivities prevents causing emotional trauma that can damage your bond and overwhelm your dog. If you believe your dog is suffering from lingering sadness, anxiety or a lack of confidence due to your past behaviors, seek help from a canine behaviorist. They can guide you on how to rebuild trust and happiness together.