7 Subtle Ways Your Dog Is Asking for Help That You Might Be Missing, According to Experts
Anyone who has a dog in their home knows there are certain telltale signs only they can recognize. Whether it's the way our pups look at us or how they lie down, these small and subtle cues can instantly tell us that something is wrong with our furry friends. These cues often come after years of getting to know one another and being part of each other's routine. While there are definitely cues that only a dog's human can pick up, there are plenty of others that may go unnoticed.
While our pups aren't necessarily hiding secrets from us, there are many signs that our dogs give us when they truly need our help that we may accidentally miss or not recognize. Even though we might think we know our dogs pretty well, some of these signs may go unnoticed. Whether it's because they've never expressed themselves in such a manner or they've picked up a new habit from another pet, these signs may feel foreign to pet parents, and we may be missing out on important communication from our furry friends.
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To get to the bottom of these subtle signs, we spoke with dog behavior experts to help decode and demystify these cues to help us better understand and care for our dogs. At the end of the day, there are only so many ways to communicate with our pups, and knowing them all helps build a better bond between our dogs and us humans.
Our Panel of Experts
We spoke with these two dog behavior experts to help us better understand the surprising ways dogs may be asking for help.
- Chris Edge: Chris Edge is the founder of K9Edge Dog Training, a certified dog trainer, and a retired police officer with expertise in canine behavior, behavior modification, high-stress behavior cases, and family dog integration.
- Shawna Baskette: Shawna Baskette is the owner of Reactive Dog Reset and a dog behavior researcher who specializes in reactivity and anxious dogs, which requires thorough knowledge of body language.
Subtle Ways Your Dog Is Asking for Help
These are the seven subtle ways your dog may ask for your help.
Lip Licking
"Dogs lick their lips to calm tense situations and signal that they're not a threat," says Shawna Baskette, a dog behavior researcher. "Other dogs can read this, but most humans cannot. So the next time your dog licks their lips, hang back-they're trying to tell you something. Give them space. If they come back to you for attention, you know they want it."
Yawning
Unlike humans who use yawning to signal that they're tired, dogs may use yawning as a way to show that they're not OK. "Similar to lip licking, it's pretty well established in the research that dogs yawn to de-escalate tension or express mild stress," Baskette says. "Like with the lip lick, give them some space when they yawn."
Looking Away
While sometimes our pups look away because they know they're in trouble, other times it may be a sign that they need their personal space. Chris Edge, founder of K9Edge Dog Training, says that signs like looking away or avoiding eye contact may be a sign from your dog that means they're "asking for distance" or that they're telling you "please don't come closer."
Appeasement Grin
"If your dog shows their teeth, but in a way that resembles a human smile, and there are no aggressive behaviors like a growl, then they are likely telling you, 'I'm friendly and I mean no harm. Let's be friends!'" Baskette says. "Also known as the submissive grin, it is more correctly referred to as the appeasement grin because that is exactly what your dog is trying to do. The grin is rare. Most dogs never do it. They use other appeasement signals like lip licking, looking away or yawning instead."
The appeasement grin shows that not all signs from our dogs are meant to be aggressive or signs of worry.
Check the Tail
While many humans know that a tucked tail may signify a stressed or anxious dog, other tail movements are also important to know.
"A wagging tail does not automatically mean a happy dog," Edge says. "Fast, high, stiff wagging can indicate arousal or conflict just as easily as excitement."
Baskette adds that "when their wags are asymmetrical, wagging more to the right or to the left, your dog is communicating something important." She says that "when a dog wags their tail more to the right, they are comfortable and want to approach, but when a dog wags their tail more to the left, they are not comfortable and want to retreat from the situation."
Shaking Off
While many pups like to shake off after a swim or bath, a dry shake can be a lot more telling. As Baskette explains, "When dogs shake, they are marking a transition from one activity to another. That transition could be the end of a stressful encounter, so the old saying (of ‘shaking it off') is partially true, but typically it is any transition, not just a stressful one."
Inability to Take Food or Cues
When dogs sometimes refuse to pay attention to their human or don't take a bite of their favorite foods, it's not always indicative of a medical problem. In some of these cases, it may be a sign of stress or overwhelm. As Edge explains, "this is a key sign of an overwhelmed dog" and that it's "time to leave."
How to Become Fluent in Your Dog's Body Language
Not only is it important to know these subtle signs, but it's also vital that a pet parent learns their pup's body language. "Becoming fluent in dog body language starts with slowing down and observing patterns instead of isolated moments," Edge says. "Owners must watch for these general signs: Body looseness versus stiffness; weight shifting forward or backward; breathing changes; tail carriage and movement quality (not just wagging); ability to disengage and reorient; and recovery time after stress."
Edge also says to trust your instinct. "Every owner I work with can sense exactly when their dog needs help or is going to ‘flip the switch,'" he says. "The key is to pay attention to what you see before that moment so we can be proactive to keep the dog from becoming reactive."
While every dog is different, these subtle signs from your dog may help you get ahead of anything that might be bothering them. Knowing these dog behaviors may also help you remove them from anxious or stressful situations before they become problematic.
Decoding your dog's behavior isn't just about everyone's safety. It's about learning more about your dog's body language and understanding their emotions, which can bring you closer to your furry friend and help them know that you are there for them in any way you can be.
Related: 10 Signs Your Dog Is Happy, Relaxed and Trusts You, According to a Trainer
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This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 3:05 AM.