The Dog "Shake Off"

Have you ever noticed your dog giving a full-body shake — even when they haven’t been anywhere near water? While it might seem odd at first, this behaviour is perfectly normal and actually gives you valuable insight into your dog’s emotional state.

Aside from drying off when wet, dogs often shake off after experiencing stress, anxiety, or even over-excitement. It’s their way of releasing tension and resetting themselves after a stimulating or uncomfortable moment.

What the Shake-Off Really Means

If your dog shakes off during a training session, after meeting a new dog, or following an intense moment, it’s a sign they’ve just experienced something that raised their stress levels. This behaviour acts as a sort of “reset button” for your dog — a way to regain composure.

As a dog owner, it’s helpful to take note of when these shake-offs happen. They can tell you a great deal about what your dog finds overwhelming or stimulating. Over time, these observations can guide how you train or support your dog, whether that means slowing things down, increasing distance from triggers, or simply offering more breaks.

It's Not About Avoiding Experiences

This doesn’t mean we need to stop training or avoid walking our dogs altogether — far from it. But by becoming more aware of our dogs’ stress signals, we can tailor their experiences to help them feel more comfortable and confident. A little patience and sensitivity can go a long way in building trust and reducing anxiety.

Wouldn’t it be great if we could shake off stress that easily?

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