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6 signs your new dog needs something from you

6 signs your new dog needs something from you

Things would be so much more efficient if dogs can talk but alas, they can’t. It is even harder to tell if something is wrong when you are unfamiliar with your new doggy friend. So what we need to do is to keep a close eye when we see one or more general signs indicating they need us to do something for them.

This is a general, non-exhaustive overview of non-life threatening signs; if you have any concerns about the physical and mental well-being of both you and the dog, contact the owner immediately.

1. Hunger

If a dog follows a relatively regular meal time, then you can almost be certain when the dog will be hungry. But if it is between meal times, or you’re not sure when exactly meal times are, then here are some signs that the dog may be hungry, and not just begging for your table scraps.

  • Sniffing and generally searching everywhere intensely as their natural instinct is to scavenge for food
  •  Throwing up bile (thick yellow gel-like liquid). This happens when the dog is excessively hungry and you should feed it soon if not immediately
  • After an extra active day. Just like you would have a smoothie after the gym, dogs will be hungry after a long hike even if it is between meal times

2. Thirst

The biggest concern with whether the dog is thirsty is dehydration, which can lead to serious consequences. As a general rule of thumb you should always have a bowl of water that the dog can freely access.

There are also telltale signs when a dog is dehydrated and you need to make sure it drinks water asap:

  • Panting excessively and it is a hot day… because common sense
  • Dry, cracked nose, but if after licking it several times nose is still dry and cracked the dog is definitely dehydrated
  • Skin becomes inelastic – when you pinch the bit of skin on its neck it wouldn’t go back down right way
  • Dry and sticky gum and/or thick saliva – the dog’s body doesn’t have enough water to keep its mouth moist
  • Constipation – not always due to dehydration, but drinking water may help!

Also look for signs of a heatstroke when the dog becomes disoriented, or start vomiting / having a diarrhea bout.

3. Potty

An almost definitive sign of a dog needing to go potty is when it gets very restless. It cannot sit or stand still, and may be constantly pacing. I have taken care of a dog who normally likes to sit on my lap but that one time when I delayed bathroom break for a bit I picked him up he would just stand very still on my lap instead. At that moment I knew I needed to rush out of the house to let him go.

Another telltale sign is if it starts sniffing the ground around him/her. This is slightly differently than sniffing for food which usually covers wider ground. Sniffing for bathroom is usually in the immediate area around the dog.

Finally, if you notice the dog is finally standing still after pacing around for a while, and then its tail suddenly shoots straight up in the air with or without squatting slightly, then forget about bringing it outside and buckle up. An accident is about to happen!

4. Nervousness / aggression

This is only referring to nervousness or aggression towards other dogs. If there is any aggression towards people then we strongly discourage them from using Doggy Day to protect the safety of our users. We also generally discourage a doggy friend to undertake any systematic training without the owner’s knowledge.

If the dog is nervous around other dogs, it may turn into aggression if it is forced into a fight or flight mode. If you are not sure, these are some signs the dog is unsure about other dogs:

  • The easiest way to tell how a dog feels is by looking at its tail. Any time its tail is down and tightly tucked between its hind legs, the dog is fearful and nervous As a doggy friend you need to remove yourself and the dog from the situation such as crossing the street or walking to the other side of the park
  • The opposite is also true when a dog is too anxious. If the dog’s tail is extremely stiff and still, it is on high alert. Although it could be an indication that it is over-excited or over-anxious, when meeting another dog it is best when both dogs are relaxed and confident. If you are unfamiliar with your new doggy friend and/or the other dog, best not to introduce with when one or both is high-strung.
  • Other signs of nervousness include licking its nose incessantly or yawning excessively.

There are trainings for both people and dogs and we encourage you to do your research, but if in doubt, remove both yourself and the dog from any and all situations which may trigger a reaction. Then discuss with the owner about the circumstances and options for next time.

5. Lethargy

Lethargy is a general sign of physical or mental ailment. Just like humans, when we don’t feel well, we don’t really want to do anything. While every dog is different, there are some general ways of distinguishing between lethargy and tiredness or boredom even if you are not familiar with the dog’s usual behavior or habits:

  • When the dog is uninterested in everything. This doesn’t just mean it is oblivious to all the dog toys you bought, but it seems it has completely shut down all its senses, e.g. when there is a loud bang the dog does not act startled or curious
  • when it is lethargic without any exercise – if aside from the 2-min bathroom break it has been lounging on the sofa, you should keep a close eye on whether there are other symptoms
  •  Decreased or no appetite is definitely a warning sign that something is amiss. If the dog is sleeping so much that it is not motivated or interested in even high-value treats, definitely spend some time to investigate what might be bothering it

6. Pain

When we are in pain, we squirm and we whine and we moan. Same with dogs, really. While these signs are not definitive signs of a dog in pain, if there are reasons to suspect it is in pain and it exhibits one or more of the following signs, you may need to start exploring causes and options.

  • Panting (breathing calms them down)
  • Whining (but not in an attention-seeking way)
  • Licking (when there is a wound)
  • Feeling agitated (being in pain is not comfortable)
  • Limping or other mobility issues
  • Hiding (just want to be antisocial and rest alone)

Some dogs are very good at hiding pain, but generally signs of being in pain is rather obvious and vocal.