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One in 10 dog owners don’t know stress signs, study finds
Fewer than half of the dog owners were able to identify the most well-known body signals of fear.
The Kennel Club urges more awareness of dog body language.

The Kennel Club is encouraging dog owners to learn the signs of stress and fear in dogs, after research revealed that one in 10 dog owners could not recognise anxiety in dogs’ body language.

This is despite 72 per cent of the 2,460 dog owners surveyed claiming that they could identify fear and happiness in their dogs.

Fewer than half of the dog owners were able to identify the most well-known body signals of fear, such as the dog’s tail being between their legs or the stiffening of their body.

The Kennel Club consider this to be a cause for concern which may cause stressful situations to escalate, putting humans and dogs at risk.

The statistics have prompted The Kennel Club to issue a safety warning, urging dog owners to increase their knowledge of the signs of stress in dogs.

The welfare organisation has released a list of warning signs that a dog may be stressed, in an effort to improve awareness:
  • Appearing tense, and having a stiff body
  • Tail tucked between their legs, or held firmly upright
  • Looking overly alert – with wide, whitened eyes, licking of lips, and yawning
  • Some dogs may growl as a quick way to signify stress.

The survey revealed that 88 per cent did not know to look for yawning, 82 per cent were unaware that licking lips was a stress signal and 65 per cent did not know about staring, wide eyes.

As 28 per cent believed their dog could act ‘unpredictably’, The Kennel Club hope that increased awareness may improve the chances of safe interactions and divert dangerous situations.

The organisation is particularly concerned about interactions with children, with one in five dog owners who are parents not discussing the early warning signals with their children.

Bill Lambert, spokesperson for The Kennel Club, said: “It's alarming that so many owners are simply unaware of how a dog can show signs of stress or fear, while, on the contrary, how many falsely believe they understand their dog’s body language, which can be gravely dangerous in escalating situations.

“Given this, it’s unsurprising that one in four say that their dog can behave unpredictably. Not being able to recognise when your dog is frightened or stressed can have serious consequences and we are extremely concerned about this worrying knowledge gap.”

Image © Shutterstock

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
New guidance for antibiotic use in rabbits

New best practice guidance on the responsible use of antibiotics in rabbits has been published by the BSAVA in collaboration with the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWA&F).

The guidance is free and has been produced to help veterinary practitioners select the most appropriate antibiotic for rabbits. It covers active substance, dose and route of administration all of which are crucial factors when treating rabbits owing to the risk of enterotoxaemia.

For more information and to access the guide, visit the BSAVALibrary.