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6 Signs Your Dog Is Unhappy, And Ways You Can Help

Name: Earth Buddy Pet CBD Oil for Dogs
Brand: Earth Buddy Pet
SKU: EBP-1001
Price: 49.99 USD
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Did you know roughly two-thirds of humans can't recognize when their dog is sad? ¹

We cover the six most common signs of an unhappy pup, plus another six techniques to help support them.

Key Takeaways

Many dogs feel unhappy at times, but humans often struggle to recognize the signs of sadness in dogs.
Common signs your dog is unhappy include specific body language signals, aggression, low energy, whimpering, and changes to sleep and appetite.
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to help support a sad dog.
We offer supplements that can help your dog manage normal stress, promote relaxation, support gut health, and more.
Other techniques to help an unhappy dog include exercise, play, and socialization.
Dogs can also sense our moods and even take them on, so always remember to take care of yourself, too!

What Makes Our Once-Happy Dog Friends Unhappy?

Dogs are famous for their happy disposition. Usually, we can count on our furry friends to be rays of sunshine in our lives.

But dogs, just like humans, can become sad.

Sometimes, your dog's mood might only be temporarily lowered, and for obvious reasons. You likely know how upset dogs can get when we leave them at home, for example.

Interestingly, research suggests that dogs can also feel grief, just like us. ¹

However, in rare cases, your dog's low mood might seem to last longer than you'd expect, or be more extreme. Maybe your dog is down in the dumps for no clear reason.

Again, just like us humans, dogs can become unhappy for extended periods of time and without any clear cause. When humans become seriously unhappy, our biochemistry can noticeably change. Our dogs' nervous system works in the same way as ours, so experts suspect the same might be true for them. ³

Far more research has been conducted into sadness in humans than in dogs. But a couple of studies have shown that sad dogs have different gut microbiota than dogs who aren't sad. And the gut bacteria in sad dogs seem to be similar to gut bacteria in sad humans. ⁴

While dogs might be similar to humans in many ways, we shouldn't assume they are identical. Multiple studies have found that humans struggle to accurately read their dogs' moods. ⁵

And other studies have found that most pet owners fail to recognize when their dogs are sad. In one study from 2022, just 36% of dog owners recognized the signals their dogs were sad! ¹

In fact, a 2024 analysis concluded that over 99% of U.S. dogs demonstrate at least some behavior issues, many directly related to being unhappy.6 So our dogs become sad far more often than we might expect.

Nevertheless, it's still possible for us pet parents to identify when our furry friends are feeling blue. And, fortunately, there are plenty of tricks to help your unhappy pooch.

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6 Signs of an Unhappy Dog

#1. Body Language

Dogs can't talk. But they can communicate. While we humans might struggle to understand, we can learn the basics of canine communication. ⁷

Research suggests that dogs express sadness most clearly through their body language. The more familiar you are with dogs, and an individual dog in particular, the better you'll likely be at reading their emotions. ⁸

In fact, being able to read your dog's emotions could help reduce how stressed your dog is in general. Research shows that dogs often become stressed by humans misreading their body language. A dog being touched when it doesn't want to be touched, for example, will likely become stressed and unhappy. ⁹

So, what body language should we look out for?

First, look deep into your dog's eyes. No, seriously! Dogs often show their sadness with droopy, sad-seeming eyes. In one study, dogs actually teared up when they were overwhelmed with emotion. ¹⁰

Scientists believe dogs' eyes evolved specifically to appeal to humans. ¹¹ So pay attention to them.

Other common signs of sadness in dogs include:

Ears pulled back against the head
Pacing
Excessive paw licking (if your dog's doing this, grab our Paw & Skin Balm to support their skin health)
General lack of activity (we'll cover this in more depth below)

#2. Aggression

When we feel unhappy, we unfortunately can take our sadness out on others. Dogs are the same.

If your dog is stressed, afraid, or unhappy, they might become more aggressive. ¹² For example, they might growl or bark in situations that previously didn't seem to bother them.

An unhappy dog might also take out their frustration on inanimate objects. You might find your dog becoming more rough with their toys, or they might start chewing furniture, or just become more destructive in general. ¹³

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#3. Low Energy

Where some unhappy dogs become antsy, others can become lethargic.

Interestingly, a lack of activity isn't necessarily linked to sadness in dogs, in the same way it is in humans. ¹⁴ So it's important to consider how your dog usually acts.

For example, if your pup was always rather, well, lazy, you might not have anything to worry about. Similarly, aging dogs usually become less active, and that's entirely normal. ¹⁵

However, if your dog used to constantly want to play and exercise, but suddenly lost interest, that's a potential sign of unhappiness.

#4. Appetite Change

Just like in humans, unhappy dogs can lose their appetite.

In one study from the UK, a whopping 900,000 cats and dogs suffered a loss of appetite due to emotional problems. ¹⁶ According to another study from the UK, almost three-quarters of all dogs in the country show signs of sadness or stress. ¹⁷

Is this unique to dogs in the UK? Certainly not. While similar studies haven't been conducted in the US, research has demonstrated that stress and unhappiness can be appetite suppressants in all kinds of dogs. ¹⁸

On the other hand, one study noted that unhappy dogs can also overeat, just like humans. ¹⁹

Remember, then, the key is to watch out for sudden changes in your dog's behavior.

#5. Changes to Sleep

Speaking of behavioral changes, pay attention to your dog's sleep. Are they suddenly sleeping way more than they used to? That's a classic sign of sadness in humans, and might be a signal your dog is unhappy, too. ²⁰

Equally, stress and unhappiness can also cause sleep deprivation in humans and dogs. Research confirms that sleep deprivation is unhealthy. In fact, it can actually worsen sadness in both humans and dogs. ²¹

Bonus: Why Do Dogs Yawn So Much? Here's What You Should Do

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#6. Making Noises

Dogs might not be able to talk, per se, but they can certainly speak. Anyone who's had to hear their dog's barking knows exactly what we mean!

Whimpering, for example, is a classic doggy sign of sadness. Research suggests that a dog's whimpering sounds just as sad to us humans as the sound of a crying baby. ²²

How to Help Your Unhappy Dog

So, you can now recognize six of the most common signs of sadness in dogs.

Now for the important part. What can you do about it?

Plenty, it turns out.

#1. Manage Everyday Stressors

As you've likely noticed, stress often plays a big role in making our dogs unhappy. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to help our dogs manage stress.

We offer a wide range of calming products. Your dog might love our chews, which come in delicious flavors including Duck & Apple and Beef & Pumpkin.

Alternatively, consider our CBD and CBDa Oil, which you can give directly to your dog or mix in their food. (We have other oils, too, including our ever-popular CBD Oil!)

There's also our Quick Calm spray, which helps reduce the effects of normally induced environmental stress and can promote relaxation in a pinch.

#2. Support Sleep

You probably know just how important sleep is to mental (and physical) health. Ensuring your furry friend gets a healthy amount of rest is extremely important, especially when they're feeling unhappy.

Our Sleep Support Hemp Extract contains full-spectrum CBN and CBD in a carefully calculated 4:1 ratio to promote a calming effect.

#3. Bolster Diet

Remember, research suggests our dogs' gut is intimately connected with how they're feeling.

Our Gut Health Digestive Aid contains grass-fed bovine colostrum, whole plant hemp extract, and organic blueberry powder to help support your dog's gut health, including helping your dog maintain proper gut flora and pH.

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#4. Increase Activity

As we discussed, your dog might be acting out because they aren't stimulated enough. Or, at the very least, additional stimulation might help support them while they're feeling down.

In fact, research shows that exercise helps dogs who are sad, just like it does with unhappy humans. ²⁴

#5. Get a Friend

Similarly, extra social activity can sometimes help unhappy dogs. ²³ That might mean letting them hang out with their furry friends (or helping them make some).

You might even consider getting another dog to keep yours company.

#6. Help Yourself

According to research, people who own dogs are often less likely to be sad or stressed than non-dog owners. ²⁵

But that's not always true. Just like dogs can become sad for all kinds of reasons, we humans can occasionally find ourselves feeling unable to overcome our unhappiness.

Often, our dogs can help us get through these periods. But remember, your dog is likely very attuned to your emotions and behaviors. Research shows that our dogs can sense and even take on their owners' stress and unhappiness. ²³

Your dog's unhappiness, then, might simply be a reflection of your own. So remember to take good care of yourself. By doing so, you'll also be taking care of your furry friend.

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Conclusion

Both dogs and humans can become unhappy for all manner of reasons. Our pets are deeply connected to us, and our moods can be infectious. But by paying more attention to ourselves and our dogs, we can become better at recognizing signs of unhappiness — and doing something about it.

There's no shortage of tips and tricks to support a sad dog. Which technique, or which supplement, you choose to use depends on your specific pup's situation and mood.

If none of the above techniques seem to work, check with your vet. They'll be able to help you and your dog.

Keep Reading: Why Is My Dog Pacing: 3 Reasons and How to Help Them

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Earth Buddy is an environmentally conscious and family-owned company dedicated to providing natural solutions for pets. From our CBD oils to our colostrum supplements, our products are designed to promote calmness and encourage relaxation for our furry friends. To learn more and stay connected, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Pinterest.