Dogs’ mental health is important to their overall well-being. It can affect their physical health and behavior. Here, we share a few ways to support dog’s mental and emotional wellness.
Socialization
Many studies show how important socialization is for dogs. It influences how they behave as adults, teaching them how to react to other animals, people, and environments. Proper socialization makes dogs more confident, less fearful, less aggressive, and more capable of handling separation than unsocialized dogs. Reducing anxiety, fear, and loneliness—and instilling confidence—can also strengthen the human-animal bond. Here are some considerations:
- Socialize dogs early, during the first 3 months of life
- The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) suggests positive, controlled, and safe exposure to various people, animals, and environments
- Older dogs can also be socialized, though it may take longer and require different approaches
The Animal Humane Society has an article with extensive information about how to socialize puppies and older dogs.
Communication
Dogs can’t speak human languages, but they communicate in other ways. Understanding body language (yawning, licking, tail wagging, bowing, pawing, snarling, etc.) allows us to know what dogs are telling us. Studies have found owners don’t always interpret these signals correctly and tend to overgeneralize some behaviors.
For example:
- A wagging tail doesn’t always indicate happiness
- The presence of “fish gills” isn’t a smile
- What humans may perceive as shame after unwanted behavior is more likely fear or submissiveness
- Raised hackles can signal either positive or negative excitement
You can learn more about dogs’ body language and what it means from trainer Victoria Stilwell in this article.
Beyond understanding common canine body language, owners can become attuned to unique behavior cues from their dogs. How do you know when they are uncomfortable, want a snack, need attention, want some quiet time, or need an immediate bathroom break? These can look widely different from one dog to the next. Learning your dog’s unique cues can tighten your bond and make communication easier for both of you.
Agency
Giving dogs agency means allowing them some control over themselves in our environment. Research over many years has found that dogs have their own thoughts, feelings, and reasoning.
While behavior guidelines and training are important for the safety of dogs and humans, dogs should be allowed some choices in their lives. Empowering dogs helps to give them confidence, reduce aggressive behaviors, relieve boredom, strengthen their bonds with humans, and yield better results in training.
In her book, Constructing Canine Consent: Conceptualising and adopting a consent-focused relationship with dogs, applied behavior consultant Erin Jones points out that the relationships between companion dogs and humans are “designed by humans, for humans” and that we have ultimate control over their lives. Jones says because of this we should consider dogs’ perspectives and find ways to give them consent while maintaining guidelines designed to keep them safe.
Some examples of how to empower dogs with agency:
- Don’t force them to be petted by you or others
- Don’t force them to greet a stranger or another animal
- Allow them sniffs while on walks instead of staying on a straight line at a steady pace
- Allow them to choose where to sit or rest (on the floor, in their bed, in their crate, close or far from their humans, etc.)
- Give them freedom of movement within their home and yard
- Allow them to choose which toy(s) they want to play with
- Give them bodily autonomy when sleeping—allow them to sleep undisturbed in the positions they choose
- Train using positive reinforcement rather than fear and punishment
You may also consider agency in training; there are trainers and behavior experts who incorporate this into their programs.
Enrichment
It’s true dogs find security in routines. Consistent yet flexible feeding, exercise, and bed times are events around which they center their days, making them more confident and comfortable. It’s also important to give dogs’ regular mental stimulation and new experiences to enrich their lives. There are many ways to do this, including:
- Give new toys occasionally, or stash some old ones and rotate them weekly
- Explore a new walking or hiking environment
- Allow them to (safely) lead the walk and sniff at their own pace
- Rent out a sniff spot for an hour
- Give them treat puzzles
- Teach a new trick
- Practice old tricks and commands
- Play hide-and-go-seek
- Hide treats around the house
- Give them a snuffle mat
- Teach them the names of their toys (or other items/actions)
- Let them watch dog-friendly television or wildlife videos
Caring for a dog’s mental well-being is vital in maintaining good overall health and behavior. In doing so, you can help your dog be happy, confident, and fulfilled while strengthening the bond you have with them.
References
American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior. AVSAB Position Statement on Puppy Socialization.; 2008. https://avsab.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Puppy_Socialization_Position_Statement_Download_-_10-3-14.pdf
Canine body language. Positively. Accessed March 24, 2025. https://positively.com/dog-training/article/communication-canine-body-language
Jones E. Constructing Canine Consent: Conceptualising and adopting a consent-focused relationship with dogs. 1st ed. CRC Press; 2024. doi:10.1201/9781003361459
McEvoy V, Espinosa U, Crump A, Arnott G. Canine Socialisation: A Narrative Systematic Review. Animals. 2022;12(21):2895. doi:10.3390/ani12212895
Socializing your dog. Animal Humane Society. Accessed March 24, 2025. https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/resource/socializing-your-dog
Tami G, Gallagher A. Description of the behaviour of domestic dog (Canis familiaris) by experienced and inexperienced people. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 2009;120(3-4):159-169. doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2009.06.009