Which of the following are the four primary stress signals to watch for in a dog during grooming, and what is the recommended response?

• A. Tail wagging, relaxed ears, wide eyes, jumping; respond by increasing speed and shouting.
• B. Tail tucked, pinned ears, whale eyes, yawning or lip licking; respond by pausing, offering a break, slowing pacing, and using calmer handling.
• C. Drooling, panting, trembling, refusal to sit; respond by forceful restraint.
• D. Curled lip, growling, direct stare; respond by ignoring and continuing.

Answer: (B)

Recognizing stress signals in a dog during grooming helps you keep the session safe and build trust. The four main signals to watch for are a tail tucked under, ears held flat or back (pinned), whale eyes (the whites showing around the eyes), and yawning or lip licking. These cues show fear or overwhelm, not aggression, so the response should aim to reduce arousal. The best approach is to pause, offer a break, slow the pace, and handle the dog more calmly. This might mean talking in a soothing voice, shortening or changing the touch, and resuming only at the dog’s pace, or desensitizing gradually to the grooming process and equipment. By matching your handling to the dog’s stress level, you prevent escalation and improve cooperation over time. Choices that imply pushing through fear or relying on forceful restraint miss the mark because they raise stress and safety risk, and signals of excitement or pain without fear aren’t addressed by those actions.