17 Very Common Reasons Why a Dog is Pacing and Unsettled

So, is constant pacing 'normal' behavior for your dog? ... Why is My Dog Pacing Back and Forth? ... dog is acting weird and restless ... Ownersoftenfindthatdogsarerestlessandpaceaboutwhentheywantyoururgentattention.Ifyourdogisunsettledandwon’tliedown,thenyou’llknowbetterthananyoneifthisiscompletelyoutofcharacterforyourpet.So,isconstantpacing‘normal’behaviorforyourdog?Whyisyourdogunsettledandpacing?Yourdogcouldbeexcited,stressed,bored,hungryorhavelosttheirfavoritetoy.Dogscanalsodetectpestsinthewallsofyourhome,suchasbedbugsandrodents.Theymaybealertingyou.Butwhenadogwon’tsettledown,it’smorelikelytobeduetoaphysicalormentalhealthproblemsuchasarthritis,cognitivedysfunction,Cushing’sdisease,liverdisease,orsightloss.Arestlessdogisnothealthy,relaxed,orcontentedwithlife.So,ifyourdogwon’tsettledown,they’llbeindiscomfortorconcernedthatsomethingiswrong.Thereasonsforthisbehaviorarewide-ranging,andtherecouldbemorethanoneexplanationforwhyyourdogwon’tliedown.TableofContents:WhyisMyDogPacingBackandForth?1)Over-excitement2)Stress,Worry,andAnxiety3)BoredomandLackofStimulation4)HearorSmellSomething5)LookingforSomethingTheyWant6)UncomfortableinTheirBed7)InHeat8)Hunger9)PoorDietandNutrition10)InsufficientExercise11)TheyWantYourAttention12)PainandDiscomfort13)LiverDisease14)Cushing’sDisease15)NeurologicalTumors16)Senility17)SightLossReadOurLatestPosts:WhyisMyDogPacingBackandForth?Let’stakealookatthemostcommonreasonswhyadogpacesaroundthehouse.Atleastoneoftheseexplanationswillapplytoyourpet.Onceyouunderstandthebehavior,youcanrectifyit.1)Over-excitementAnexciteddogisfullofenergy.Seethingsfromyourpet’sperspective.Theymaynothaveseenyouallday,andnowyou’rehomefromworkfinally.Thismeansthey’llbegettinglotsofattention,treats,food,andwalks.Theseareamongadog’sfavoritethingsintheworld.Onceinaroutine,theirpacingshouldcalmdown.Ifyourdogknowsthey’llhavetheirneedsmet,therestlessnesswillbereduced.Ifthereisnostrictschedule,they’llremainveryexcitable.Youshouldalsobecarefulaboutthelanguageyouusearoundadog.Caninesliveforthemoment.Ifyousay,“walkies”toadog,thatmeansnowandnotintenminutesonceyou’vewashedthedishes.Ifyouuseawordorcommandthatyourdogrecognizes,they’llgrowexcitableandpacearounduntilitfinallyhappens.It’sadvisablenottomakepromisesunlessyou’reready.2)Stress,Worry,andAnxietyLoudnoises,suchasstormsandfireworks,areacommonstresstriggerfordogs.Changesinroutine,suchasstayingoutlateorchangestofeedingschedules,canalsounsettling.Perhapsthegreatestworryisseparationanxiety.Petsdonotliketoberemovedfromhumancompany,especiallywhenthey’reyoung.Maybeyou’vebeencominghomelaterthanusual.Worktobuildyourdog’strust,andhelpthemunderstandthatyou’llalwaysreturnhome.Ifyourdogispacingthroughstress,trytoidentifythetriggerandeliminateit.Also,scentedsprayscancalmcaninenerves.Calmingsupplementscanalsobeaddedtoyourpet’smeal.Iftheproblemdoesnotsubside,yourdogmayhaveananxietydisorder,seeksupportfromananimalbehavioraltherapist.Ifthatdoesn’tworkout,consideranti-anxietymedications.3)BoredomandLackofStimulationIfacaninedoesn’tknowwhattodowiththemselves,they’llwanderupanddown,backandforth.AdogcannotreadabookorwatchTV,sothey’lllookforotherentertainment.It’svitalthatyourdogreceivesadequatementalstimulationduringtheday.Walksandtripstothedogparkareessential.Takingadogforastrollisn’tjustexercisingtheirbody.Theyarecompletelymindful,takingineverythingaroundthem.Don’tdragyourdogalonginahurry.Letthemstopandsniffwhenevertheyplease.Thisfiresupyourpet’sbrainastheyprocessthedifferentsmells.Inturn,ittiresthemout.Playtimeisalsoagreatwaytogiveyourdog’sbrainaworkout.Caninesloveproblem-solving.Justworkingouthowtocarryalargestickhomeorchasingafteraballwillbeenough.Ifyourdogdidn’tgetoutsideenough,andhasn’texercisedtheirmind,they’llgrowrestless.Don’tallowthistohappen.Aboreddogwillrarelysettleforpacing.Eventually,they’llbecomedestructive.4)HearorSmellSomethingDogshaveaphenomenalhearing,andsensesofsmell.Thisiswhytheysometimesseemtobestaringatthewallandgrowlingatsomethingthatisn’tthere.Thiscanalsoapplytopacing.Yourdogmaydetectmiceinyourcellarorbasement,orbugsinyourwalls.Theywillpacearound,tryingtopinpointexactlywheretheseinfiltratorsare.It’sallpartofadogprotectingyou.Ifyourdogpacesandpausesinaparticularspot,payattention.Theyhavefoundsomething,anditwilllikelybenefityoutoknowwhat.Itmaybetimetocallinafumigationservice.Ofcourse,it’salsopossiblethatyourdogjusthearssomethingoutside.Theymayhearanothercaninebarking,oracathissing.Justbecauseyourhumanearscan’tpickuponthesesounds,itdoesn’tmeanthey’renotthere.Thismaybemakingyourdognervous,andleadtopacing.Offerreassuranceinsuchacase,andseeiftheycalmdown.5)LookingforSomethingTheyWantDogsrememberthethingsthatareimportanttothem.They’llretainknowledgeofanythingthatprovidespleasure.Unfortunately,theydon’talwaysrememberwheretheylefttheseitems.Afavoritetoyisaprimeexample.Yourdogmayhavemisplacedtheirpreferredball,orachewtoyofchoice.They’llpacearound,tryingtofindit.Dogscanberelentlessinsuchascenario.Don’tcontinuallymoveadog’sfoodorwatersourcesforthisreason.They’llgrowusedtothembeinginaparticularplace.Yourdogmayhavehiddenaboneoratreat,whichyou’vesincemoved.Yourdogmayalsobelookingforalostcompanion,orpiningforamissinghuman.It’snosecretthatcaninesforgedeepemotionalbonds.Ifanotherpethaspassedaway,theymaynotunderstand.6)UncomfortableinTheirBedTherearevariousreasonswhyadogmaynolongerfeelcomfortableintheirbed.Itcouldhavebecomeoldandtattered,withthecushionsnolongerofferingsupport.Theymaybecold.Itmayevenhavebeentarnishedwiththesmellofcat.Ifyourdogseemstohavelostinterestintheirbed,makeitappealingagainforthem.Fillitwithsofttoys.Addahotwaterbottleforwarmth.Replaceanycushionsforadditionalpadding.Yourdogwillwantacozyandcomfortableplacetosleep.Theywillnotrejecttheirbedwithoutreason.Thispacingisasymptomoffrustration.Theywanttocurlupforthenight,butarestrugglingtodoso.Ofcourse,anotherexplanationmaybethatyouletthedogintoyourownbed.Consistencyisessentialforpets.Ifyouallowedyourdogtosleepwithyouonce,they’dexpecttodosoallthetime.Dogsdonotunderstandthatyouonlywantedtheircompanytemporarily.Oncethey’vetastedthehighlifeofsleepingonahumanbed,theymayrejecttheirown.7)InHeatIfyourdogisanunspayedfemale,shewillenterheateverysixmonths.Thiscyclewilllastforaroundthreeweeks,andyourdogwillberestlessthroughout.Yourpetwillpaceconstantly,unabletosettle.They’llwanttogooutsideregularly,andwillattractunfixedmalesoneverywalk.Theonlywaytopreventthisistospayyourdog.TheASPCAlistslow-costprovidersofthisserviceinyourarea.Ifthat’snotanoption,you’llneedtogrinandbearthesymptoms.Justbeawarethatadoginheatundergoessomepersonalitychanges.Increaseddominanceaggressionisthemostnotable.Ifyouhavemultiplepets,thiscancausefrictioninthehome.8)HungerSometimes,yourdogmaybelookingforfood.Ifyouhavemissedamealtime,thisislikely.Dogsarecreaturesofhabit,andtheirstomachswillrumbleiftheirscheduleistamperedwith.Ascaninesarenaturalhunters,yourdogmaytakemattersintotheirownhands.They’llsniffandsearcharound,lookingfornourishment.Thiscouldbecrumbsonthefloor,orevenbugs.Yourdogmayalsohaveburiedfoodincaseofthisscenario.Smalldogs,inparticular,willhidetreatsifthey’renothungry.Yourdogmaybelookingforthesnacktheysquirreledawaydays,orevenweeks,ago.Thisbehaviorcanbecomedangerous.Ifadoggetshungryenough,they’lleatanything.Thiscancauseproblems.It’sadvisabletosticktoastrictfeedingschedule.Youmaynoticethatyourdogstartspacingmoreinthewinter.Thisisbecausedogsaretypicallyhungrierincooltemperatures.Theyburnmorecaloriesjuststayingwarm.Whenwinterarrives,increaseyourdog’sdailyfoodintakebyaround10%. Also,encouragethemtoexercisemoreatsometimes,orthey’llgainweight.Morefoodwillkeepyourpetfullandcontent,though,andminimizepacingandhunting.9)PoorDietandNutritionDogscanbeassusceptibleto‘sugarhighs.’Unfortunately,low-qualitydogfoodandtreatsarepackedwithsugar.Thiswillmakeyourdogexcitable,andleavethemwithenergytoburn.Thiswillpass.Eventually,yourdog’sbodyburnwillburnoffsugar,andthey’llrelax.It’sawkwardforownerandpetuntilthishappens,though.Also,sugarcanbeharmfultodogs.Obesity,diabetes,andtoothdecayarealllikely.Choosingtherightfoodforyourdogisoneofthemostimportantpartsofpetparenting.ChecktheMerckVeterinaryManualforadviceonacanine’snutritionalneeds.Learnwhetheryourdogpreferswetordryfood,andpickupthebestthatyoucanafford.Thefoodshouldprimarilycontainanimalproducts,andnottoomuchfiller.Everydoghasdifferentneedsandpriorities.Treatsmustalsobetakenintoconsideration,andfedinmoderation.Avoidsugarybiscuitswhereverpossible.Mostdogswillconsideranyfoodtobeatreat.Thismeansyoucansticktofreshmeats.10)InsufficientExerciseEverydoghasvaryingexerciseneeds.Ifthey’renotmet,thedogwillbecomefrustrated.Nodogcansettleiftheyhaveexcessenergytoburn.Asaminimum,dogsneedatleast30minutesofphysicalactivityaday.Somedogsneedasmuchastwohours,though.Thisexerciseshouldbemorethanjustagentlewalk,unlessyourdogiselderly.Canineslovetorun.Takeyourpettotheparkwiththeirball,andletthemopenup.Themorecardioyourdogenjoys,themoreexhaustedandcontentthey’llbe.Ifyouhaverunthelegsoffyourpetandthey’restillrestless,thereissomethingelseamiss.Thiswillneedparticularattention.Adogthatwantstorest,butcan’t,willbecomedistressed.Inmanycases,though,physicalandmentalexercisewillresolveadog’sdesiretopace.11)TheyWantYourAttentionSometimes,adog’saimlesswanderingisnothingmorethanattentionseeking.Thislargelydependsonexactlyhowyoureactwhenyourdogbeginstheirtravels.Ignoringyourdogisrisky.Theymaywellhaveaseveremedicalconcern.Timemaybeoftheessence.Ontheotherhand,dogsaresmart.Oncetheyrealizethatpacingequalsattention,they’llturnthistotheiradvantage.Onethingiscertain;adogshouldneverbescoldedforpacingaroundthehome.Theywillbewanderingaroundforareason,evenifthat’sjusttryingtoattractattention.Letyourdogpaceforaminuteortwo.Iftheystopandsettledown,theywerelikelytryingtheirluck.Ifitcontinues,andyoucannotfindanyotherexplanation,questionwhythey’resokeentogetyourattention.Themostcommonexplanationmaybethattheyneedthebathroom.Theycan’ttakecareofthisbusinesswithoutyourhelp.Offerthemawalkandseeifthishelps.Ifyouuseaspecificwordforelimination,somuchthebetter.Ifthisisnotthereasonandyourdogwantssomepetting,that’sfinetoo.Dogsarepartofthefamily,afterall.YourpetmaybefeelingalittleinsecureReassurethem.Itwon’ttakelong,andyou’llenjoyinnumerablerewards.12)PainandDiscomfortAnolddogpacingbackandforthmayhavearthritis.Largerbreedsofdogareparticularlypronetothiscondition.Thisisbecausetheycarrymoreweight.Asaresult,theirjointsexperiencemoresignificantwearandtearovertime.Caninearthritisispainful,anditcannotbecured.Thankfully,though,itcanbemanaged.Withsomelifestylechanges,medicationandsupplements,youcanmakeyourdogmorecomfortable.Torestricttheimpactofarthritisonyourpet:Ensuretheyareanappropriatebodyweight.PetMDhasahelpfulcalculatortoaidyouinjudgingthis.Keepyourdogactive.Noexerciseatallwillmagnifyyourdog’sdiscomfort.Don’tpushthemtoofareither,though.Pickupsomesupplementstohelpyourdog.Anypetstorewillbefilledwithover-the-counterremediesforarthritis.Regularlymassageyourdogtoalleviateanypainandkeeptheirjointssupple.Ensurethatyourdoghasasoft,comfortablebed.Addingahotwaterbottleoncolddayswillalsosoothediscomfort.Ifthingsdonotimprove,consultavet.Theywillbeabletoprescribepainkillingmedicationforyourdog.Inmanyinstances,though,thiswillnotbenecessary.Managementofcaninearthritisprimarilytakesplaceathome.Ifyourdogisnotarthritic,considerwhethertheirpainhasadifferentcause.Lookoutforanysignsoflimping.Theymayhaveinjuredthemselveswhileexercising.Dogsarecapableofpullingmuscles,andortheymayevenhaveaminorfracture.X-rayscanidentifytheseinjuries.Aprofessionalwillprescribepainkillers,andalegsplintorcastifrequired.13)LiverDiseaseWhenadoghasissueswiththeirliver,theyareunabletofiltertoxinsappropriately.Pacingisasideeffectofthispain.Itwilloftenmanifestasgastrointestinalissues.Yourdogwilllosetheirappetite,andloseweightatanalarmingrate.Muscleweaknesswillalsofrequentlyoccur,andyourdogwillbecomelethargic.Liverdiseasecanbecomefatalifleftuntreated.Thankfully,itcanbemanagedthroughdietarychangesandmedication.Makesurethatyourdogcheckedoveronceayearbyavet.Liverproblemsarenotalwaysagradualprocess,though.Ingestingtoxinsandpoisonscancauseacuteliverfailure.Insuchacircumstance,yourdogwillneedurgentmedicalattention.Thetoxinsmustbeflushedout.14)Cushing’sDiseaseIfyourdogkeepspantingandwon’tsettle,youneedtoconsiderthatshemayhaveCushing’sdisease.Cushing’sdiseaseisaconditionthataffectsseniorcanines.Alsoknownashyperadrenocorticism,Cushing’sdiseaseiscausedbythebodycreatinganexcessofcortisol.Cortisolisthestresshormone,whichmeansthatadogwithCushing’sdiseasewillbecontinuouslyagitated.Thiswill,naturally,leadtothempacingaroundthehome.Othersymptomsincludeexcessivethirst,aconstantneedtourinate(especiallyatnight),panting,andweightgain.Treatmentreliesupongainingaformaldiagnosis,whichcanbetricky.Thisissuesharessymptomswithmany,lesserailments.Mostoften,Cushing’sdiseaseiscausedbyagrowthonthepituitarygland.Ascanwilldetectthis.Ifthisappliestoyourdog,furthertestswillberequired.Ifthegrowthcanbeshrunk,orsurgicallyremoved,avetmayrecommendthis.IfyourdogisdiagnosedwithCushing’sdisease,they’llusuallybeprescribedoralmedication.Bewarned.Thesepillsareexpensive,andthey’llberequiredfortheremainderofyourpet’slife.15)NeurologicalTumorsThisissomethingofanapocalypsescenario,butit’ssadlyapossibility.Onsomerareoccasions,dogscandevelopbraintumors.Ifthesearetomanifest,theyusuallydosoinoldercanines.Asidefrompacing,thesymptomsofbraintumorsindogsinclude:Strangebehavior,includinguncharacteristicaggression.Anuncoordinatedgait,leadingtowalkingincirclesandbecomingclumsy.Lossofeyesightorhearing.Excessivepanting.Suddenseizuresandmuscletremors.Ifyouareworriedthatyourdoghasabraintumor,getthemascanwithoutdelay.Theprognosisforadogwithabraintumorvariesonitsseverity.Euthanasiaissometimesthemosthumaneoption.Ifthetumorissmallenough,andyouhaveappropriateinsurance,surgerymaybeanoption.16)SenilityAcommonexplanationforanelderlydogpacingisdementia.CaninecognitivedysfunctionisanequivalentofAlzheimer’sdisease.Itcantakeholdindogsthatarewellintodoublefiguresinage.Elderlydogsbecomingrestlessatnightisawarningsignofdementia.Yourpet’ssleep-wakecyclewillbereversed,andthey’llgrowdistressedatnight.It’sdark,it’squiet,andthedogiswonderingwhytheirhumanfamilyisignoringthem.Othersymptomsofcaninesenilityinclude:Staringintospace,oratwalls,forhoursonend.Behavingaggressively,andexperiencingmoodswings.Excessivelickingandgrooming.Becomingclingy,withseparationanxietybecomingmuchmorepronounced.Incontinence–bothurinaryandfecal.Seeminglybecomingconfusedinfamiliarsurroundings.Notappearingtorecognizetheirhumans.Ignoringordisregardingestablishedcommands.Caninecognitivedysfunctioncannotbecured,sadly.Italsohasadetrimentalimpactonadog’squalityoflife,andyourrelationshipwithyourpet.Thankfully,thedegenerationofyourdogcanbesloweddown.Earlyinterventioniskey.Themomentyourolderdogstartstobehavestrangely,getthemcheckedbyaprofessional.Anydogolderthan11yearscouldbeatrisk.Ifthedogisolderthan15,thelikelihoodrisessubstantially.Tostaveoffsenility,keepyourdog’smindactive.Theymorementalstimulationtheyenjoy,theslowertheirdeclinewillbe.Thatmeansplentyofattentionandplay.Considerprovidingtreat-dispensingpuzzles,too.Dietisalsopivotal.Olderdogsmustbefedsenior-specificfood.Thiswillcontainwhattheyneedtomaintaincognitiveperformance.Anypetstorewillalsostocksupplementstofurtherboostyourpet’sbrain.17)SightLossIfyourdogislosingtheireyesight,they’llpacearoundalotmore.Therearetwoprimaryexplanationsforthis.Thefirstisobvious–they’renervousaboutthischange.Theywillunderstandthattheycannotseeaswellastheydid.That’sobviouslyfrightening.Inadditiontothisfear,though,practicalitywillalsokickin.Yourdogwillstartpacingtoensuretheymemorizethelayoutofthehouse.Thatway,they’llbelessreliantontheireyesightinthefuture.Youshouldnotchangethelocationoffurnitureinthehomeofablinddog.Ifyouleavethingsfamiliar,they’lladaptsurprisinglyquickly.Ifyou’reworriedaboutyourdog’seyesight,PetHelpfulsuggeststestsyoucanrunathome.Watchthemnegotiatebasicobstacles,likethestaircaseorjumpingonfurniture.Ifthey’reuncharacteristicallytentative,it’slikelyavisionproblem.Shineatorchinyourdog’seyes.Notbrightenoughtohurtthem–justenoughtomakethemblink.Iftheyfailtodoso,theydidn’tdetectthelight.Dropsomethinglightinfrontofyourdog,suchasacottonball.Adog’snaturalinstinctwillbetoreactiftheyseethis.They’llhunttheobject,oratleastgiveitasniff.Ifyourdogislosingtheireyesight,theycanstilllivealongandhappylife.Dogsrelyontheirhearingandsenseofsmellmorethantheireyes.You’llhavetomakesomelifestyleadjustments.“Whydoesmydogkeepwalkingaroundthehouse?”isacommonquestion.Almosteverydogownerwilllikelyneedtoansweritatsomestage.Thepotentialexplanationswehavelistedwillexplainthebehavior.Onceyouhavefoundanexplanationforyourdog’swanderlust,takeactionasquicklyaspossible.Yourpetisn’tpacingtoannoyyou.Theywilllikelyhaveasevereissue.Findingtherighttreatmentwillbenefiteverybody.Yourdogwillfindpeace,andyou’llbeabletorelax.Oncetheproblemisresolved,youcangobacktoenjoyingyourpet’scompanyandaffection.ReadOurLatestPosts:WhyDoesMyDogBarkatStrangersonWalks?Dogwalkingshouldbeafun,relaxingactivity.Manypeopleconsideritoneofthebestpartsofowningadog.Yougettoenjoytheoutdoorsandthefresh…WhyisMyDogLethargicandNotEatingorDrinking?Anytimeadogissuddenlylethargic,it’snaturalforyoutoworryabouttheirhealthandwellbeing.Acaninethatlosestheirlustforlife,andwillnoteat…WhyWon'tMyDogMakeEyeContactwithMe?It’sacommonbeliefthatmakingeyecontactisavitalpartofhumancommunicationandbodylanguage,butcanthesamebesaidfordogs?Whatdoesitmean…WhyDoesMyDogKeepLickingEverything?Dogstakeintheirsurroundingswiththeirtonguesjustasmuchastheireyesandears,meaningthatthey’repronetolickinganythinginsight.Whetherit’syourface,the…10ReasonsWhyYourDogisAfraidtoGoOutsideSuddenlyIfyourdogissuddenlyscaredofsomethingoutside,youneedtofindoutwhythat'sthecase.Onceyoufigureoutwhatmightbescaringyourdog,it'slikely…WhyisMyDogAfraidoftheVacuumCleanerandBrooms?Everydoghasauniquepersonality,butsomequirksseemtobefairlyuniversalamongourcaninecompanions.Alldogsloveagoodrunaroundthegreatoutdoors,mostcannot…SearchtheSite:RecentPosts17VeryCommonReasonsWhyaDogisPacingandUnsettled10ReasonsWhyYourDogisAfraidtoGoOutsideSuddenlyDoesaDog’sTailbetweenLegsMeanIt’sSick?WhatTailPositionsMean!BestDogCarriersforFrenchBulldogsReviewed+ComparedAnythingisPaw-sible!TheIdealDogScheduleforWorkingOwnersWhatSizeCollarDoesYourLabradorPuppyNeed?