How Dogs Self-Soothe: Natural Behaviors & Stress Relief

Introduction

Have you ever noticed your dog chasing after a squirrel, barking at the mail carrier, or digging furiously in the yard, seemingly just for fun? These behaviors are not just random quirks—they may be your dog’s natural way of self-soothing. Just like humans engage in stress-relieving activities, dogs instinctively use certain species- and breed-specific behaviors to regulate their emotions and feel good. Understanding these behaviors can help us manage them in a way that supports our dogs’ well-being while preventing unwanted habits from taking over.

How Natural Behaviors Act as Self-Soothing Mechanisms

Dogs, like all animals, are wired for survival. Many of their instinctual behaviors serve a functional purpose in the wild. However, in a domestic setting, these behaviors often persist even without a real “need.” What makes them so persistent? The answer lies in reinforcement—certain behaviors naturally feel good and become self-rewarding. Let’s break this down:

1. Chasing and Hunting Behaviors

• Breeds with high prey drive (like Border Collies, Terriers, and Huskies) may chase small animals, moving objects, or even shadows.

• This behavior releases dopamine, the brain’s “feel-good” chemical, making it inherently rewarding (PMC Study).

• Without appropriate outlets, such as structured play or enrichment games, this can lead to compulsive behaviors like obsessive chasing or even reactivity toward moving stimuli.

  
  

2. Barking and Guarding

• Guardian breeds, such as German Shepherds and Rottweilers, are naturally inclined to protect their home and family.

• Barking alerts their owners and serves as a self-soothing mechanism, reinforcing their sense of security.

• If left unmanaged, barking can become excessive. Teaching a “quiet” cue or providing alternative jobs (such as scent work or structured alerting) can channel this need productively.

  
  

3. Digging and Burrowing

• Terriers and Dachshunds were bred to dig out small prey, making digging an enjoyable and rewarding activity.

• Many dogs dig for comfort, cool down in hot weather, or create a safe space.

• Instead of punishing digging, providing a designated digging pit or sand area can fulfill this instinct in an acceptable way.

4. Chewing and Licking

• Puppies chew for teething relief, but even adult dogs chew as a natural way to relieve stress.

• Licking releases endorphins, which create a calming effect (DVM360).

• Providing appropriate chew toys, puzzle feeders, or lick mats can help satisfy this need while preventing destructive chewing.

5. Full Body Shake as a Stress Release

• Doing a full body shake, especially when the dog is not dirty or wet, is a self-soothing stress release behavior.

• Praising your dog when they do it, especially in exciting or stressful situations, can help reinforce the behavior, making it more efficient and frequent when needed.

• Since it feels good naturally, adding a food reward along with verbal praise can further encourage your dog to self-soothe using this method.

  
  

How to Support Your Dog’s Natural Instincts

Recognizing and supporting self-soothing behaviors doesn’t mean allowing every natural impulse to run wild. Instead, we can provide healthy alternatives:

• Redirect hunting and chasing behaviors with fetch games, flirt poles, or controlled scent work.

• Manage barking tendencies by rewarding quiet moments and using enrichment activities to reduce alert-based barking.

• Offer structured digging areas with a sandbox or an approved digging zone.

• Encourage safe chewing and licking with frozen Kongs, bones, and appropriate toys.

• Praise and reward full body shakes to help dogs use them more often as a stress release mechanism.

Conclusion

Dogs don’t just “act out” for no reason—many of their seemingly random behaviors are deeply ingrained instincts that help them self-regulate. Instead of trying to suppress these behaviors completely, we can understand their natural functions and provide appropriate, enriching alternatives. By working with our dogs’ instincts rather than against them, we help them live happier, more balanced lives.

Do you have a dog that engages in specific behaviors for self-soothing? Let us know in the comments how you manage it!

Sources:

1. DVM360 - Self-directed behaviors in dogs and cats: https://www.dvm360.com/view/self-directed-behaviors-dogs-and-cats

2. ResearchGate - Dog breeds and their behavior: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/271826897_Dog_Breeds_and_Their_Behavior

3. PMC - Canine behavior reinforcement studies: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8988433/