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Emotions and Behavior

Interactive guide

Fear,Frustration,or Pain?

Barking, growling, lunging, hissing, and hiding can come from very different emotions. Pick your species, then tap a circle to see what each emotion looks like and what helps.

Fear Frustra-tion Pain Mixed
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Which emotion do you want to explore?

Fear-Related and Frustration-Related Anxiety

Anxiety is worry about what is coming next. It is not a separate emotion. A pet learns that certain signals come before certain events, such as the carrier coming out before a car ride or the leash coming off the hook before a walk. When the pet sees the signal, the worry starts, even though nothing has happened yet.

Because anxiety is always tied to an emotion, board-certified veterinary behaviorists describe it by the emotion behind it. A pet who expects something scary or unpleasant has fear-related anxiety. A pet who expects to be blocked from something they want, or expects a delay, has frustration-related anxiety. Some pets have both.

Fear-related anxiety

“Something scary is coming.”

The pet expects something scary or unpleasant to happen. The worry is about the event itself, such as thunder, a nail trim, or being left alone.

What you might see

  • Pacing, panting, or trembling
  • Hiding or trying to leave
  • Watching and scanning, startling easily
  • Staying very close to you
  • Not eating

What helps

Make life predictable and give your pet a safe place to go. Avoid the scary event when you can. Change what the signal predicts, for example by having the carrier come out for treats and meals, not only for car rides. Talk with your veterinarian, because medication is often an important part of the plan.

Frustration-related anxiety

“I will not get what I want.”

The pet expects to be blocked from something they want, or expects something they want to be late or not happen at all. The worry is about access, such as a walk, a meal, attention, or following a person.

What you might see

  • Whining, barking, or yowling at you
  • Pacing, spinning, or unable to settle
  • Pawing, jumping, or mouthing
  • Scratching or chewing at doors and gates
  • Grabbing the leash or other items

What helps

Give your pet control over their personal space and their choices. Frustration is most likely when a pet has no control, so let your pet decide when to approach and when to leave, give them a space of their own where they are not disturbed, and offer safe choices, such as where to rest and which activity to do.

Reward-based training, called operant counterconditioning, builds frustration tolerance and changes patterns of behavior. Pattern games are often part of this training. Add daily mental exercise and enrichment. Medication may not be as helpful for frustration, so training is usually the most important part of the plan.

Why the difference matters

A dog who paces when you pick up your keys may be scared of being alone, or may be frustrated about not being able to go with you. The behavior looks the same, but the plan is different. Tell your veterinarian what happens right before the worry starts and what your pet seems to expect. That information helps them decide whether your pet would benefit from medication, training, or both.

When Your Pet Is Upset When Left Alone

Distress when a pet is left alone can come from fear, frustration, or both. Some pets are upset only when one specific person leaves, even when other people are home.

Watch for barking or howling, scratching at doors and windows, urinating or defecating in the house, pacing, drooling, and not eating while alone. A video of your pet while you are away is one of the most useful things you can bring to your veterinarian.

Play Emotion Sort

What to Do Next

  1. Schedule a veterinary examDescribe the behavior, when it started, and any changes in eating, sleeping, or activity.
  2. Keep a recordWrite down what happened, where, who was there, and what happened just before.
  3. Take video when it is safeShort clips show your veterinarian body language that is hard to describe.
  4. Avoid punishmentPunishment increases fear and can teach a pet to stop warning before they bite.
  5. Prevent the situationsUse gates, close blinds, or walk at quieter times while you get help.
  6. Ask about a specialistA board-certified veterinary behaviorist can help when your pet needs more support.

References

The information in this guide is supported by these peer-reviewed studies.

  1. Being left alonede Assis, L. S., Matos, R., Pike, T. W., Burman, O. H. P., & Mills, D. S. (2020). Developing diagnostic frameworks in veterinary behavioral medicine: Disambiguating separation related problems in dogs. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 6, 499. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2019.00499
  2. Pain signs in catsEvangelista, M. C., Watanabe, R., Leung, V. S. Y., Monteiro, B. P., O’Toole, E., Pang, D. S. J., & Steagall, P. V. (2019). Facial expressions of pain in cats: The development and validation of a Feline Grimace Scale. Scientific Reports, 9, 19128. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-55693-8
  3. Emotions in catsHeath, S. (2018). Understanding feline emotions: … and their role in problem behaviours. Journal of feline medicine and surgery, 20(5), 437–444. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/pmid/29706095
  4. Frustration in dogsMcPeake, K. J., Collins, L. M., Zulch, H., & Mills, D. S. (2019). The canine frustration questionnaire—development of a new psychometric tool for measuring frustration in domestic dogs (Canis familiaris). Frontiers in veterinary science, 6, 152. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2019.00152
  5. Pain signs in catsMerola, I., & Mills, D. S. (2016). Behavioural signs of pain in cats: An expert consensus. PLoS ONE, 11(2), e0150040. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0150040
  6. Pain in dogs and catsMills, D. S., Demontigny-Bédard, I., Gruen, M., Klinck, M. P., McPeake, K. J., Barcelos, A. M., et al. (2020). Pain and problem behavior in cats and dogs. Animals, 10(2), 318. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10020318
  7. Emotional predispositions in dogsSheppard, G., & Mills, D. S. (2002). The development of a psychometric scale for the evaluation of the emotional predispositions of pet dogs. International Journal of Comparative Psychology, 15(2). https://doi.org/10.46867/C4G30W
  8. Aversive training toolsVieira de Castro, A. C., Fuchs, D., Morello, G. M., Pastur, S., de Sousa, L., & Olsson, I. A. S. (2020). Does training method matter? Evidence for the negative impact of aversive-based methods on companion dog welfare. PLoS ONE, 15(12), e0225023. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0225023
  9. Defining fear and frustrationWilson, B. M., Soulsbury, C. D., & Mills, D. S. (2026). Development of a psychobiological nosology for fear and frustration in clinical animal behavior using dogs as a model species. Frontiers in Psychology, 17, 1888439. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1888439
Created by Christine D. Calder DVM, DACVB, board-certified veterinary behavioristFor education only. This guide cannot diagnose your pet. Talk with your veterinarian about any change in behavior.

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