Trauma Informed Care
Why Dogs Hide Pain, Stress, and Trauma
Dogs often carry stress, pain, and emotional overwhelm quietly. Rather than showing obvious signs, many adapt their behaviour and physiology in order to cope, doing their best to remain safe and settled within their environment. Understanding why dogs hide these experiences is an important part of offering compassionate, trauma‑informed support.
Stress rarely comes from one single event
Stress in dogs does not always arise from a single traumatic incident. More often, it builds gradually through a series of changes — even within loving, well‑intentioned homes. Subtle shifts in routine, relationships, environment, or attention can accumulate, especially for sensitive or emotionally aware dogs.
In Scamp’s case, his stress began when his brother came to stay with us for an extended period of three years. Although they already knew each other, the long‑term presence of another dog altered Scamp’s sense of safety and belonging. His role within the household — his place in the family and the wider social dynamic — quietly shifted.
Later, the arrival of my grandson brought further change. As happens naturally, time, attention, and energy were redirected. While no harm was intended, and love remained constant, Scamp experienced this as additional uncertainty. For sensitive dogs, even positive life events can feel destabilising when they alter familiar rhythms and attachments.
Why dogs hide what they’re feeling
Dogs have strong survival instincts that encourage them to mask vulnerability. In the wild, showing pain, fear, or emotional distress could make an animal more visible to threat. Although our dogs are safe, these instincts remain deeply embedded within their nervous systems.
As a result, stress and discomfort often express themselves indirectly. Rather than obvious pain or dramatic behavioural change, we may see:
Subtle changes in posture or movement
Increased sensitivity or reactivity
Reluctance to be touched in certain areas
Altered sleep patterns
Changes in mood, confidence, or engagement
Physical signs such as coat changes, tension, or fatigue
These signs are not signs of misbehaviour or stubbornness — they are forms of communication.
The connection between emotional stress and the body
Emotional stress and physical tension are closely intertwined. When a dog’s nervous system remains in a state of alert or uncertainty, muscles can tighten, inflammation may increase, and the body’s capacity for rest and repair is reduced.
Likewise, physical discomfort can make a dog more emotionally reactive, withdrawn, or vigilant. Over time, this feedback loop can keep a dog stuck in a state of coping rather than true regulation.
In Scamp’s situation, meaningful healing could only begin once his brother returned to his own home. With the household dynamic restored, Scamp’s nervous system finally had the space it needed to settle. From there, gentle and consistent support allowed his body to begin releasing stored tension and his emotional balance to gradually return.
Behaviour as communication, not a problem to fix
When we view behaviour as communication rather than something to correct, our relationship with our dogs shifts. Instead of asking, “How do I stop this behaviour?” we begin to ask, “What is my dog telling me?”
This perspective invites patience, curiosity, and compassion. It allows us to meet our dogs where they are, rather than pushing them beyond what their nervous systems can manage.
Gentle, integrative approaches — always working alongside veterinary care — can support dogs in releasing held tension, processing stress, and rediscovering a sense of safety within themselves. Healing unfolds at the dog’s pace, not ours.
A closing reflection
Scamp’s experience taught me that healing is rarely about doing more — it is about creating the right conditions. Safety, consistency, and respectful support allow a dog’s innate capacity for balance to re‑emerge.
In my next post, I’ll be sharing how two other dogs from the same family — Missy and Hendricks — responded very differently to change, and what their stories reveal about attachment, trauma, and resilience in animals.
If this resonates with you, you’re welcome to explore my other writings or get in touch to learn more about trauma‑informed, whole‑body support for dogs.
Scamp’s Healing Journey
A gentle story of healing, balance, and emotional wellbeing in dogs
Why I’m sharing this story
I’m sharing Scamp’s journey because it reflects what I see so often in dogs: loving, sensitive beings doing their very best to cope with change, stress, and discomfort—often without showing obvious signs. Emotional strain and physical imbalance can quietly affect a dog’s behaviour, health, and sense of self, and it’s not always easy to see where those changes begin.
This is not a story of quick fixes or dramatic interventions. It’s a real-life example of how gentle, integrative support—working with the nervous system, the body, and emotional balance—can help a dog feel safe enough to heal. My hope is that Scamp’s story helps you feel less alone if your dog is struggling, and shows that there are compassionate ways to support them.
When dogs carry more than we can see
Dogs are incredibly resilient. Their survival instincts are strong and, much like animals in the wild, they often hide pain, discomfort, and emotional distress. Showing vulnerability would make them less safe, so instead they adapt. Over time, these adaptations can become patterns—subtle changes in movement, behaviour, posture, or mood that are easy to overlook or explain away.
What we don’t always see is how emotional stress, physical pain, and trauma can be held in the body. Tension can settle into muscles and connective tissue. The nervous system can remain on high alert long after a stressful experience has passed. Inflammation can quietly build. A dog may appear outwardly “fine” while inwardly working very hard to maintain balance.
Scamp’s journey brought this truth into sharp focus for me.
Scamp’s story
Scamp is a sensitive, intuitive dog—gentle, loyal, and emotionally aware. When the changes began within our household, including another dog, his brother, coming to live with us for an extended period, Scamp’s behaviour shifted noticeably. Almost overnight, he started to go grey, a visible sign of the stress he was carrying beneath the surface. His once lustrous, thick, wavy coat began to thin and lose its shine, becoming dull.
Alongside these physical changes, his behaviour altered. He became more reactive and guarded, showing signs of heightened sensitivity and unease. There was no obvious injury and no single moment where everything changed - just a quiet sense that something wasn’t quite right.
Over time, I noticed small but consistent signs that his body was less at ease. He coped, as dogs so often do, adapting to what was being asked of him. But what Scamp was showing me was not simply physical discomfort- it was emotional stress being held within his body. Change, uncertainty, and accumulated tension had begun to affect how safe and settled he felt within himself.
This is something I see often in dogs: trauma and stress that hasn’t been fully processed, expressing itself through behaviour, sensitivity, posture or subtle changes rather than obvious pain.
Supporting the body’s natural ability to heal
Scamp’s healing journey involved gentle, integrative support, always working alongside conventional veterinary care, never replacing it. My intention was not to “fix” him, but to support his body and nervous system so balance could begin to return.
One of the primary therapies I use is WEBB Whole Energy Body Balance, a specialised technique developed by Dr. Edward Bassingthwaighte, often known as The Healing Vet. Dr. Bassingthwaighte learned from equine veterinarian Tom Ahern, who had a special interest in treating horses with chronic neck issues. Through careful observation and hands-on work, Tom developed a method to mobilise the vertebrae in the neck, resolving cases of lameness that other investigations had been unable to explain.
WEBB has since evolved into a refined and gentle approach used to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, ease anxiety and trauma, and support the body’s natural healing processes. It works with the nervous system and the body’s energetic and structural balance, allowing areas of restriction and tension to soften and release.
Alongside WEBB, I also supported Scamp with Reiki, an energy healing method that promotes relaxation, emotional balance, and a sense of safety. Reiki is particularly supportive for sensitive animals, as it is non-invasive and deeply calming.
In addition, I drew on my training in homeopathy, having completed a year-long course, Homeopathy for Pets, with veterinarian Chris Aukland. This course was deeply informative and designed to empower pet owners with a clear understanding of how homeopathy can be used responsibly and thoughtfully for their animals.
Homeopathy is not a replacement for veterinary care. Rather, it can be used preventatively or alongside conventional treatment, helping to support the body’s natural healing processes and, in some cases, aid recovery when integrated appropriately.
Healing happens when a dog feels safe
One of the most important aspects of Scamp’s healing was allowing his body to feel safe enough to let go. Healing does not happen when the nervous system remains in a constant state of alert or protection. It happens when the body is able to shift into rest, repair, and regulation.
As Scamp received gentle, consistent support, subtle changes began to unfold. His body softened. His energy settled. His behaviour reflected a greater sense of ease and confidence. There was no rush and no expectation of immediate results—just patient, compassionate support.
This is often how healing looks in animals. Quiet, gradual and deeply transformative.
Why this matters for your dog
I share Scamp’s story because many dogs live with unrecognised stress, trauma, or discomfort. They cope because they have to—but coping is not the same as thriving.
If you’ve ever felt that something isn’t quite right with your dog, even when tests come back normal or you’re told everything looks fine, your intuition may be picking up on something subtle and real. Behavioural changes, emotional sensitivity, or ongoing tension can all be signs that your dog’s system is asking for support.
There are gentle, compassionate ways to help—approaches that honour the whole animal: body, mind, and emotional wellbeing, while working alongside conventional veterinary care.
A gentle invitation
Scamp’s healing journey is a reminder of the wisdom animals carry, and how much they benefit when we listen with patience and care. Healing is not about forcing change; it’s about creating the conditions where balance can return naturally.
In future posts, I’ll be sharing about how different dogs within the same household responded differently to change, and what this has taught me about the nervous system, trauma and emotional well being.
If this story resonates with you, you’re welcome to get in touch or explore my other writings on gentle, trauma-informed support for animals.