Which of the following is a sign of stress?

• A. Pacing
• B. Quiet resting
• C. Eating normally
• D. Tail wagging calmly

Answer: (A)

Pacing indicates stress because it shows heightened arousal and a drive to move in order to cope with something uncomfortable or threatening in the environment. When a dog is stressed, the body ramps up activity and energy, and moving back and forth becomes a way to release that tension or to search for a safer option. Quiet resting, on the other hand, suggests the dog is relaxed or sleepy, not stressed. Eating normally implies appetite is working and there isn’t acute distress, and tail wagging calmly is usually a sign of a positive, relaxed state. So pacing stands out as a sign of stress because it pinpoints ongoing arousal and an unsettled mood.