Help! My Dog Is Walking With Their Head Down – Why? 

When your dog develops a new and bizarre behavior, it can be difficult to tell if it’s because of an underlying medical condition or not. 

That’s particularly true of a dog that suddenly starts walking with its head down. The condition could require immediate veterinary attention, or your dog may have found a new and interesting smell. 

So, if you find yourself wondering why your dog walks with their head down, here’s everything you need to know. From why your dog does this to when to become concerned, we’ll answer all your questions and hopefully tackle a few you didn’t realize you had. 

My Dog Walks With Its Head Down, Why?

A dog that walks with its head down does so for many different reasons. 

Sometimes it’s as innocuous as chasing a new favorite smell. Other times, it’s more serious and could indicate a spinal injury. 

Luckily, most of the conditions that prompt your dog to walk with a lowered head have more than one symptom. Let’s look at why a dog walks with their head down in more detail. 

Canine Anxiety 

One of the primary reasons dogs walk with their heads down is because they are anxious. 

Canine anxiety has several triggers. The most common involve:

• Losing family members

• New family members 

• Moving house 

But you also notice it in dogs that weren’t socialized extensively as puppies. When that happens, they become nervous, especially on a new walking route or when greeting other dogs. 

As strange dogs approach, an anxious dog lowers their head and walks with its nose to the ground. 

While there are several effective ways of treating canine separation anxiety, treating anxiety on a walk is trickier. 

However, there are several things you can try. The best thing you can do is socialize with your dog. Start by working on their social interactions somewhere they feel safe, like their home or backyard. 

As they become more confident, you can take them to dog runs. However, at this stage, you must supervise your dog closely. An anxious dog can quickly escalate from walking with a lowered head to misdirected aggression.

If that happens, you need to be there to intervene. 

The other thing that can help is a calming collar. Calming collars release synthetic pheromones. Pheromones are the scent markers your dog uses to claim ownership of its environment.

They also use them to identify themselves from other dogs. 

When a calming collar releases these pheromones, it persuades your dog they are safer and more in control, especially in a new environment. That can help them raise their head and express more confidence on a walk. 

Submission 

Another reason why dogs walk with their heads lowered is to show submission. 

This is especially true of dogs that experience dominance training. 

Since they don’t have language, dogs communicate in other ways. One of the primary alternatives to speech for dogs is eye contact. A dog that looks you resolutely in the eye and doesn’t budge wants to express that they are in charge. 

But not all dogs have that degree of confidence or self-importance. A naturally submissive dog might lower their head on a walk to let you, or even a passing dog, know that they don’t see itself as the head of its pack. 

Spinal Injury 

If your dog suddenly starts lowering their head while walking despite having no history of anxiety or submissive behavior, it may be time to call the vet. 

Sometimes an atypically lowered head on a dog is a sign of spinal injury. Some breeds are more prone to back injuries than others. The most susceptible include:

• Dachshunds 

• Corgis 

• Basset Hounds 

• Beagles

These breeds are highly susceptible because of their delicate and elongated backs. But small dogs aren’t the only breeds to suffer. It’s also a common problem for the Lhasa Apso. 

Spinal injuries should be treated as emergencies. Crucially, if you suspect a spinal injury, you must not let your dog move freely. It’s best to crate them and go immediately to your emergency vet. 

Other symptoms of back injury include:

• Reluctance to walk 

• Discoordination 

• Inability to perform full body shake 

• Shivering

• Cannot/will not bend down to eat/drink

• Yelping when petted 

Interesting Smells 

That said, sometimes, the cause of a dog walking with its head lowered is much less dramatic. 

Dogs explore their environment predominantly through their noses. Walks are an excellent way to do that. 

Sometimes when your dog lowers their head while walking, the cause is as simple as them detecting the essence of a squirrel or the pheromone traces of another dog. 

This is particularly common in hound-type dogs because they were bred to sniff out and alert their owners to specific types of prey. 

Of course, this stop-and-sniff approach, while fun for dogs, quickly becomes frustrating for their owners. So, what can you do to stop a dog from walking with its head lowered? 

Stopping Your Dog Walking With Its Head Down 

That’s why your dog walks with a lowered head. But what can you do to stop this behavior? The answer depends on what’s causing the problem. 

Visit the Vet 

Some canine injuries can be treated at home, like arthritis or patellar luxation. But spinal injuries don’t make that list. 

If you suspect the reason your dog walks with its head lowered is that it sustained a back injury, call the vet immediately. Even before telephoning, you should immobilize your dog because even mild movement can exacerbate the injury. 

There are ways of treating and rehabilitating a dog with a spinal injury, but all of them require vet intervention. 

Use Calming Collars 

As discussed, calming collars are an excellent way to help anxious dogs relax and enjoy their walk.

As they become more confident, you may notice they walk with their head raised and start taking an interest in their surroundings. However, increased interest may translate to increasingly stopping to smell things. That can also result in a dog walking with its head lowered. 

Take Time to Smell the Roses 

Speaking of dogs that want to stop and snuffle every three steps, there’s no guaranteed way to stop this behavior. 

For many dogs, it’s their equivalent of scrolling social media. It makes the walk enjoyable and keeps them engaged. 

But one thing you can do to minimize how often you stop on your walks is to have a designated ‘sniffing area.’ 

When we walk our dogs, we start by taking five minutes to wander around the front lawn. It allows them to get the brunt of the snuffling out of the way while keeping the experience enjoyable for your dog. 

Combining this with a snuffling mat as a means of environmental enrichment can also stop your dog from walking with its head lowered and determinedly scenting out prey. 

My Dog Walks With Its Head Tilted, Why? 

Sometimes your dog doesn’t lower their head all the way. Instead, they walk with their head at an angle. 

Alternatively, they may stop walking and shake their head repeatedly. 

When dogs do this, it’s usually because of an ear problem. The most common are:

• Ear infections 

• Ear mites 

The most effective way of treating these conditions is to speak to your vet and acquire appropriate antibiotics. 

Conclusion 

Why do dogs walk with their heads lowered? Causes vary wildly. Sometimes it’s because your dog wants to show they accept you as head of the pack.

Other times they are enthusiastically smelling the scenery. 

But sometimes, the underlying cause can be more serious, like a spinal injury. If you suspect your dog has a back problem, don’t hesitate to call the vet. 

The challenge is telling the mundane from the emergency. Ultimately, you know your dog best and can recognize what is normal for them. If something feels off, you shouldn’t be afraid to take it seriously and consult experts.