In my behaviour practice, I see many dogs who are anxious/aggressive or reactive to either dogs or people. Or both! Or dogs who are hyperactive, compulsive and non-attentive. These issues can be quite difficult to resolve.

My starting point is always to investigate whether underlying pain and discomfort is causing or exacerbating the problem. Most owners don’t even consider this as a factor. It is thought that health issues are the trigger for around 70-80% of behaviour problems. Some behaviours displayed may not be problematic for owners but can actually be a sign of a physical problem.

We know that a sudden fear-inducing stimulus, maybe a startle or pain, is processed by a small area of the brain called the amygdala. This causes adrenaline to be released, the heart rate to speed up, increases blood flow to muscles and creates additional energy through increased glucose levels. When under acute stress, a dog’s (and a human’s!) impulse control system is bypassed and the normal threshold for aggression and reactivity is lowered.

Pain-related aggression is displayed when a dog is in some kind of internal pain and typically tries to avoid being touched or handled in order to avoid further pain. This can include being around other dogs whom they have come to associate with the pain. This is extremely common in dogs who display aggressive behaviour. In some circumstances, aggression has originally been triggered by pain but, even though the pain has resolved, the behaviour may have become learned and require help from a behaviourist.

Clients will tell me that their dog looks fine, will run around a field, chase a ball etc. Sometimes there will be red flags such as a reluctance to go out, worsened behaviour after exercise, unhappy to be handled, previous health problems or injuries etc. But sometimes, there’s nothing obvious! Dogs may still retain instincts that date back to when they lived wild. In their evolutionary past, dogs would hide weaknesses and vulnerability in order to prevent becoming prey themselves! Our domestic dogs still carry self-preservation instincts which will often become stronger in the presence of strangers and especially vets with whom they have come to associate with painful procedures!

I would always recommend veterinary investigation at least to rule out a physical cause for any problem behaviours. In many cases, a preliminary veterinary consult including a physical examination, blood tests and even x-rays will not reveal anything unusual.
In the clinic, dogs can act as if they weren’t in any pain at all. Even for euthanasia appointments, cat and dog owners sometimes got second thoughts as their pets suddenly appeared more lively than they were in their past days. A huge factor here is adrenaline. The adrenaline rush associated with going to the vets can mask physical responses to pain.

Further investigation, with pain as a consideration, will reveal issues that may be significant. A dog may move awkwardly, sit off to one side, have unusual curl patterns in their coat, have uneven weight distribution with depleted muscle tone in one limb. An old injury that was thought to be resolved may be an issue. Dogs may need to visit a Vet who specialises in pain investigation and physio for example, with specialist equipment, to get to the bottom of the issue. Vets are trained to recognise certain behaviour changes which could point to pain, such as excessive licking of an area, decreases in normal activity, changes in gait, repeated shifting of weight while standing, resistance to manipulation and the most obvious of all, a flinch or yelp when the area is touched.

Owners may report that their dog has become more sensitive to heat or cold or generally become more clingy. Fear, anxiety, aggression, resource guarding, or destruction of household items when left alone can all be red flags. Dogs performing at a high level in work or sports may begin to show degraded performance that doesn’t have a clear cause but resolves when pain is identified and addressed.
Noise sensitivity has also been found to have a clear link with underlying pain. Dogs who appear to be scared of traffic, bangs, fireworks and even fairly normal noises need to be investigated thoroughly. The startle response, with a muscle flinch, is thought to be the reason for this.
There are, however, other changes we may see in our dogs that vets won’t necessarily recognise. These could be things like star gazing (staring at the ceiling or an object) or other compulsive orders. I once met a Collie who obsessively licked a radiator!! Such compulsions could indicate a gastrointestinal disorder.

A study by the University of California in 2017 found that gut microbes are linked to areas of the brain which affect mood and behaviour and response to fear. Pica, which is the tendency to obsessively eat non-food items, can be related to musculoskeletal pain as well as GI issues. Dogs who consume too much sugar and refined carbohydrates may display over-arousal, brain fog, irritability and hyperactivity. Processed foods high in sugar can cause the release of bacterial toxins called lipopolysaccharides. These are normally confined to the gut but can enter the bloodstream and become toxic to the body. The National Library of Medicine published a study in 2002 that found that these lipopolysaccharides can destroy the brain cells that produce neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine – the happy hormones! A further study by J Vague et al in 2010 found a link between a deficiency in these hormones and behavioural issues such as canine aggression.

If your dog is showing behavioural issues, a full investigation into gut health is imperative.

A recent Dogskool client, a young Labrador, has been having ongoing issues with being reluctant to go into the car and refusing to walk down the owner’s drive. Thanks to a very thorough vet who asked to see videos of the dog trotting, it was determined that the dog’s back right leg didn’t track up properly and turns in under her body as she moves forward. She’s now on a pain trial and after only 2 or 3 days, the difference is amazing. She’s jumping in the car happily, being more interactive at home and has been out on walks a couple of times walking down the drive with no issues. The owner is now waiting to do more Xrays/scans of the hip and leg to try to get to a diagnosis.

Another client, a working cocker, had been obsessively chasing shadows and reflections. Her owners were having to live with the curtains closed and constantly deal with the dog’s manic behaviour. Investigations revealed gut health problems which are now being addressed.

To conclude, don’t necessarily dismiss a physical reason for your dog’s behavioural issues, even though they seem perfectly well! Working with a qualified Behaviourist, who understands these issues, is essential. Whilst there are many good Dog Trainers, they will not necessarily have the understanding to look beyond the presenting problems.

If you’d like my help, feel free to contact me sarah@dogskool.co.uk