I think broadly when we talk about dog behavior, it's more about the mental health aspect of dog care in addition to physical health. They go hand in hand, but I believe it's more about their mental state and health. Since every dog is an individual just like humans, you know them best as their pet parent. If they seem different from their normal or you're seeing changes that are concerning to you, then consider if that's normal for them or potentially in comparison to other pets you may have currently or have had in the past.
Do different dog breeds have certain behaviors?
Generally, the answer to that is probably yes. But it's multifaceted. A lot of breeds of dogs historically were bred for a certain purpose. We have working dogs and dogs meant more for companionship. Working-type dogs, bred for protection, need a job or an outlet to keep them happy and healthy mentally and physically.
Sometimes we might see an uptick in so-called abnormal behaviors even though they might be normal for their breed if it doesn't jive with their lifestyle. Sometimes you see that clash between the owner's lifestyle and maybe the genetics or what the breed was historically bred to do. We joke that sometimes doodles tend to be little nervous nellies, little anxious friends.
When should I start training my puppy?
Again, it's just one of those things we can see, but every dog is an individual. I don't just base things on breeding. I always say the time is now, the sooner the better. Not all of us have the pleasure or the opportunity to have a dog when they're little, babies, young. In theory, the socialization period for puppies is somewhere between 3 weeks and up until 14 to 16 weeks, with the peak being closer to 12 to 14 weeks. It's super important to start training early and socializing early because that is a key window. But not all of us have that opportunity to have a puppy that young, and there are a lot of things out of our control. As soon as you get your pup, old or young, the time to start is right away.
What does dog behavior training look like?
What we typically recommend is more positive reinforcement-based training. There has been a lot of data recently to suggest that fear-based or punishment-based training actually instills more fear in most dogs, making them more anxious and affecting their sense of predictability. We encourage positive reinforcement-based training, which can look very different depending on your end goal, whether it's obedience training or what we call counter conditioning or desensitization, meaning you are trying to acclimate them to something new or scary.
First of all, safety comes first. If you're worried about the safety of yourself or those around you with how your dog is acting, safety first. Play it safe and try to avoid interactions that both parties won't seem comfortable with. Then, of course, let us know. Reach out to your veterinary care team because there could be something prompting that behavior, especially if it's new and unprovoked. We want to get to the bottom of it.
Will spaying or neutering my dog change their behavior?
Good question. I get asked this all the time, yes and no. Typically, the broad answer is no. Unfortunately, the expander nut won't definitively address certain behavior concerns or personality traits. But sometimes, a decrease in hormones, especially high levels of reproductive hormones, can downstream cause behaviors to change. But typically, I wouldn't say it's going to be an overnight behavioral change after they get spayed or neutered.
Similar to aggressive dog behavior concerns, reaching out to your veterinarian is always a reasonable option to discuss that change and see if there's anything causing it. If you don't already, it's not wrong to reach out to a trainer or behaviorist, or a veterinary medical professional, to see if there's anything that can be done from that avenue too.
Can aging dogs have new behavioral issues?
That's a question we often hear from aging pet parents in the aging population. Especially night sundowners, night blindness, or changes in unsettled behavior at night are often related to canine cognitive decline or dementia. But it could be due to a host of other things too, like medical issues, pain, or even GI upset, which can cause abdominal discomfort, making them unsettled or restless at night. Definitely something to look into if you're seeing changes at certain times of the day. Certainly, a number of different medical conditions, even hormonal conditions, can change that.
For example, an intact female going into heat often has behavioral changes, sometimes showing nesting behaviors, more hormonally driven. Certain endocrine diseases can also cause behavioral changes. Hypothyroidism often makes them lethargic and mopy, while Cushing's disease can make them restless and unsettled. Definitely a host of different medical concerns or hormonal issues.
Changes to your pet's ability to interact with their environment, such as losing sight or hearing, can affect their behavior and how unsettled they are in their home environment. Sometimes it's things we unfortunately have to do, like procedures we have to provide. Pain can affect behavior, so in the post-op period, we do our best to manage pain with medications and lifestyle changes. It's something to be mindful of.
When is it appropriate to rehome a dog due to behavior issues?
Rehoming is a tough choice, a devastating decision for some families. It's on a list of possibilities. Typically, we try to work through whatever behavioral concerns you're seeing with you as part of their family first to make sure we've exhausted all options, between training, behavior modification, and sometimes medications. But sometimes, personal lifestyle and the needs of your pet just don't jive, and there are instances where we're forced to rehome a pet. It's never our first choice, but if we have to do it, we'll talk about that.
When is the best time to start socializing a puppy?
Kind of harkening back to that prime time socialization period, it's really young. Literature says between 3 weeks and 14 to 16 weeks old. It's super young. These puppies are often not even in our homes at that point. Even if we're past that, it's still worth pursuing ongoing learning and socialization for them. We just have to be mindful to do it constructively and not overwhelm them if they're already timid or fearful.
I often recommend working with either your veterinarian or a trainer or behaviorist to set them up for success, picking environments and scenarios where they would do well before challenging them with more difficult situations. Working them up nice and slow. Socialization is important but can be a little hard too fast sometimes, so take it slow.
What if my dog is having behavioral issues that cause destruction?
That's a tough one. It can get frustrating for those involved. We've all been there. Definitely want to try to figure out why they might be displaying those behaviors, whether it's boredom or redirecting a different emotion like anxiety or stress. Figuring out why it's happening will help guide us to a treatment plan. Whether it's ramping up their activity and exercise, mental or physical enrichment, or if it's more anxiety-driven, do we need medications to help reduce their stress as we work through a behavior modification plan? Both of those things will likely take a multifaceted approach.
For the barking, identify triggers as to what sets them off. We'll probably talk about working through counter conditioning and desensitization, meaning slowly acclimating your pet to certain sounds or whatever their trigger is for barking. That's often a team approach between your vet, potential medication, a trainer, or an at-home liaison to help identify those issues.
For food aggression, we must be very careful, as safety comes first, whether it's pet-to-food aggression or pet-to-human food aggression. Playing defense is important to avoid potential scenarios where it could escalate. A lot of that is desensitization and counter conditioning, training to decrease their level of fear or aggression associated with the resource. If there's resource guarding, work through that.
Exercise is a huge undervalued outlet for dogs exhibiting behavioral changes, especially for young dogs with boundless energy needing physical and mental enrichment to keep them happy and on track. We joke that a tired dog is a good dog. I find that's the case for young dogs exhibiting new unwanted behaviors. Getting them as much exercise as physically possible for them and regionally possible for you in your schedule always makes for a better outcome.
Anytime you're concerned, I'm concerned. If there's a change from their normal and you're worried, even if it's subtle, let us know. We'll try to determine whether it's something medical causing a behavioral change or if it's more about their mental health.
You’re never alone in caring for your pet. At City By The Sea Veterinary Hospital, our team is here to support you every step of the way. Call (848) 217-5000 or email [email protected] to connect with us today.