Behavioral Problems of Dogs

Categorization of Canine Behavior

• Normal but Undesirable: Species-typical behaviors (e.g., jumping, mouthing) requiring owner guidance and reinforcement of desirable actions.

• Intense or Mismatched: Behaviors that are difficult to manage or a "mismatch" for the specific family/home, requiring behavioral assessment and counseling.

• Abnormal or Pathologic: Resulting from emotional disorders, genetics, or trauma (e.g., compulsive disorders). These often have a guarded prognosis and require a combination of medication and modification.

Specific Behavioral Disorders

• Fears and Phobias

    ◦ Fear/Anxiety: Response to a present or anticipated threat.

    ◦ Common Triggers: Unfamiliar dogs/people, specific environments (vet clinics), or visual stimuli (umbrellas).

    ◦ Noise Phobias: Profound responses to thunder, fireworks, or gunshots.

• Separation Anxiety

    ◦ Signs: Destructive behavior (especially at exits), vocalization, housesoiling, and salivation when left alone.

    ◦ Diagnosis: Often requires video recording to visualize the dog's behavior in the owner's absence.

• Abnormal Repetitive Behaviors (ARB)

    ◦ Compulsive Disorders: Repetitive, out-of-context behaviors (e.g., spinning, flank sucking) with a genetic component.

    ◦ Stereotypies: Unvaried sequences with no obvious purpose, often used as a coping mechanism in barren environments.

• Aggression (70% of referral caseload)

    ◦ Types: Fear-related (most common), possessive (resource guarding), redirected, territorial, predatory (uninhibited/dangerous), and maternal.

    ◦ Impulse Control Aggression: Excessive, unpredictable aggression toward family members, sometimes linked to serotonin alterations.

Maintenance and Physical Problems

• Destructive Behaviors: Normal exploratory behaviors (chewing, digging) often caused by boredom or lack of supervision.

• Eating Disorders: Includes pica (eating non-food items), coprophagia (eating feces), and polyphagia.

• Elimination Problems:

    ◦ Housesoiling: Caused by poor training, medical issues, or anxiety.

    ◦ Marking: Social/olfactory communication, most common in intact males.

    ◦ Submissive/Excitement Urination: Occurs during greetings or when highly aroused.

• Hyperactivity: Excessive motor activity and inability to settle, possibly responding to methylphenidate.

Aging and Cognitive Dysfunction (CDS)

• Prevalence: Affects 14%–70% of senior dogs, though many cases go undiagnosed.

• DISHA Signs: Disorientation, Interactions (changes), Sleep-wake cycle changes, Housesoiling, and Activity changes.

• Treatment: Selegiline (MAOB inhibitor), environmental enrichment, and specialized diets/supplements (e.g., Senilife, Novifit).