• 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.