Behavior
Dog Behavior
When Your Dog’s Behavior Changes
Behavior tells us something about how your dog is feeling.
If your dog suddenly becomes more irritable, reacts more strongly to other dogs, no longer wants to be touched in certain places, or changes behavior in other ways, it might be tempting to think the problem can be solved with training.
But sometimes, we need to start somewhere completely different.
Behavior Can Be a Symptom
Pain, itching, gastrointestinal problems, and other physical ailments can affect a dog’s behavior.
For example, a dog in pain may become less tolerant of touch. A dog with recurring physical discomfort may find it harder to handle situations it previously managed well.
Therefore, we do not automatically consider altered behavior to be purely a training problem.
Sometimes, the dog is simply trying to tell us that something doesn’t feel right.
We Look at the Whole Dog
If there’s a suspicion that physical discomfort or illness might be playing a role, we start with the veterinary medical aspect.
Depending on the issue, the following may be relevant:
- a clinical examination
- blood tests
- X-rays
- other targeted examinations
This does not necessarily mean there is a physical cause for the behavior.
But if there is, it’s important to detect and treat it.
Because physical and behavioral well-being are often interconnected.
When Medication Can Be Part of the Solution
For some behavioral problems, medical treatment can be relevant as support for the actual behavioral therapy.
Here, our veterinarians can assess your dog from a veterinary perspective and determine if medical treatment can be part of the plan.
Medication does not necessarily replace training or behavioral therapy. For some dogs, it can help reduce anxiety or restlessness to a level where the dog has a better opportunity to learn and benefit from training.
The Right Help for the Right Problem
For vet phobia and handling-related problems, we have special expertise and offer individual training programs at the clinic.
For other behavioral problems, we do not offer behavioral therapy ourselves. Instead, we refer you to competent and well-trained behavioral therapists.
There are many different educational backgrounds, methods, and titles within dog training and behavioral therapy. It can be difficult for a dog owner to know who to choose.
Therefore, we are happy to help you find the right professional for your dog.
Where Should We Start?
If your dog’s behavior has changed, or if you are unsure whether pain, illness, or physical discomfort might be playing a role, a consultation with the veterinarian is a good place to start.
Here, we can together form a picture of the problem and assess the next steps.
This could involve further examinations, medical treatment, or help from a behavioral therapist.
“Behavior is not separate from the rest of the dog. Therefore, we don’t treat it that way.”
