Dr. Himani SHarma (B.V.Sc & A.H.) from SKUAST-Jammu, J&K, India. Currently, pursuing M.V.Sc in Veterinary Medicine.

1. BEHAVIORAL
DISORDERS IN
CANINES
DR. HIMANI SHARMA

2. EVOLUTION TO DOMESTICATION
 Gray wolf (Canis lupus)
(Messent & Serpell, 1981; Scott, 1967)
 Their behavior changed
 Scavengers
 Modern dogs spend most of
their time with humans

3. WHY TO STUDY THE BEHAVIOR ?
Ethology is the study of animal behavior
in the animal’s natural environment.
(Milani et al., 2020)
To identify the abnormal behaviors
As clinical sign to identify disease

4. UNDERSTANDING DOG BEHAVIOR

5. DOG TAIL TRANSLATION

6.  TRANSITION PERIOD- 13 to 20 days
 MAXIMUM SOCIAL ABILITY- 3-12 weeks
(Scott et al., 1970, 1962, 1958)
Isolated for age of 7 weeks - 2 days to approach
14 weeks of age - would not approach
(Bacon & Stanley et al., 1963, 1970)
(Puurunen et al., 2020)
BEHAVIORAL DEVELOPMENT IN
PUPS
GENETICS ENVIRONMENT BEHAVIOUR

7. Pups that are isolated from 3 days to 20 weeks of age, regardless of having their
physiologic needs met, are disturbed for life (avoidance behavior).
(Agrawal et al., 1967)
Some moderate stress introduced during the first few days of life is Beneficial
Excessive stress leads of to an increase in ACTH (Adrenocorticotropic hormone) secretion
Excessive secretion of ACTH has been correlated with a decreased ability to learn

8. CANINE BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS
1. Aggressive behavior
2. Narcissistic behavior
3. Canine elimination disorder – Medical, House soiling, Marking, Submissive
urination, Excitement urination
4. Unruly behavior – Stealing food, Dashing out of doors, Barking
5. Canine cognitive disorder

9. CANINE BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS
6. Introvert behavior – Phobia, Fear, Chewing, Copro-phagy
7. Obsessive compulsive disorder
8. Generalized anxiety disorder
9. Post-traumatic stress disorder
10. Separation anxiety disorder

10. CANINE AGGRESSION
 Hostile or violent behavior towards another; readiness to attack or confront.
 Common behavioral problem in dogs.
(Beaver et al., 1990)
MATERNAL
PROTECTIVE
PLAY TERRITORIAL
FEAR
PAIN
PREDATOR
Y
FOOD
RELATED
DOMINANC
E POSSESSIVE
IDIOPATHIC
INTERDOG

11. SEQUENCE OF AGGRESSIVE
BEHAVIOR
 Become very still and rigid
 Head and tail up with direct stare
 Harsh-threatening bark
 Curling lips
 Lunging forward
 Growl and show teeth
 Bite; causing punctured wound
 Quick repeated bites

12. CAUSES OF AGGRESSION
 Abused, mistreated and neglected pup
 Pain
 Fear
 Breeds: the bull dogs
 Medical causes
Florida man arrested for animal cruelty; dogs
found without food in severe heat

13. AGGRESSION IN OLD DOGS

15. PREVALENCE OF DOG ATTACK IN
INDIA
25.7/1000 population per year in India
(Agarwal et al., 2004)

16. ABC program in Jammu
Overall stray dog population = 40,000
Sterilized under ABC program = 30,000
As per ABC (Dog) Rules, 2001, stray dogs are
not being dislocated from their locality, they
are only being captured for sterilization &
vaccination and are released with a permanent
identification mark i.e. “Right Ear-notch”

18. RESOLVING CANINE AGGRESSION
 Avoid rough playing.
 Humane training method
 Have a plan
 Build Trust
 Castration
 Head collars

19. BUILD TRUST
Get low;
Offer TREATS
Allow patient to
come towards you
COMMUNICATE
in happy voice
PATIENCE;
Move slowly
BUILD
TRUST

20. Golden rule
Treat each
patient how
you wish your
pet would be
treated

21. • (Hopkins et al., 1976)
Marking, mounting reduces to lesser extent.
(Kriese et al., 2022)
Decreased roaming in male dogs
90%
Reduction in male- male aggression
62%
Reduction in urine marking
50%
CASTRATION

22. HEAD COLLAR
An aggressive dog can be calm and
quiet.
This dog is wearing a citronella
bark collar. He lives in an urban
apartment and barks at passersby.
He has learned to bark just below
the level that will trigger the collar,
but this is not loud enough to cause
the neighbors to complaint and
people comment on his angelic
behavior.(Photos by K.L. Overall)
(Overall, 1997)

23. NARCISSISTIC
OVERPROTECTIVENESS
Protection of self or of the dog’s belongings
Can bite owners
(Campbell, 1992)
MANAGEMENT:
 “NO” Physical punishment
 6 weeks behavior program with non-physical method i.e. commands.
 The Jolly Routine

24. THE JOLLY ROUTINE
Visitors ring the doorbell
Family members all laugh and jolly the
dog, avoid any sign of sympathy
reassurance
Visitors toss the tennis ball for dog to fetch
and return; until dog relaxes
If dog shows signs of aggression, everyone
laughs and jollies the dog

25. CANINE ELIMINATION DISORDER
By 6 months of ages, the average dog defecates 1-5 times a day, and urinates 3-4
times a day.
(Robertson, 2021)
MEDICAL
• Urogenital
• GIT
• Neurological condition
• Hyperadrenocorticism
• Diabetes mellitus
• Anatomical
(Camps, 2019)
HOUSESOILING
• Soiling inappropriate
locations
• Poor housetraining
(Fox, 1971)
• Fear/anxiety
• Seeking attention

26. MARKING BEHAVIOR
• Leg lifting
• Intact male common
(Hopkin et al.,1976)
• Social hierarchy
(Lee et al., 2022)
• Dominance
SUBMISSIVE
URINATION
• Young pups; young
female; dogs in
dependent environment
• Abused/ Fear
• Dog is approached, it
urinates in submissive
posture
(Campbell, 1992)
EXCITEMENT
URINATION
• Do not have
neuromuscular control
• Treat the excitability
(Overall, 1997)

27. SUBMISSIVE SIGNS
 Avoidance of eye contact
 Lowering of head and neck
 Sitting /Crouching
 Tucking the tail
 Submissive "grin"
 Flattening of ears

28. MOUNTING AND MARKING
Virtually all elimination postures can
be "normal"
(Wirant et al., 2004)
Most mounting is not sexual
 Playful
 Social communicatory behavior
Social > Sexual
(Overall, 1997)

29. UNRULY BEHAVIOR
A. DASHING IN OR OUT OF DOORS
B. EXCESSIVE BARKING
C. BEGGING / STEALING FOOD
D. BITTING / SCRATCHING

30. DASHING IN OR OUT OF DOORS
Constantly restrained dogs, tend to become aggressive Captivity Frustration.
(Overall and Dunham, 2002)
TREATMENT:
 UNDERSTAND BARRIER FRUSTATION
 INNER FENCE WITHIN A FENCE
(FIGHTING ENVIRONMENT)

31. BARKING / HOWLING
 Natural response
 Communicate
 Defending one’s territory
WAYS TO STOP EXCESS BARKING:
 Scheduled activities
 Training procedures
 Buy dog according to lifestyle
(Haq et al., 2017)
ALARM
BARKING
“NORMAL”
ANIMALS;PEOPLE;
OBJECTS
“FRUSTRATION”
ISOLATION
BARKING

32. BEGGING / STEALING FOOD
 Easiest of all life’s lessons for a puppy.
 Taught by Owner

33. What Does Dog Begging Look Like:
 Yipping
 Barking
 Jumping
 Excessive pawing
 Grabbing food behind your back
Ways to stop dogs from begging:
IGNORING
REDIRECTING
TRAINING

34. BITING AND MOUTHING
 Play-fighting behavior
 Tug-o’-war games
 Pain of teeth
Giving BONES or TOYS
Firm voice “NO” !!!!
Rewards when don’t bite
 Attention seeking
 Fear
 Bordem

35. CANINE COGNITIVE DISORDER
Common in Old dogs
CLINICAL FINDINGS:
 Disorientation
 Altered interactions
 Sleep-wake cycle disturbance
 House-soiling
 Forgetting commands
(Landsberg et al., 2012)

36. TREATMENT
 Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor Drug
Selegiline @0.5–1 mg/kg/day (in morning)
(Nichols et al., 2016)
 Providing dog with puzzles, toys
 Reduce boredom
 Social interaction

37. INTROVERT BEHAVIOR
Term introversion refers to people whose attention and interest are inwardly
oriented; while extroversion refers to people who direct their interests
outwardly.
A. PHOBIAS
B. KENNELOSIS
C. PICA
D. SELF MUTILATION
E. COPROPHAGY

38. PHOBIA
1) Storm phobia: Storm
2) Water phobia: don’t come across water so frequently.
3) Situation phobia: Gunfire, fire-crackers, exploding balloons, certain person or place
(Overall and Dunham, 2002)
 Fear of falling is only inborn emotional fear.
TREATMENT:
 Happy activities
 The Jolly Routine
(Lush et al., 2018)

39. KENNELOSIS
 Extreme submissiveness
 Prolonged isolation
 Lack of broad social experience
 Excessive punishment
 Improper management
Leader type dogs are seldom affected.
(Fox et al., 2015)

40. PICA
Abnormal craving or appetite for ingesting
non-food articles.
(Ropski et al., 2023)
CAUSES:
 Attention seeking
 Underfeeding or overfeeding
(Draper et al., 1976)

41. SELF- MUTILATION
Licks or chews on itself due to Stress & Frustration
Inflammation
 Tick or flea infestation
 Allergies
(Overall and Dunham, 2002)

42. COPROPHAGY
Not always abnormal; dam eats her pup stool as hygienic measure.
CAUSES :
 Digestion problem
 Parasitic infestation
 Malabsorption
 Overfeeding
 Hyperthyroidism
 Diabetes mellitus
 Pancreatitis
Overfeeding
Can’t digest
properly; feels
undernourished
Feed on the
stool

43. Behavioral reasons for Coprophagia in Dogs:
Attention
seeking
Not being fed
Kennel/isolate Boredom
TREATMENT:
• Feed 2 times a day
• Keep it away from stool, with happy activities.
(Campbell, 1992)

44. OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE
DISORDER
Disorder is behavioral, rooted in a neurophysiological abnormality.
If Control is removed: he can commit the behavior
he will commit the behavior ✅
(Overall and Dunham, 2002)
 OCD is characterized by repetitive, ritualistic behaviors, in excess of anything
required for normal functions; which interferes normal daily activities.
(Frank et al., 2013)
 Body produces Excess Dopamine, relative to serotonin in basal ganglia.
 BREEDS - Miniature bull terriers and German shepherds
(Nuwer, 2012; Overall and Dunham, 2002)

45. CLINICAL FINDINGS
 Spinning
 Tail chasing
 Sucking flank
 Fence jumping
 Self-mutilation
 Pica including copro-phagy
 Staring and making sounds
 Aggression
 Cloth sucking
 Biting
(Haq et al., 2017; Overall and Dunham, 2002)

46. TREATMENT
Reduction of triggering events
Require psychotropic medications
 Tricyclic antidepressants
Amitriptyline @ 1–4 mg/kg x bid
(Overall and Dunham, 2002; Haq et al., 2017)
 TCAs contraindicated to animals with history of urinary retention.
(Reich et al., 2000)

47. GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER
Dogs display constant signs of anxiety and worry, regardless of the situation,
diminishing their quality of life.
(Crowell-Davis, 2009)
(Tiira and Lohi, 2015; Sarviaho et al., 2019)
Causes
Poor
socialization
Environmental
reasons
Low-quality
nursing care
Bad experience
during
puppyhood

48. CLINICAL FINDINGS OF GAD
Trembling
Urinating
Salivation
Destructiveness
Hiding
Vocalizing

49. 1) Behavioral modification therapy
2) Psycho-pharmaceutical interventions
(Haq et al., 2017)
 Benzodiazepines
 Imepitoin @ 20mg/kg PO x BID x Daily
(Forster et al., 2020)
TREATMENT

50. POST TRAUMATIC STRESS
DISORDER
 Domestic pets, particularly military dogs
(Haq et al., 2017)
 Exposure to terrifying events
(Yamamoto, 2003; Haq et al., 2017)
MANIFESTATIONS:
 Anxiety
 Panting
 Nervousness
 Frightened
 Aggressive behavior
 Military dogs often refuse to do any work
(Haq et al., 2017; Dao, 2011)

51. TREATMENT
 Anxiolytic Medication
 Behavioral Program (Desensitization,
regular exercise, play activities)
Desensitization: progressively
increasing the dog’s exposure to
troublesome stimuli
(Haq et al., 2017)
If problem was
noise
deliver noise at a
very low level
If tolerates that
noise
dog is rewarded
with food
gradually louder
with each
presentation

52. SEPARATION ANXIETY DISORDER
Psychological condition that results in extreme panic and agitation when the owner is
gone.
(Sherman and Mills, 2008; Haq et al., 2017)
SYMPTOMS:
 Excessive vocalization
 Disruptive behavior
 House-soiling
 Excessive salivation
 Attempts of escape
 Vomiting
 Anorexia Acral lick dermatitis
 Acral lick dermatitis
(Amat et al., 2014; Haq et al., 2017)

53. TREATMENT
Using dog sitter
Give false departure signals
(Horwitz 2002; Pluijmakers et al., 2003)
Correct issues : destruction, elimination
(Simpson et al., 2007; Landsberg et al., 2008)

54. ‘Dog appeasing pheromone therapy’ given
via electric diffuser.
(Kim et al., 2010)
 Helps the dog feel calm, comfortable
(Pageat and Gaultier, 2003)

55. For treatment of behavioral disorders in dogs
pharmacological interventions (like tricyclic
antidepressants, serotonin reuptake inhibitors,
benzodiazepines) are used together with pet
behavioral alteration therapy which may protect the
well-being of our four-legged companions.
(Haq et al., 2017; Crowell-Davis, 2009)

56. Ivan Pavlov’s experiment

57. COMMANDS AND BEHAVIORAL TRAINING

58. TREATMENT
Drug Dose rate
Tranqilizers
Acepromazine 0.5–2 mg/kg, prna to tid
Benzodiazepines
Alprazolam 0.01–0.1 mg/kg, prn to qid
Clonazepam 0.1–1 mg/kg, bid-tid
Diazepam 0.5–2 mg/kg, prn (eg, every 4–6 hr)
Lorazepam 0.025–0.2 mg/kg/day to prn
Oxazepam 0.2–1 mg/kg, one to two times/day
Tricyclic Antidepressants
Amitriptyline 1–4 mg/kg, bid
Clomipramine 1–3 mg/kg, bid
Doxepin 3–5 mg/kg, bid-tid
Imipramine 1–4 mg/kg, one to two times/day

59. (Haq et al., 2017; Crowell-Davis, 2009; Amat et al., 2014)
Drug Dose rate
Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
Fluoxetine 1–3 mg/kg/day
Paroxetine 0.5–2 mg/kg/day
Sertraline 1–3 mg/kg/day or divided bid
β-Blocker
Propranolol 0.2–3 mg/kg, prn to bid
Azapirone
Buspirone 0.5–2 mg/kg, one to three times/day
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor
Selegiline 0.5–1 mg/kg/day (in morning)
Anticonvulsants
Carbamazepine 4–8 mg/kg, bid-tid
Gabapentin 5–30 mg/kg, bid-tid
Potassium bromide 10–40 mg/kg/day, or divided bid

60. Fluoxetine chewable tablets (FCT)
@ 1–2 mg/kg Daily for 6 weeks.
Showed efficacy in improving SAD
Even in patients whom behavior
modification training is not given.
(Landsberg et al., 2008)

61. Chamomile, Valerian root and Ginger 1
tab/5-10kg weight
Brahmi, Ashvagandha
2 tab xBID x Daily
1 tab PO Daily x 7-10 days
@ 0.25-1 µgm/dog daily
AMITRIPTYLINE
@ 1-4mg/kg x BID

62. PREVALENCE
 In US, 4114 dogs (mixed and pure
breeds) submitted by 2480 dog
owners.
 The prevalence of canine behavior
problems was found to be 85% in the
study sample.
(Dinwoodie et al., 2019)

63. Human–dog relationships during the COVID-19 pandemic
 The virus SARS-CoV-2 emerged in December 2019, in Wuhan, China.
 Companion Animals were adopted - benefit of good mental health.
 But, stress and poor well-being of dog owners negatively affect the well-being of their
companion animals.
 Inconclusive reports of being potential COVID-19 carriers, affected adoption and abandonment
of dogs at shelters.
Behavioral Trauma
(Morgan et al., 2020)

64. CONCLUSION
Dog’s behavioral issues are very comparable to human psychiatric illnesses. A
veterinarian needs to assess their patients thoroughly to ensure no medical
such abnormal behavior.
In pet psychiatric disorders, pharmaceutical therapy must be combined with behavioral
education, training, counselling and modification, with the ultimate goal of
withdrawing pharmaceutical medications.
Communication between different species
can be different but some elements are the
same i.e. Affection and Companionship.