Why Dogs with Behavior Problems Deserve Compassion

If you have a dog for any length of time, you learn that there are times when things don’t go to plan. If your dog has a behavior issue, sometimes you have to go the extra mile to help your pet. But because dog training is not regulated, finding out what will help is not necessarily easy.

Training and management for canine behavior issues

Caring for a dog with a behavior issue such as fear or aggression can involve some combination of training, management, and (when recommended by your vet) medication. If your dog lunges, barks, or growls at other people when they are on-leash, it may be necessary to plan dog walks in the early morning or late at night to stick to quiet times of the day. It may mean being on alert for people coming in the opposite direction, ready to cross the road, to put a parked car between you and them, or to shout and ask for an off-leash dog to be put on-leash (when they are supposed to be on-leash anyway). All this at the same time as fitting in training sessions to desensitize and counter-condition your dog.

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If your dog doesn’t like visitors to the house, management may mean shutting your pet away in a crate or another room, having a system of pet barriers, or maybe considering which people you are actually going to let in your home anyway. And every member of the household needs to follow the same rules.

Caregiver burden

If this sounds like a burden, it’s because it can be. However much you love your pet, if you have to structure your life around them, always be on the lookout for potential triggers, and plan outings ahead so that your pet does not become upset, it can be hard work. There’s a name for this: “caregiver burden” (see the downsides of having a pet).

I am incredibly impressed at the lengths some people will go to help their pets. I am also saddened that sometimes people will reach out to someone for help only to get advice that makes no sense or makes things worse. Because dog training is not regulated, anyone can call themselves a dog trainer, and they may recommend tools that risk harm to animal welfare or to the human-animal bond, such as shock and prong collars.

There's no quick fix for a dog's behavior issues

Aversive methods, from leash corrections to shock collars, can affect your dog in a number of ways, including an increased risk of fear and aggression, a worse relationship with you, and a more pessimistic dog, according to scientific research (e.g. Ziv, 2017; Vieira de Castro et al 2020; Vieira de Castro et al 2019; Blackwell et al 2008). On top of that, some studies suggest that positive reinforcement is actually more effective (e.g. China et al 2020).

Training and management take time and effort to get results, and medication (if recommended by the vet) also needs time to work. So it’s not surprising that sometimes people decide to go for what they mistakenly consider an “easy fix.” Trainers are under no obligation to disclose the risks of the methods they use, or indeed, to disclose what those methods are. (This is why the celebrated dog trainer Jean Donaldson argues for transparency in dog training).

In a review of the literature on shock collars, Masson et al (2018) write that,

“Some owners are attracted by the idea that e-collars may be cheaper than engaging a long and expensive program with behaviorists, trainers, and/or veterinary behavioral specialists. However, the price can be higher than expected since the welfare of dogs and the relationship with the owner can be compromised. Most owners, themselves, express a preference for not using an e-collar, considering other tools as being more humane.”

The importance of compassion for dogs with behavior issues

For canine behavior issues, it’s important to do something that gets to the root of the problem and addresses any fear or anxiety the dog may have (something that aversive methods don’t do). And because it’s hard to find a good dog trainer, sometimes people end up trying several trainers before they actually get help.

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It’s no wonder that this can feel very difficult. On top of dealing with a dog whose behavior is hard to manage or potentially dangerous, there is the added burden of navigating the mix of conflicting advice, as well as the need to have a thick skin against comments from family and friends who have read outdated advice and want to share it.

At these times, it helps to have compassion for both yourself and your dog. As Beth Sautins CTC says of reactive dogs:

“Understanding that your dog is having trouble coping is the first step towards compassion for your dog—and for yourself too! While it might seem that reactive dogs are being purposefully disobedient, nothing could be further from the truth. These outbursts are not any more fun for your dog than they are for you. Your dog is so stressed—either from fear or frustration—that they resort to barking, lunging, and the like.”

It can really help to understand that your dog is simply having a hard time. There are many potential causes of behavior problems, including genetics, lack of socialization, and bad experiences, so it’s also important not to beat yourself up about it. But do take great care in choosing where to get advice, and take time to learn about your dog’s needs (my book, Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy, is a good place to start).

You are not alone and help is out there. If your dog has behavior issues, look for a trainer or behaviorist who will only use reward-based methods to train your dog. For any sudden behavior change, you should see your vet in case there is a medical cause.