Behavioral Disorders in Dogs: Factors That Influence Treatment

The causes of behavioral disorders in dogs are multifactorial. Behavioral therapies exist to address them. For the first time, a new study identifies predictive factors that can help anticipate the success of these therapies in dogs. In particular, the dog’s physiological state and the owner’s personality influence the response to treatment. Taking these factors into account could help veterinarians better diagnose and manage these disorders.   Whether it involves excessive barking, clinginess, or aggression, canine behavioral disorders can have serious consequences for dogs’ adaptation and well-being within their homes. These undesirable behaviors are thus a major cause of these animals being abandoned. Numerous behavioral therapies exist to address these issues, but they are not always effective. For the first time, researchers have identified the factors that contribute to the success of certain treatments. It is important to consider not only the dog’s age, sex, and size, but also the owner’s personality and the bond they have formed with their pet. The study, published in *Frontiers in Veterinary Science*, analyzed the physiological and psychological characteristics of 131 dog-owner pairs who underwent a six-month behavioral therapy program led by a veterinarian, to address various behaviors such as aggression, separation anxiety, hypersensitivity, and hyperactivity, among others. The animal owners were asked to complete a questionnaire assessing their personality (extraversion, introversion, agreeableness, openness, neuroticism, conscientiousness, etc.) and another regarding their pet’s progress. Ultimately, the dog’s age, sex, and size appear to influence the success of behavioral therapy. At the end of the program, large dogs exhibiting aggressive episodes showed greater improvement than small dogs, for example. According to the researchers, this can be explained by the fact that owners are more sensitive to the behavior of large dogs, as they pose a greater risk to their safety. Other findings are more surprising. Contrary to the team’s expectations, the dogs that responded best to treatment were those whose behavior was the most “problematic,” such as aggression or excitability. Similarly, extroverted owners are more likely to see an improvement in their dog’s fearful behavior than introverted owners, who may have difficulty letting their pet “express itself.” Surprisingly, dogs whose owners considered themselves conscientious and eager to do the right thing did not show significant improvement compared to their peers. The researchers explain these contradictory results by the fact that these owners may have already reached the limits of reducing undesirable behavior. It is also possible that they are more aware of their dog’s behavioral manifestations and report changes more accurately, whereas less conscientious owners react only to obvious events, such as biting. Identifying factors that predict the success or failure of behavioral therapy in dogs could, in particular, help veterinarians better guide owners toward solutions tailored to their specific situations and refine the diagnosis and prognosis. “Practitioners who can identify situations in which dogs are at risk of showing little improvement will be more proactive during follow-up, contacting owners more frequently and with greater empathy,” says Dr. Lauren Powell, the study’s lead author and a researcher at the University of Pennsylvania. Moving forward, the team hopes to expand the study by focusing on why so many problematic disorders do not seem to respond to behavioral therapies. This will involve more detailed case monitoring, particularly regarding adherence to treatment protocols, the reasons behind decisions related to euthanasia or discontinuation of care, and so on.