What Is Canine Dysfunctional Behavior?

Dogs can have many quirky behaviors that we often find endearing as long as they’re not putting themselves or us in danger or destroying our property. But sometimes, we see a dog who marches to their own beat.

They may spend an inordinate amount of time doing repetitive actions, have difficulty playing or communicating with other dogs, or become easily overloaded. This is something called canine dysfunctional behavior (CDB), and it’s going to require a little more from you as a dog parent to work with. Read on for more details.

Understanding canine behavior

There’s no rule book for canine behavior. OK, there are plenty of books based on behavior in dogs but no set definition of what defines normal from abnormal, but we all know it when we see it.

Normal behavior vs. dysfunctional

Most dogs live for their parents. They want to do things that please them or at least please their doggie selves. When given the opportunity, most dogs will readily accept canine companionship, and welcome being surrounded by familiar faces.

Dogs with canine dysfunctional behavior may not be any of those things. Instead, they may prefer to be alone, often withdrawing from social situations, they may become aggressive with other dogs or people that try to interact with them, and they may have a difficult time learning commands or basic training. They simply don’t seem to “tune in” to humans or other dogs in those ways.

Importance of addressing dysfunctional behavior

This might seem like the perfect time to let a dog be a dog, but a little intervention on your part can go a long way. CDB can be dangerous to people, other animals, and to the dog themselves. When dogs don’t know how to interact with other animals or people, they can become aggressive. They can easily reach their stress limit which can lead to biting or fighting. Even repetitive behaviors associated with CDB can be dangerous to the dog doing them.

Related article

Is Your Senior Dog Sundowning?

If your senior dog seems confused, restless, or irritable after dark, they may have sundowners syndrome. Here’s how to deal.

Causes of dysfunctional behavior in dogs

When we start talking about where CDB comes from, we’re basing it mainly on theories. There is no solid evidence yet to explain where exactly these behaviors stem from, but let’s look at some of the options.

Genetics

Genetics do seem to play a role as we see CDB more common in certain breeds, mainly Bull Terriers. A dog’s genetic makeup may be responsible for elevated blood levels of neurotensin and corticotropin-releasing hormone, two markers that are also higher in humans diagnosed with autism. There is also a theory that dogs with CDB don’t possess as many mirror neurons in their brain. These neurons aid in social learning and communication, so it would make sense that if these dogs didn’t have as many, they would struggle in these situations.

Environmental factors

Genetics isn’t the only thing at play when it comes to CDB. Early experiences, such as trauma, stress, and anxiety may play a role, especially early on in life. Also, dogs that aren’t properly socialized may present with unusual behaviors when it comes to interacting with others or learning behaviors.

Health and related issues

A lot of health issues may look similar to CDB. Things like allergies that make your dog obsessively itch and cause seizure disorders and pain may make then act abnormally. In older dogs, a condition known as canine cognitive dysfunction may present with similar behavioral issues, similar to dementia in humans.

Common types of dysfunctional behavior in dogs               

The word dysfunctional is fairly broad, especially when talking about dog behaviors. So, let’s hone in on the exact types of behaviors we’re talking about here.

Aggression

Dogs with CDB have a hard time dealing with stress. They are easily overwhelmed when presented with a lot of stimuli, so things like a mail delivery, visitors, or a new dog next door can really send a pup into a tailspin. They may become aggressive towards strangers or even their familiar humans and animals because they just can’t process the stress in appropriate ways.

Anxiety or fear

Similarly, stress or stimulus overload can turn a dog anxious or fearful. They may run and hide instead of greeting people at the door, or they may pace, whine, or bark when left alone or when there’s a lot going on around them.

Anti-social tendencies

Most dogs with CDB will prefer to stay on the outskirts at the dog park or retreat rather than greet. They don’t know how to interact with others, so they may choose not to instead. This includes not making eye contact, zoning out during training sessions, or just not acting as you would expect a dog should.

Communication and learning difficulties

Dogs have many ways of communicating, but with CDB, there seems to be a definite barrier. Some will bark endlessly; others will fail to learn simply obedience cues. Some dogs may even forget to eat their meals or to cue you when they need to go outside.

Compulsive behaviors

Another hallmark of CDB is compulsive behaviors. Circling, tail chasing, or obsessive licking all fall into this category. Dogs may take their compulsions to the extreme where they actually do damage to their body.

Related article

How to Recognize and Treat Canine Dementia

Learn about the signs, symptoms, and treatments.

Identifying dysfunctional behavior

All dogs can be a little weird every now and then, it’s what we love about them. But when talking about CDB, you want to look for trends in their behavior rather than the one-off incident.

Signs of CDB

Look for sudden aggression, especially when stressed, repetitive behaviors like tail chasing, circling, or obsessive licking, an inability to train basic commands, inattentiveness to people or other animals, and avoiding social situations.

Behavioral assessment techniques

Diagnosing CDB is something you want to leave the professionals, but be prepared to help out. There’s no blood test or rule out for CDB, instead it depends on behavioral studies and assessments. Take notes of your dog’s behavior and reactions in specific situations.

Try to determine triggers and changes that you’re seeing. A professional will work with you to do the same. Seek veterinary help to rule out medical causes and to point you in the direction of a behavioralist if needed.

How to manage canine dysfunctional behavior

You’re not going to be able to rewire your dog’s brain or erase past negative experiences, but you can do a number of things to make your dog more comfortable to help ease these dysfunctional behaviors.

Positive reinforcement

These dysfunctional behaviors can be frustrating, but it’s important not to punish your dog for them. Instead, redirect to a positive behavior and then reward them for that. Stay consistent with your training by setting strict boundaries and regularly working with your dog so they know what’s expected of them.

Strict schedule

All dogs thrive on a strict schedule, but dogs with CDB are especially in need of one. They need to know when to expect meals, walks, playtime, etc. This helps reduce stress and allows a dog to relax.

Exercise

Exercise is so important to your dog’s physical and mental health. Getting your dog regular movement can help decrease stress and boost their mood so that they’re better ready to handle uncomfortable situations.

Professional support

Your veterinarian should be a major part of your support staff as you and your dog work through CDB. There are some medications that may be helpful, as well as professional training.

Bottom line

Canine dysfunctional behavior is an autism-like disorder in which dogs may have difficulty socializing with other animals or humans, they may become aggressive, or repetitively chase their tail, circle, lick or chew their body. CDB isn’t completely understood and there is no cure, but you can help your dog manage by keeping a strict schedule, using consistent positive reinforcement training, regular exercise, and speaking to your veterinarian.

 References

• “Social decision making in autism: On the impact of mirror neurons, motor control, and imitative behaviors.” CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics. 2 Jul 2018. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6055683/.