By Fran Jewell
Pain? What does that have to do with dog training? Plenty. First of all, dogs are by nature very stoic. They will not tell you when they are in pain, so many of us miss this critical element in dog behavior. Why? Because when a dog shows pain it makes them vulnerable to other dogs and it risks potential attack by another dog seeking higher status.
In my line of work, I am called for help when a dog is suddenly aggressive with other dogs and even family members when they didn’t used to be. I also get calls when dogs have fights among themselves in a multiple-dog household. Sometimes I hear from people when they see the dog just seems different than they used to be. They might be now afraid of other dogs or children when that wasn’t the case before. Or, they hide in a closet for no apparent reason.
One of the first things I recommend is that the dog be thoroughly examined by a veterinarian to see if there are any health issues that are not outwardly visible. There can be abnormalities in blood work. Often I see dogs suffering from undiagnosed arthritis, or even joint problems that have slowly developed over time. If the PHYSICAL issue of pain is not addressed, trying to address the emotional and mental behavior problems created by the pain will not be successful. Once the pain is addressed, then the behavior can be addressed with professional help.
Pain in dogs is very difficult for us to see. But, it is a critical issue to pay attention to, even in young dogs, when behaviors become defensive, aggressive, or unusual. If you think about yourself, imagine yourself with a migraine. No one can see it. Many people don’t understand it, but after a migraine has lingered for many hours, sometimes days, you are no longer patient and you become irritated easily. Now imagine your dog unable to express his pain by saying, “Hey! I hurt!”
What are some telltale signs of pain? Unusual behaviors — withdrawing or aggression; slowness to get up; less energy; panting when it isn’t hot out; a “look” in your dog’s eyes that says something is off; movement away when touched in a certain place; lack of interest in food; an area of skin that seems warmer than a nearly by body spot; swelling; ears that don’t perk; lack of desire to do usual activities like go in the car or walks. And of course there are obvious things like limping, crying.
Pain is something that can be controlled or reduced. Treatment can help re-establish loving behaviors between you and your lovely companion. If you even slightly expect something off with your dog, please seek veterinary help. What seems slight to you is many times HUGE for the dog because they will mask their pain until it is no longer tolerable. There are many ways to address pain. Know that pain SHOULD be addressed and not left for the dog to “tough it out.” It is critical for a dog in a family atmosphere with children and other animals present. Asking a dog to be pa≠tient in spite of pain is simply not fair.
Fran Jewell is an IAABC Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, NADOI Certified Instructor and the owner of Positive Puppy Dog Training, LLC in Sun Valley. For more information, visit positivepuppy.com or call 208-578-1565.