A little bit more about becoming a Dynamic Dog Practitioner…….
So why have I decided to do this, alongside my other studies? A simple answer is because I think this is one of THE MOST important areas to cover before dealing with any behaviour case.
In a study done by Mills et al (2020) it was reported that around 80% of behaviour cases referred to the vets were pain related and Camps et al (2019) reported that aggressive behaviours seen in dogs and cats were linked back to pain. Dogs are exceptional at hiding discomfort, think about it, if you are seen as weak then you are easy pickings. It’s nature at its finest and it boils down to survival.
I have always had excellent observational skills just ask my husband! I drive him mad because his hard work around the house is always under scrutiny, poor bloke. Is it a natural talent? Yes I think it is, I like to call it my ‘super power’ .
Being a dog walker, I’m constantly observing my groups and watching how they interact with one another and the environment. I have always been able to spot a dog that walks ‘oddly’ but haven’t been able to explain exactly what I’ve seen and definitely not in veterinary terms. Now I can AND my observational skills have gone up a notch or two.
I want to help as many dogs (and guardians) as possible, reaching out to trainers, behaviourists, groomers, Vet’s and the general public. Spreading awareness and ensuring dogs get the right treatment and diagnosis is my goal.
So, what did I learn?
- The inner working of dogs, ranging from the skeletal system to the intricate systems that run through their bodies. I looked at the muscles, joints and fascia.
- Pain and the different types of pain, how it affects the brain, types of medication used for pain, pain and behaviour.
- Canine Conditions; hip and elbow dysplasia, patella luxation, cruciate ligament ruptures and more
- What multi-disciplinary teams are available: hydrotherapy, physiotherapy, chiropractor and more.
- How to gather the right evidence in an easy-to-read format for the Vets and in a language they understand.
In the consultation I do a deep dive into the dogs and guardians’ lives. This is where it can get challenging because I must rely on as much information as possible from the guardian.
A dog that always scratches its ears, means something.
A dog that doesn’t sit down, means something.
A dog that is a fussy eater, means something.
A dog that has OCD, means something.
A dog that barks at the slightest thing, means something.
I think you get the picture. Something that may be so insignificant to the guardian could be the missing piece of the puzzle. For instance, my own dog sometimes chews her back paws and quite frequently licks her legs. I assumed she was just cleaning herself, but now I am pretty confident that it’s her hind leg that is causing her to lick and nibble. There are other behaviours I’ve witnessed, which point towards possible discomfort. It’s a hard pill to swallow.
Once she’s been checked over by the Vets (with my Dynamic Dog Assessment), I’ll update our journey on here.
Now, even when I’ve done an assessment and the dog gets the correct treatment, it does not necessarily mean the behaviour just stops. If dogs have been reacting to their environment a certain way for years and years, then they need help and support to show them different ways to act. Behaviours that society find more acceptable.
A dog’s behaviour is affected by EVERYTHING; environment, diet (this is another BIG one), past experiences, health, PAIN, accessories (collars and harnesses) and so on. Behaviour is a jigsaw puzzle and I’m sorry to say there are NO QUICK fixes. As someone who is studying behaviour, I will always look at why the behaviour is occurring in the first instance, and I have to start at the very beginning, which is always DIET and PAIN.
References
Camps, T., Amat, M. and Manteca, X. (2019). A Review of Medical Conditions and Behavioral Problems in Dogs and Cats. Animals, 9(12), p.1133. doi:10.3390/ani9121133.
Mills, D.S., Demontigny-Bédard, I., Gruen, M., Klinck, M.P., McPeake, K.J., Barcelos, A.M., Hewison, L., Van Haevermaet, H., Denenberg, S., Hauser, H., Koch, C., Ballantyne, K., Wilson, C., Mathkari, C.V., Pounder, J., Garcia, E., Darder, P., Fatjó, J. and Levine, E. (2020). Pain and Problem Behavior in Cats and Dogs. Animals, [online] 10(2), p.318. doi:10.3390/ani10020318.
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