“Genetics made my dog the way they are.”
Yes, and no…
Obviously, dogs come with their genetic package, and we know that experience shapes a dog as well. What people don’t typically take into account is medical… When someone comes to me and says my dog never did this, and then one day they attacked X, I have A LOT of questions.
To the normal human eye, their dog isn’t saying a lot. When really they are saying all the things. Sometimes in, the Initial Consult, the story starts to build a picture of the dog giving small signals over the years that their behavior is escalating. Sometimes there are no clues to why they changed behaviorally. I have seen many cases where it looks like I see a trigger.
VaccinationsA stay with someoneA change of foodA scare (like an attack or wreck)Stepping into adulthoodA sicknessGetting hurtWatching another dog do something and repeating itYears of untreated anxietyThyroid conditionNew found painTraumaIn almost all cases where there is a remarkable change in behavior… I send people to the vet for a comprehensive workup. Bloodwork, body palpitations check, and maybe ex-rays or other tests. I always discuss diet and the brain-gut connection.
Someone asked me what the difference is between a Dog Trainer and a Behavior Consultant. Dog Trainers train the behavior. Consultants look for the root cause. After years of doing what I do, I can form a picture and save more dogs than I could even 15 years ago. Some behaviors have no explanation because an MRI or CT is out of the budget. Some dog owners don’t even get an answer with all of the testing. You just train the package in front of you until your options have run out. Unfortunately, BE is the only answer sometimes. We can’t find the reason for all of the aches, pains, and mental illness in humans either.
All animals are complex creatures. Sometimes quirky wiring beats genetics out. Sometimes trauma to the brain or other body parts can go unseen. So, do I believe it can be genetics, or because someone didn’t raise them right, or physical trauma, or because they are in pain? Yes, all of the above. But you can’t just call it one thing… unless you KNOW that is what it is.
Sometimes, you just never know.
Carrie (PITGIRL)