It isn’t uncommon for a dog’s behaviour to change over time. However, dogs tend to reach maturity at around three years of age, so sudden and drastic behaviour changes or noticeable differences after this age may be something to take more notice of. Here’s everything you need to know about behaviour changes in dogs:
Behaviour changes to look out for
While some dogs are trained to behave to show aggression under certain circumstances, like protection dogs: https://www.totalk9.co.uk/totalk9-personal-protection-dogs.php, guard dogs, security dogs or police dogs: https://www.totalk9.co.uk/totalk9-security-dogs.php, a dog that is showing signs of aggression when it shouldn’t be could indicate there is another problem. Aggression, as well as cowering, hiding or excessive panting, indicate stress and fear. If this is unusual for your dog, keep a close eye on them. You might need to consider taking them to a vet if the unusual or worrying behaviour continues.
What behaviour changes could mean
If your dog is showing any of these behavioural changes, it could mean a multitude of things. In some cases, behaviour changes may be caused by distress or boredom. However, it may be that your dog is ill or injured, in which case, a vet may be able to provide some medical treatment.
Potential health problems
Keeping your dog healthy is very important, especially since they have no way of telling you if they are ill. For this reason, you need to keep a close eye out for changes in your dog’s behaviour in order to catch health problems before they escalate. Potential health problems that a change in behaviour could signal include arthritis, thyroid problems, hip dysplasia or even sore teeth. All of these issues may significantly worsen if left untreated, so it’s vital that you spot these signs early to give your dog the best chance of successful treatment.
What to do about your dog’s behaviour
Whether you think the bad behaviour is down to illness or otherwise, you need to ask your vet for advice. They may, in turn, refer you to an animal behaviourist if they think there is a problem that can’t be immediately addressed. For more information and advice on your dog’s behaviour, contact us at Total K9 today.
