Like humans, dogs experience trauma. We know that trauma effects the dog’s brain in a way that is remarkably similar to that of similar trauma in people. The biochemical responses and treatments for these responses are almost identical. We know that since the domestication of dogs, the state of canine health and well being has risen and fallen alongside their two-legged partners. When a village thrives, so do the village dogs. When a community starves, so do the local dogs. It stands to reason, and is easily observed, that when a culture suffers an all-time record of depression and anxiety within its population, we will see more of these concerns in the dog population that coincides.

My personal mental health journey has had its ups and downs. I have needed medication for some serious depression during a time in my life when I was absolutely powerless to change the circumstances that caused the depression. I feel no shame in having used medications to prevent me from doing harm to myself and to make my life better during that time. I am grateful that those circumstances have resolved and my brain chemistry is such that I do not regularly need prescribed medications to maintain emotional stability. I have many friends and acquaintances that do not enjoy such robust mental health. Not all of these people have suffered trauma, some were born this way. I encourage them to utilize all tools that make their health better, including prescribed medications, adaptogenic herbs, exercise, hobbies, prayer, and meditation to improve their lives.

Our dogs do not have all of these resources at their disposal. Dogs are a domesticated species, so it is not even a true statement if we say “left to their own devices”… Dogs should NOT be left to their own devices in our culture. We will discuss “natural dogs” (which are few and far between in the United States) another time. For the purposes of all behavioral discussion here, we’re discussing dogs intended to live side-by-side with humans. Dogs living with humans have very few options to regulate their emotional states. Most of these options are considered to be “destructive” and “undesirable”. Dogs can chew, dig, play, fight, bark, climb, chase, and kill without human directives and interaction. Dogs who live in a home, who have been taught what to chew, when to bark, when to play, climb, and chase, are usually considered “well-behaved” and are usually emotionally well regulated animals by our cultural standards. Some dogs are even allowed the privilege of deciding when they want to dig, chew, play, climb, and chase without much interference. These dogs either have more space and make better choices than some of their more structured canine counterparts, or they have more tolerant owners.

In the case of traumatized dogs, it is unusual for an owner to have the consistency, skill, and environment that is necessary to help a dog whose brain has suffered trauma understand the parameters within which these behaviors are acceptable. Even well adjusted dogs often struggle with the strictures society places upon them. It is no surprise then when a dog whose brain is not supplying (or utilizing) hormones and chemical signals simply cannot calm down in a circumstance that has triggered a fight or flight response. Doctors and scientists worldwide understand that during these responses, even humans cannot be expected to reliably respond to direction or other extraneous stimuli. How can we expect this of our dogs? No amount of exercise, friendship, or structure can overcome life-preserving instinct.

In the best of situations, a handler with a traumatized dog would have unlimited time, energy, focus, and patience to help their dog overcome the trauma response. The handler would rarely, if ever, make mistakes. The handler would not have to leave the dog who suffers from separation until the dog had a comprehensive understanding that the handler will ALWAYS return. The handler would never need to approach a frightened dog, nor allow anyone else to approach the dog, until the dog had sufficient history of positive experiences that helped the dog understand with confidence that the handler would never do anything to frighten or harm this dog. The handler of this dog would never react angrily, unhappily, or in any way that the dog perceived as a negative response to ANYTHING the dog might do, no matter how painful, destructive, frightening, or otherwise provocative the dog’s behavior might have been. This handler should have extensive understanding of animal behavior, learning science, and would spend untold hours orchestrating every moment of this dog’s day. Under these circumstances, a severely traumatized dog, with a lot of time, could recover from trauma and live life somewhat comfortably in society.

One day, I hope to see such a harmonious relationship. For now, I live and work in reality. This doesn’t exist. The overwhelming number of dogs in our country necessitates that a large percentage of dogs spend some part of their lives in a shelter, a rescue with less attention than they deserve, or suffering some benign neglect before an age when their brains are sufficiently mature enough to regulate and understand all of the rules they need to learn to live “perfectly” with humans. At best, mistakes are made. At worst, lives are lost. Usually, the result is somewhere in the middle. I won’t begin to detail the number of ways that any animal can suffer trauma or develop an inadequacy in biochemical response. The fact is that it happens. It happens a lot.

When you’ve gotten to a point in your journey with your dog where training just doesn’t seem to be working. You’ve worked with a behaviorist. You’ve spent…money, time, and emotional energy trying to FIX your dog and you feel like you’re not making any progress… Perhaps your behaviorist suggested this route from the outset and you just haven’t done it yet. Perhaps you tried a medication with your dog and that medication seemed to make the problem worse (you’ve heard of anti-depressants making humans suicidal)? Maybe you have ruled out physical pain and you think there are just no avenues left. Maybe this is your first investigation into medication for your dog who is clearly struggling. Remember now that your dog isn’t GIVING you a hard time. Your dog is HAVING a hard time.

If your dog were my friend (and he is), I would encourage you to help him see a doctor who will prescribe some medications that will make his life easier. It may take several tries before you find the right medication. It may take several dosages before you find that balance between “relief” and something that doesn’t quite look like your friend anymore. The balance does exist. Training is SO MUCH EASIER when you’ve found it. There is NO SHAME in getting help for you or your dog. Not everyone’s journey is the same. The medication may not be needed forever. Or maybe that’s just the way your dog is and he needs a little extra support. That’s ok, too. If you need help, we’re always here.