Latest news with #petbehavior
ABC News
a day ago
- Health
- ABC News
Dogs are increasingly given anti-anxiety drugs for behavioural issues, but do they need them?
Two-and-a-half-year-old rescue dog Mabel is sweet and happy when her owner, veterinarian Amy Lee, is at home. But when Dr Lee is gone, Mabel can be a whole different animal. "She wouldn't eat when I wasn't home. She would bark, she would whimper, she would cry. She sometimes wouldn't toilet," Dr Lee said. "When we went overseas recently, for the first time in her life, she escaped the yard because there was a dog sitter with her and not our family." Now, Mabel is one of many dogs on a medication called fluoxetine — a type of antidepressant sold under the brand name Prozac. For Dr Lee, being able to prescribe fluoxetine for dogs like hers has been "a godsend". While Dr Lee is comfortable with providing anxiety medicines to dogs like Mabel at her clinic in Blacktown, NSW, she said it wasn't suitable for every animal. Dr Lee takes dog owners through one-hour long consultations about their pet's history and behaviours before deciding whether to prescribe medication. But this isn't standard across the veterinarian sector, with some vets only getting a 15-minute appointment to make the decision. This is creating concerns from some in the industry about how many dogs are going onto anti-anxiety medication as a first-line treatment. A study looking at millions of canine medical records in the US from 2010 to 2020 found a 10-fold increase in behavioural problems, and an increase in antidepressant medications. Dr Lee says she's seen an increase in dogs at her clinic with behavioural issues like aggression, separation anxiety as well as problematic behaviours. Although Australia-wide data on use of drug therapies for animals is not recorded by groups like the Australian Veterinary Association, there is evidence that their use is on the rise. Australian pet pharmacy YourPetPA listed fluoxetine on its website as its third "best selling" prescription medication. But Paul McGreevy, a veterinarian and a researcher of animal behaviour at the University of Sydney, said the real issue for the dogs was the management by their owners. "The danger is that pet owners demand a medication to resolve a problem, when the problem is actually them," he said. Dogs, he noted, have different needs and wants to humans, which we struggle to respond to, and instead, we "expect the dogs to adapt to our way of life". "If you want a dog, expect it to do doggy things, and expect it to have doggy needs," Professor McGreevy said. Michelle Rassool, a behavioural veterinarian who works in both general practice and a behavioural clinic, said many owners were at their wits end with their dog's behaviour when they came to her. "The average person gets a dog to have a friend, and they are normally not skilled in behaviour modification," she said. "People should be aware that there are multiple options for intervening in behaviour. Instead, Dr Rassool suggested positive behavioural training, changes to the environment, and changes to what the owners expect from their dog could all help create a better dog-owner relationship. "Is the dog getting enough exercise? Are they fulfilled? "If we've got a dog that's worried about being left alone, we don't just give medication and leave it alone. "Our goals are always to use medication to leverage change and then look at weaning off or reducing where we can." Dr Rassool said training needed to occur long-term to give dogs the best chance not to develop behavioural problems. "Going to a couple of weeks of puppy school is not going to cut the mustard," she said. "Most people should continue to go to — at a minimum — a weekly training session for that dog's first year because there's so much developmental change." Dr Lee noted that using positive reinforcement, rather than negative, was also extremely important to ensure the behaviour didn't become worse. "If you've got a dog and you use either a combination of punishment and positive [reinforcement], or if you use just punishment, you're actually more likely to end up with aggression in your dog," she said. "[Negative reinforcement] will work for a while because the dog doesn't want to be punished, but because they're not solving the underlying emotions it will eventually make the behaviour worse." Getting the balance right between appropriate training and medication can be life or death for dogs. "Behaviour problems are the biggest killer of young dogs," Professor McGreevy said. "Is that because they're they are not medicated correctly? Arguably. But is it possible that they were managed inappropriately to begin with?" Navigating the fine line of when medication might be appropriate is something Dr Lee is very aware of at her clinic. "I've got a patient that I treat now — Stannis — and he's one of my favourites because when he used to come in … he could have been euthanised in a pound somewhere for being unmanageable," she said. Now, although Stannis will likely need ongoing anxiety medication, his owners have also undertaken significant behavioural work, and according to Dr Lee "his quality of life is so great". "Those are the cases that just make your heart so full because you see people who believe in their dogs, and do the work." Check out What the Duck?! presented by Dr Ann Jones to look at our modern dogs and what we've created and subscribe to the podcast for more.
Daily Mail
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Dog trainer breaks down in tears watching 'cruel' owner smack pooch and pin her to the ground - before issuing damning five-word verdict
A dog trainer broke down in tears, watching a 'cruel' owner smack his pooch and pin her to the ground - before issuing a damning five-word verdict. The shocking moment came on a resurfaced episode of It's Me Or The Dog, which sees trainer Victoria Stilwell help dog owners struggling with their pet's behaviour. The show, first aired on Channel 4 in 2005 for three years before a Really reboot in 2021, was inspired by Supernanny, which offers similar help but with children. This particular episode sees British-born Victoria head to assist American couple Joe and Mandy, who are having trouble keeping control of their dog Dakota. An upsetting moment sees Joe strike the dog on her nose and hold her down after she will not stop chasing his broom as he sweeps his patio. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Referring to his pet's behaviour, Joe explains to the camera: 'When Dakota is in the backyard, she kind of makes it miserable if I have to do yard work.' Victoria asks how he would normally try to get the dog to stop - after which he grabs Dakota's collar and turns her on her side so she is lying on the floor, with him holding her down. He says: 'Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.' But the trainer is visibly distressed at his approach, putting her head in her hands: 'When you hold a dog down like that, people think that dog's calming down but actually, the dog's not calmed down at all. 'What they do is they shut down, they learn, instinct tells them they're being put in a compromised position so in order to survive, they shut down.' She could not have been more right - as Joe soon slaps Dakota round the face, after she managed to wriggle free from his grasp and grab the broom in her mouth. As the dog yelps in pain, Victoria winces, with her pre-recorded voiceover saying: 'When Joe gets angry, he slaps her and he doesn't just tap her. 'I heard the connection of his hand to the bone on her nose and it was hard.' She delivers some hard truths to the violent pet owner: 'That's a pretty hard whack. 'It's not so much the hardness of the whack, it's the action of the whack that concerns me. That could actually backfire. 'God forbid one of the children goes to touch her and she just sees this hand coming towards her, thinks back to when she was hit and bang, goes for the hand. 'And I've seen it happen a lot.' After Joe's violent display, it is clear Victoria has a lot of work to do - so she takes them to a dog training centre to introduce them to clicker training. The approach has owners use a clicker every time their dog successfully responds to a command - making the animal associate the noise with a reward. Joe's wife Mandy tries it with almost immediate success, with Dakota responding quickly to her attempts to make her sit and stay using the clicker. But things are not so smooth when Joe tries it out - as the dog flinches even when he tries to reach out to give her a treat. Victoria says: 'She flinched because she's used to you hitting her. When you do that, it just really does not build trust. You get angry when she doesn't respond to you.' The trainer then delivers her damning five-word verdict on his behaviour: 'That's your fault, not hers.' She explained this tough love approach to the couple elsewhere in the programme: 'I see this dog getting blamed for so much negative behaviour you could have prevented. 'It's very, very difficult, when you are correcting a dog, but you haven't actually taught the dog how to behave. So, it's really actually not the dog's fault. 'You brought this dog into your family, it is therefore your responsibility to train this dog to be able to succeed in your family.' Her tough approach finally got Joe to face the truth: 'Dakota doesn't really trust me as well. It's mostly my fault. 'The relationship I've had with the dog is going to take some time to fix.' Alongside the clicker training, Victoria also gets the couple to take Dakota to an agility centre. She explained: 'When you give a dog a sport, not only is it getting rid of all that physical energy and the dog is thinking but also, it's creating a really good bond between you. It's teamwork.' Dakota turned out to be a natural at it, flying around the course after the trainer encouraged Joe and Mandy to give her enthusiastic praise to motivate her. Even Victoria was shocked by the dog's performance: 'That's amazing, that's quite advanced, that's impressive. 'When I came in that first day, there was no praise on this dog but now you're getting that connection and she's just really listening to you.' Joe was a new man after it: 'It made me feel great to see Dakota do so well on the agility course. It would be fun to bring her down and do it together.' And when Victoria returns to visit the family two weeks later, she is able to see all her hard work paying off. At the start of the episode, things had been looking bad, with Joe saying: 'Has it put strain on our marriage? It's just an extra added stress we really don't need. 'We've only had her a year - I've tried to get rid of her twice already. 'I've gotten to the point with Dakota where I've posted her on the Internet while Mandy is at work, to see if I can get rid of her quickly.' But his relationship with Dakota had completely transformed by the end of the episode. Joe and Mandy are seen calmly clicker training their pooch, who is herself noticeably calmer, less agitated and better behaved than before. Dakota is treated less as a problem and more as an active, loved member of the family, with praise lavished on her out on a walk with the kids. Joe is even seen out cycling alone with Dakota, who runs happily alongside him: 'I think Mandy is definitely happy Dakota and I are starting to form a bond. 'I feel like she's become more of my buddy, she's actually becoming my dog now.' Victoria was very happy with their efforts: 'I'm really impressed with the success they're having with Dakota.'
Free Malaysia Today
12-06-2025
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
How bringing home your job stresses can affect your dog
Dogs display behaviours indicative of anxiety when their owners brood over work problems. (Envato Elements pic) PARIS : After a stormy meeting, an urgent job to finish, or tension with a colleague, your dog may greet you as usual when you get home. But something might not feel right: your pet may seem agitated, pace back and forth, and whine softly. Too preoccupied with your work worries, you fail to make the connection: your stress has already contaminated your faithful companion. This scene, experienced by millions of 'dog parents', illustrates the conclusions of a recent study conducted by researchers at Washington State University and published in Scientific Reports. It shows that our dogs feel our work-related stress directly, especially when we struggle to mentally unplug from our preoccupations at work. The researchers surveyed 85 working adults who own dogs. Participants were asked to rate their level of work stress and their tendency to ruminate, and they were asked to rate their pet's stress according to specific behavioral indicators. The results showed that the dogs displayed behaviours indicative of anxiety when their owners brooded over their work problems. However, the study reveals an important nuance: it's not so much the high level of work-related stress that affects the animal but rather this tendency to ruminate – that is, to mentally transport work concerns into the privacy of the home. When we carry our professional worries beyond office hours, we remain tense and distracted. Body language, tone of voice and general behaviour betray this inner tension – signals that dogs pick up with remarkable acuity. Emotional contagion A dog's ability to decode emotional states is explained by a scientifically recognised mechanism: emotional contagion. These four-legged companions are absolute masters in the art of deciphering non-verbal signals, which means they can 'catch' their master's emotions. Dogs excel at reading facial expressions and picking up changes in tone and posture, which makes them highly attuned to their owners' work stress. Aim to spend quality time with your dog by being fully present, without phones or distractions. (Envato Elements pic) This phenomenon goes far beyond simple observation. The animal perceives subtle changes in breathing, gestures or body language, creating a surprising emotional synchronisation with its owner. This extraordinary sensitivity explains why our pets sometimes seem to sense our moods before we are even conscious of them ourselves. In light of this, the study authors suggest a number of ways of shielding animals from this emotional contagion. In particular, they recommend practising mindfulness, through deep-breathing exercises or meditation, to truly leave stress at the office. Establishing end-of-day rituals, such as a short walk or a change of clothes, can also mentally signal that the working day is coming to an end. The idea of spending quality time with your dog by being fully present, without phones or distractions, is another key recommendation. Monitoring your pet's body language and maintaining a calm home environment also help to create a reassuring haven for the animal. Finally, the researchers do not hesitate to suggest seeking professional help if stress becomes unmanageable. Ultimately, this study reminds us of a fundamental truth: our dogs don't know our jobs or our bosses' demands, but they know perfectly well when we're upset or distracted. In spite of themselves, our four-legged companions offer us a lesson in professional wisdom – the importance of leaving work at work.
CNA
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - The Wellness Hour - Decoding your pet's behaviour for caregivers
CNA938 Rewind Play We all love our pets but what happens when they misbehave? Behavioural education is not just for pet owners, but for anyone involved in an animal's daily care. Cheryl Goh speaks with Dr Daphne Ang, Emergency & Critical Care, Clinical resident, Veterinary Behavior, Beecroft Animal Specialist & Emergency Hospital, who shares more about the importance of bridging the gap in behavioural education for a harmonious home. CNA938 Rewind - The Wellness Hour - Decoding your pet's behaviour for caregivers We all love our pets but what happens when they misbehave? Behavioural education is not just for pet owners, but for anyone involved in an animal's daily care. Cheryl Goh speaks with Dr Daphne Ang, Emergency & Critical Care, Clinical resident, Veterinary Behavior, Beecroft Animal Specialist & Emergency Hospital, who shares more about the importance of bridging the gap in behavioural education for a harmonious home. 18 mins CNA938 Rewind - Mind Your Money - From Girl Boss to Girl Moss: Micro-retirements in Gen Z workers 'Micro-Retirements' have become popular with young Gen Z workers, who putting a pause on their careers to pursue personal growth and interests. But what kind of implications does it have on the career trajectory, and how are employers responding? Cheryl Goh speaks with Rohan Sylvester, Talent Strategy Advisor at Indeed on the trend, and how it could impact the future of work. 18 mins CNA938 Rewind - Civic District Children's Season 2025 – An Arts Adventure for Families this June Holiday In 'Destination Anywhere', Melanie Oliveiro finds out where Singaporean children and their parents can go to enjoy free and ticketed programmes at the heart of the Civic District during the June school holidays. Michelle Choy from Arts House Limited will talk about the Civic District Children's Season 2025 and its Little Explorer's Trail which is a self-guided journey of arts discovery across five iconic venues. 16 mins CNA938 Rewind - From Berklee to SG: Ahikaa Arora's Journey Through Song and Self In 'Culture Club', Melanie Oliveiro speaks with Ahikaa Arora, a 25-year-old Singapore-based singer-songwriter and Berklee College of Music scholarship alumna. Arora describes how she blends storytelling with intimate soundscapes – fusing pop, South Asian melodies and alternative music. She'll explain how her song themes include self-discovery, the human experience, and love – highlighting tracks like Providence, Sea Salt Amber, and Masquerade. Arora will also talk about her other job as a voice teacher. 30 mins
Fox News
25-05-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Dog owners who ruminate about work stress may pass anxiety to their pooch: study
If your job has you feeling tense, your dog might be feeling it too. A new study published in Scientific Reports finds that stress from work can affect your dog at home. The research, led by Tanya Mitropoulos and Allison Andrukonis, shows that when dog owners dwell on work problems after hours, a habit known as "work-related rumination," their pets show more signs of stress. Researchers surveyed 85 working dog owners. They measured job stress and how often people kept thinking about work during their free time. Then they asked how stressed owners thought their dogs were and also tracked actual behaviors linked to canine stress, like whining, pacing or restlessness. The study found that owners with higher job stress had dogs who showed more stress-related behaviors. That link stayed strong even when the researchers accounted for other stress in the home. Interestingly, owners didn't always realize their dogs were stressed. It was a pup's behavior that told the story. The big factor driving the connection? Rumination. Owners who mentally took work home were more likely to have stressed-out dogs. Thinking about work off the clock seemed to spread stress from humans to pets. This idea is known as "crossover," when one person's stress spills over to others in a home. Previous research has shown this happens between spouses, and now there's evidence it can happen between people and their pets too. Dogs are especially sensitive to their owners' moods. Scientists call this "emotional contagion," the idea that dogs can pick up on human feelings through tone of voice, body language and other subtle cues. When an owner is distracted or irritable from work stress, the dog notices. Over time, this can affect the dog's well-being. The study also suggests another explanation. When people are focused on work problems, they may become less patient, more distant or less consistent with routines like walks and feeding. That kind of change in care can also increase stress in dogs. The authors point out that Americans overwhelmingly see their pets as part of the family. That makes it even more important to understand how our behavior affects them. In the study's words, "employed dog owners might benefit from avoiding work-related ruminations when at home to protect the well-being of man's best friend." Putting work aside when you walk through the door doesn't just help your own health. It helps your dog, too.
