I'm Sparky Smith, a dog psychologist and expert in human change and systems thinking.
Our mission is to keep dogs in homes who might otherwise be surrendered due to complex behavior
issues.
And here's what makes us different.
We know that these issues can't be solved with quick fixes.
They require a science-driven system thinking approach to truly make a difference.
We fill the gap by offering real solutions to dog parents who lack the resources to navigate
these challenges.
We stream everywhere.
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courses all for the price of a Timmy's.
Or for those of you not in Canada, that would be the cost of a small black coffee.
What's in it for you?
The tools, the science, the insights to transform your dog's behavior and create a balanced,
happy home.
Does this guy look like he's managing your dog's stress well?
Not quite right.
That's Conrad, your dog's executive function.
Think of him as a coach on the sidelines who's supposed to keep things under control.
But right now, he's taking a nap.
And when Conrad's not paying attention, guess who's picking up the slack?
That's right, Tom, your dog's emotional responder.
Tom's running around in your dog's brain like mad trying to keep everything together,
but he's overworked and exhausted.
With Tom in overdrive and Conrad snoozing, your dog's reactions go through the roof,
barking, lunging, overreacting to everything.
This chaos, plain and simple.
But here's the good news.
By the end of this episode, we'll explore how recognizing Conrad's state, whether he's
alert or snoozing, can help us give Tom the break he needs.
Once we help Conrad wake up and take the reins, your dog will regain the calm and control they
need.
So stick with me as we talk about how to get Conrad back on track, woken up and bring
balance to your dog's reactions.
In this episode, it might be helpful to have a pen and paper on hand for taking notes.
But if you're driving or on the go, don't worry.
You can always check out the moments list in the episode description to easily revisit
key lessons and instructions later.
Now patrons will benefit from guides supporting this episode.
And if you're interested in supporting this channel, check out our Patreon link below.
Trauma in dogs is complex and varied.
And it doesn't always look the same.
Maybe you've adopted a dog with a troubled past or perhaps a dog has lived through a
stressful environment marked by instability, mental illness or harsh treatment.
In some cases, trauma stems from subtle ongoing dysfunction within the home, leaving your
dog confused and anxious.
But whatever the cause, trauma can profoundly shape your dog's behavior, affecting their
ability to trust, feel safe and interact with the world around them.
Through my work with dog parents, I've seen how trauma unfolds in different ways.
Some dogs becoming hypervigilant, constantly scanning for dangers, where others withdraw
and become distant or fearful of their surroundings.
And sometimes trauma surfaces in unexpected bursts of aggression or extreme anxiety.
These behaviors are not signs of a bad dog.
Their responses to overwhelming experiences that your dog may not have the tools to cope
with.
I'm also see dog parents who are surprised to learn their dog is showing signs of clinical
trauma responses that they just thought were bad behaviors.
Dogs can then feel saddened.
Sometimes they feel guilt, sometimes shame for being misinformed in their approaches
to dog care.
But they can also feel reaffirmed that they are providing a safe home, free of stress
to a dog with a poor past.
Now given what we've just discussed, let me ask you this.
Have you ever wondered if your dog's unexplained behavior could be linked to past trauma rather
than a training issue?
Now, by the end of this episode, you're going to learn how trauma impacts a dog's ecosystem,
how to recognize the signs of trauma and be given an opportunity to have your dog assessed
for potential trauma.
So what is trauma?
Well trauma is any experience that overwhelms a dog's ability to handle stress and it can
come from many sources, whether it's a one-time event or a series of stressful interactions.
The truth is, trauma could be the unseen force at play, reshaping your dog's behaviors in
ways that are difficult to understand, but are crucial to address.
And it's tempting to focus only on the behavior we see, but every aspect of the dog's life
is impacted.
Okay so trauma, again, is any experience that overwhelms a dog's ability to cope.
And it can range from physical harm, like injury or abuse, to emotional harm such as
neglect or abandonment.
While we often think of trauma as a single devastating event, it can also be the result
of smaller but repeated stresses over time.
Research by Souter et al 2016 shows that traumatic experiences can leave a lasting impact on
a dog's behavior and well-being, particularly in breeds that may be more vulnerable.
And to make it even harder, trauma doesn't have a single face.
Some dogs might become overly cautious, refusing to engage or explore while others, you know,
they might exhibit unexpected bursts of biting or growling.
Dogs are similar to children who've experienced trauma in this way, that they may both withdraw
or act out after trauma.
And like children, dogs react to stress based on their individual temperament, history,
and environment.
And I don't mean to draw direct parallels between a child's brain and a dog's brain
because they are different, which I go into later in this episode.
But in some ways, it helps us to recognize that the trauma a dog goes through is similar
to what a child goes through in some ways.
However, unlike children, you know, dogs cannot communicate the complexity of their experiences.
So what makes it so much harder to understand the full scope of their distress?
And let's face it, advanced psychological therapies are not in place like they are for
children.
So we must turn to systems thinking because its power is in taking complex problems and
simplifying them and finding solutions.
And that fits our criteria.
If you remember from episode one, a complex problem or a persistent problem is not one
that's easily solved.
Okay.
So given this, could it be that your dog's unpredictable behavior is actually a sign
of trauma?
Could it be that it's their way of asking you for help, even if they can't communicate
it the way we expect?
What we may be missing when we see their actions as just be bad behavior is the fact that there
could be deep seated trauma.
So now that you know this, what do you think about the idea that your dog's behavior is
a piece of a much larger puzzle?
But trauma impacts everything about a dog.
And to understand it fully, we need to look at the entire system from the cellular level
of a dog to the cultural factors that influence how dogs are treated.
And each level affects the others, creating a complex web of influences that shape a dog's
experience of trauma or recovery.
So let me paint you a picture.
So imagine your dog's life as a puzzle with different pieces coming together.
Let's explore how these interconnected systems work together and shape the resilience of
our dogs to recover and manage unexpected traumatizing events.
And this brings to mind a question.
What happens on a cellular level that could be affecting your dog's trauma response?
So at the most fundamental level, a dog's DNA and biological makeup influence how they
experience trauma.
Genetic predispositions, like traits passed down through generations or through the lineage
of your dog can make some dogs more prone to anxiety and stress.
Genetic changes, which are the changes in gene expression caused by life experiences,
can also make a dog more vulnerable to trauma.
These genetic and cellular factors influence how a dog's brain and body respond to stress
shaping their resilience.
Now think of it this way.
Your dog's genetics act like the foundation of a house.
If there's a crack in the foundation, stress can seep through.
In other words, some dogs are born more likely to be anxious or stressed, and life experiences
can change how their genes act.
So considering this, ask yourself, could your dog's anxiety be hardwired into their genetic
makeup, making them more vulnerable to stress than you realized?
Possibly.
So what's happening inside the brain when trauma occurs?
Let's take a look at the neurobiological system.
A dog's brain structure and nervous system are central to how they process trauma.
Changes in the brain, like overactive stress responses, and here I'm going to direct you
back to Tom, where he's always looking for threats everywhere and where Reggie sends
more and more activations.
Now if you're not familiar with why I'm talking about Tom or Reggie, you really have to look
at episode one, part two, that talks to brain characters and how they function in order for
us to make sense of neuroscience in a much more simple way.
So Reggie, who controls the nervous system and is responsible for the fight or the flight
or the freeze response, which we also call the red and blue pathway, become hyperactive
in traumatized dogs, making them more sensitive to triggers.
These systems are essential to understanding how a dog's resilience to trauma is shaped.
But what happens when Tom becomes overprotective and sees danger when there isn't any?
That's when your dog's reaction might seem unpredictable.
It's really there that their brain tries to shield them from perceived threats.
In simple terms, trauma changes how the brain, Reggie, Tom, Conrad, Viv, work, and it makes
them more sensitive to stress.
With this in mind, have you ever noticed your dog becoming jumpy or overly sensitive?
Maybe their brain might be stuck in an overprotective mode, right?
But it's not just the brain.
Trauma impacts the whole body too.
Let's look at the physiological systems.
The immune system, when a dog is under stress and certainly when they're traumatized, is
weakened, making the dog more vulnerable to illness.
And then there's digestive issues like upset stomachs are common in stress dogs.
I see this all the time in my practice where a dog has multiple problems with their stomach
and their digestive issues.
Then there's cardiovascular health, which can also be effective as chronic stress puts
pressure on the heart.
Then there's hormonal imbalances like elevated cortisol levels, and they are often the result
of prolonged anxiety.
What if I told you trauma even disrupts sleep?
Now this is one often overlooked issue, sleeping difficulties.
Now dogs need around, get this, 15 hours of sleep each day for a healthy brain function.
I mean we struggle with eight, but they need 15.
So when trauma disrupts this, their ability to recover and build resilience is so severely
impacted.
Trauma can make a dog's body sick.
That's the bottom line.
It can cause stomach issues, weak immune systems, stress hormones, and it can disrupt their
sleep.
But now that you have this insight, let me pose a question to you.
Is your dog getting enough sleep or could trauma be keeping them from the rest they
need to recover?
Now I have to talk to you about deep quality sleep because this is where a dog wouldn't
notice you getting up and leaving.
This is where you see them snoring or twitching or having a dream.
This is deep quality sleep.
It's not dozing with one eye open, right?
So as you look at your dog's sleep after this podcast, consider if it is really deep quality
sleep because it's great to measure it because we're always looking at 15 hours of sleep
being the gold standard, but I'm even comfortable with 12.
The thing is, is that many dogs with trauma are not sleeping nearly that much.
Now let's take a step back.
Think about how you feel when you're running on just a couple hours of sleep.
I know for me, I am grumpy and irritable and I can't think.
I can't connect the dots.
So for a dog, it's much worse.
Simply stated, trauma affects how a dog feels and behaves.
They may become scared, aggressive or struggle to learn and or end up becoming sleep deprived.
Now given what we've explored, does your dog behavior make more sense now when you think
about their sleep and emotional state?
Now how does trauma affect your dog's day to day feelings and actions?
So let's explore at a behavioral level what trauma does.
On an individual level, trauma influences how a dog feels, thinks and behaves.
Emotional responses like fear and anxiety and aggression are common.
Cognitive processing is also affected.
Dogs may have trouble learning, remembering or focusing.
Behavioral manifestations like hypervigilance, withdrawal or destructive habits are a direct
result of the emotional and cognitive impact of trauma.
So the next question I have is what role does your household play in your dog's recovery?
Now we're going to dive into family dynamics.
A dog's relationship with their human family and other pets in the home are key to understanding
how trauma develops or heals.
So positive stable interactions can help a dog recover while chaotic or stressful relationships
can worsen trauma.
Changes in the home environment or routine can disrupt a traumatized dog's sense of
safety where inconsistent training approaches amongst family members, harsh training methods
or dominant spaced approaches all can create and worsen trauma.
How well the family recognizes and responds to the dog's trauma symptoms will shape their
recovery journey.
In other words, how the family treats a dog matters.
A calm, loving family can help the dog heal.
So what happens when a traumatized dog steps outside of the home?
Let's look at the social environment.
A dog's trauma doesn't just affect their home life, it also changes how they interact with
the outside world.
Traumaticism becomes a challenge as they may react strongly to new things like dogs, people
or environments.
Traumatized dogs are often hypersensitive to various stimuli like loud noises or sudden
movements.
And I discuss this in a blog on our website dogparentology.com and it's called dog with
sensory processing sensitivities.
So it's like this.
If you could imagine for a moment being in a crowded noisy room with flashing lights,
that's how a traumatized dog feels in everyday settings.
These sensitivities can make it harder for dogs to engage in everyday activities and
interact with others, affecting their social skills and resilience and their quality of
life.
Okay so let's now consider where a traumatized dog lives that would impact their trauma recovery.
The environmental factors.
Where a dog lives plays a big role in their trauma and recovery.
Urban environments with lots of noise and limited space may increase the stress for
dogs.
Well, rural settings might offer peace but also it does introduce new triggers like
unfamiliar animals or environments.
So what do we do?
Well the predictability and safety of a dog's surroundings is crucial.
Traumatized dogs thrive in environments where they feel secure and know what to expect.
So what if I told you that your own stress can affect your dog's recovery because in
urban settings where there's a lot coming at them, your ability to co-regulate will
be key and that means to calm yourself down.
The place a dog lives, whether city or countryside, affects their stress and recovery and so do
you.
That's the bottom line.
A dog's history is critical to understanding their trauma.
Rescue dogs have come from troubled past and being surrendered is a horrendous ordeal for
any sentient being hardwired to be bound to a human being.
If they have witnessed abuse or violence or been abused themselves over time, the level
of trauma increases.
Let me ask you this.
Have you ever considered how your dog's past, even events that you may not know about could
be shaping their behavior today?
Especially if you have an adopted dog where you don't have a lot of history.
So we look at those early life experiences such as poor socialization, neglect or past
traumatic events and they can all have a lasting impact on how a dog handles stress.
The key takeaway here is that a dog's past including their breed, abandonment and early
life shapes how they respond to trauma.
So let's now consider how culture plays a role in treating traumatized dogs.
So cultural attitudes towards dogs vary and these views shape how trauma is understood
and treated.
In some cultures, your dog might be seen as a valued companion while in others, they
might be viewed more as a working animal or property.
These attitudes affect training methods, care practices and even the accessibility of veterinary
and behavioral care.
But while cultural attitudes may differ, it's important to remember that their capacity
to experience trauma and their neurobiological responses to stress are fundamentally the
same everywhere.
And much like a child, psychologically, a culturally sensitive approach is crucial when
considering how to treat traumatized dogs and build their resilience.
Now let's turn our focus to professional support because when we're thinking about trauma,
we may require that.
Veterinary care, behavioral specialists and support systems for dog parents are essential
part of the recovery process.
However, in some cases, especially in Canada, support for traumatized dogs is limited due
to the lack of advanced psychological education for professionals.
Many dog parents struggle to find the right help for dogs and access to trauma-informed
care is scarce.
This lack of support structures for traumatized dogs is one of the reasons this podcast exists
to bridge that gap and provide caregivers with the knowledge they need.
Now in the rest of this episode, we'll offer you a practical tool to gauge trauma in your
dog and help them heal.
So far, we've discussed different systems that can support your dog.
Veterinarians, behaviorists, trainers, but here's something you need to know.
If your dog has experienced trauma, it is certain that their executive function has been impaired.
That means their brain has room for development.
Now this is crucial insight because while we often focus on behavior, the real issue
lies deeper in the brain's ability to regulate emotions, make decisions and control impulses.
And that, if it rings a bell, is Conrad, right?
It's the character that we've introduced as Conrad.
He's the executive function.
And Tom impacts Conrad and how he functions, especially the areas responsible for making
those decisions.
When Conrad is impaired, your dog loses the ability to regulate emotions, control impulses
and adapt to stress.
Trauma forces Tom, the part of the brain responsible for detecting threats, to work overtime, leaving
your dog stuck in a constant state of stress.
The unpredictable behavior you see is a direct result of this neurological imbalance.
What makes this complex is that trauma impacts on Conrad or the executive function can vary
depending on your dog's age, individual resilience and environment.
So some dogs may show subtle signs while others may struggle more visibly.
But make no mistake, trauma affects the brain and specifically the executive function, even
if the signs are hidden or only appear in certain situations.
So what if you long suspected your dog has been traumatized?
And you've had trainers, calming techniques and even medications that have never truly
resolved the issue.
What you can think now is there's something deeper that still hasn't been addressed?
And what if the answer lies within all those system layers we just reviewed?
And what if instead of just treating the symptoms, I could focus on the specific neurological
key that could help heal my dog's trauma for life?
Well that's what's coming up.
So let's just pause for a moment because what we're doing here is urgent.
Dogs are being surrendered every day due to behavior issues that can be solved.
But without the right support, they end up in an overtax system often facing uncertain
futures.
This is where you come in by subscribing, liking or becoming a patron.
You're not just supporting this podcast.
You're actively helping to keep dogs in loving homes.
But first let's determine if your dog could be traumatized by asking what does Conrad
look like when he's impaired?
So trauma often hides behind common behaviors, making it difficult to spot.
The signs can be subtle and easily mistaken for other behavioral issues.
And unlike children who are traumatized and can tell us what's going on, dogs can't.
They can't tell us what they're going through.
So I'm going to give you a series of discernments, things that you can think about before you
look at the signals to determine whether it could be a trauma-based signal.
The first discernment on your part is to ask yourself, have trainers, calming techniques,
or even medication truly resolve the issue?
That's number one.
And if the answer is no, then signs to look for include withdrawal, aggression, or changes
in behavior that were not there before, like new habits.
The second discernment is if you already know your dog came from less than ideal circumstances.
The third is to reflect on circumstances that would not be trauma signals, like pain, or
the normal developmental behaviors of puppies or adolescent dogs, because puppies and adolescent
dogs are maturing and they're trying new things out.
The fourth is to consider if your dogs may be from a working line, especially challenging
when you have a mixed breed.
We don't know which genes are the most powerful in the dog.
However, as dog parents, you must understand that a working line dog, it's not a pet dog.
And in keeping a genetically wired dog who needs to work as a pet is like having an Olympian
on your couch and you say, what do you like to go for a calm walk where all they want
to do is work out hardcore.
Now the fifth discernment is, is it a genetic trait?
And the only way to tell that is if you've met the mother of the dog.
You're looking for behaviors that signify trauma that she's experienced or anxiety that
she may have passed on to the dog.
These are some of the ways to determine potential trauma in your dog.
Okay, so now I'm going to tell you about some of the signs to determine potential trauma
in your dog, but use those five levels of discernment first.
So if you have a dog that's hyper vigilant from the early days of you having your dog,
meaning they're constantly scanning for danger, or they withdraw, they become distant or fearful
of surroundings, unexpected burst of aggression or growling and extreme anxiety.
Despite growing awareness of canine trauma, the current approaches to treatment often
miss the mark because they fail to consider the complexities that occur between a dog's
biological emotional cognitive and environmental factors.
That is why I created the neuro balance wheel, which I'm going to tell you about now.
It's specifically designed to develop Conrad, strengthening your dog's executive function
so they can heal from trauma and relieve Tom from constantly carrying the burden.
By focusing on developing Conrad, you can make the biggest impact on your dog's recovery
and long-term emotional stability.
The neuro balance wheel addresses those underlying neuro biological and emotional dysregulation
that drives these behaviors.
So what's missing from what we have today is a comprehensive systemic gauge for dog
parents that anyone can use regardless of background or circumstances.
Now I'm going to be providing this to you and explaining it to you in the next section.
I just ask that you help out other dog parents by subscribing to your channel, allowing others
to know about us so we can keep dogs in homes.
This is all about you, the dog parent, being given a tool that evaluates not just dogs
outward actions, but the internal processes that shape the ability to recover from trauma.
Let's start with step one, understanding the six key indicators.
Now what you want to do is have your pen and paper ready as we go through these six factors.
With each of these factors, we're going to use a scoring system of one to five, where
one is poor or limited or low and five is great or good or fantastic.
So the first one is impulse control.
The question we ask here is can your dog stop and think before acting or do they react
impulsively?
Two, movement.
Is your dog's movement calm and controlled?
Are they frantic and unpredictable?
Three, ask for assistance.
Does your dog seek help when they're unsure or stressed?
Or do they isolate and try to handle it on their own?
Four, delayed gratification.
Can your dog wait patiently?
Or do they act impulsively when they want something?
Five, working memory.
Does your dog remember what they've just learned?
Or do they frequently forget what you mean by your requests and lessons?
Six, flexibility.
Can your dog adapt to new situations or changes in their routine?
Or do they struggle with anxiety and resistance?
Step two, so now that you have those factors, you're going to observe and evaluate.
So we're going to observe your dog's behavior over a few days or during specific scenarios,
paying attention to how they respond in each area.
Use the one to five scoring system that I mentioned to evaluate each factor.
So as you think about impulse control, does your dog pause before reacting or do they
impulsively bark, lunge or act out?
So one would be like reacts immediately and without thinking where five is they consistently
stop and wait for cues before acting.
Okay, next is movement.
Are your dog's movement smooth and controlled or do they seem anxious, frantic or hyperactive?
So one would be like frantic jittery or excessive movement, where five would be calm, smooth
movements even in a new situation.
Okay, let's look at asking for assistance.
Does your dog look to you for guidance when they're stressed or do they try to handle
it alone or avoid the situation?
One would be isolates like avoids eye contact or does not seek help.
They basically are making decisions on their own.
Five is to consistently seek guidance and reassurance from you.
Okay, delayed gratification.
When your dog wait when they want something like food or attention or do they immediately
act out?
So one would be unable to wait.
They act impulsively when they want something and five, they can wait calmly even when they're
excited.
Okay, let's look at working memory.
Does your dog remember what you mean by a request or a previous lesson or do they often
need repetitive retraining?
So one is could look like that they're frequently confused, that they don't understand.
And five would be that they retain it and apply lessons well.
Okay, let's look at flexibility.
Does your dog adapt to new environments or changes in a routine or do they struggle with
stress and anxiety in new situations?
So one, it's highly, there would be like highly resistant to change and they react with stress
and anxiety.
And five would be adapts well to new environments or changes in routine.
Okay, so step three, what we're going to do is we're going to score each of the indicators.
So once you've observed your dog in each area, you're going to assign a score between
one to five and be honest with your assessment to gain the most accurate understanding of
your dog's current state.
Okay, let's move on to step four, analyze the scores.
Once you've scored each of the six factors, review your dog's results.
Scores of four or five, well your dog is doing well in this area and show signs of recovery
or stability.
And Conrad is there and working well with Tom.
But scores one to three, your dog may be struggling in this area and indicating emotional or neurological
imbalances that need attention.
So look for patterns.
For example, low scores in impulse control and movement may indicate that your dog's
stress responses are still highly reactive.
While low scores in asking for assistance may suggest that your dog is not comfortable
seeking help from you during times of stress.
So you need to work harder on your relationship.
Step five is to create a recovery plan.
Using the results from the neuro balance wheel, you can focus on areas where your dog's dog
scored lower like between one to three.
These are areas where trauma might be affecting your dog most deeply and where you'll want
to focus your efforts.
Step six, reevaluate over time.
So you repeat the neuro balance wheel evaluation every few weeks or months to track your dog's
progress.
Using this tool continually assess the improvements being made and celebrate them.
And you can also identify where additional support is still needed.
So today we've uncovered the deeper reason behind your dog's behavior issue.
How trauma often hides behind common behaviors like aggression or fearfulness or withdrawal.
You've learned how trauma affects everything from your dog's brain and body to their social
interactions and environment.
Most importantly, we've explored the role of the executive function and we've learned
how important it is when we're dealing with a traumatized dog.
The neuro balance wheel was designed specifically to help with building up the executive function
or clonrad as we know it.
And it's designed to rebuild that essential part of your dog's recovery.
Now that you understand the impact of trauma on your dog, you can take steps to evaluate
their behavior using the neuro balance wheel and start building their resilience.
Use the six indicators we've covered today.
Impulse control, movement, asking for assistance, delayed gratification, working memory and
flexibility to get a full picture of where your dog needs support.
And don't forget to reassess over time to track their progress.
As always, your support allows us to continue this work.
Seeing dogs out of shelter and in their homes where they belong.
So if you found this episode helpful, share it with other dog parents, subscribe and like
and consider becoming a patron.
It's very, very easy and that simple act of kindness keeps dogs in homes.
You know, I know this together, we can provide dogs with the tools they need for recovery.
Thank you so much for listening and I look forward to hearing about the progress you
make with your dog.