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I'm Sparky Smith, a dog psychologist and expert in human change and systems thinking.

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Our mission is to keep dogs in homes who might otherwise be surrendered due to complex behavior

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issues.

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And here's what makes us different.

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We know that these issues can't be solved with quick fixes.

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They require a science-driven system thinking approach to truly make a difference.

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We fill the gap by offering real solutions to dog parents who lack the resources to navigate

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these challenges.

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We stream everywhere.

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And for our patrons, those people that support us, we offer guides, infographics and free

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courses all for the price of a Timmy's.

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Or for those of you not in Canada, that would be the cost of a small black coffee.

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What's in it for you?

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The tools, the science, the insights to transform your dog's behavior and create a balanced,

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happy home.

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Does this guy look like he's managing your dog's stress well?

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Not quite right.

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That's Conrad, your dog's executive function.

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Think of him as a coach on the sidelines who's supposed to keep things under control.

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But right now, he's taking a nap.

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And when Conrad's not paying attention, guess who's picking up the slack?

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That's right, Tom, your dog's emotional responder.

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Tom's running around in your dog's brain like mad trying to keep everything together,

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but he's overworked and exhausted.

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With Tom in overdrive and Conrad snoozing, your dog's reactions go through the roof,

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barking, lunging, overreacting to everything.

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This chaos, plain and simple.

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But here's the good news.

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By the end of this episode, we'll explore how recognizing Conrad's state, whether he's

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alert or snoozing, can help us give Tom the break he needs.

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Once we help Conrad wake up and take the reins, your dog will regain the calm and control they

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need.

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So stick with me as we talk about how to get Conrad back on track, woken up and bring

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balance to your dog's reactions.

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In this episode, it might be helpful to have a pen and paper on hand for taking notes.

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But if you're driving or on the go, don't worry.

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You can always check out the moments list in the episode description to easily revisit

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key lessons and instructions later.

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Now patrons will benefit from guides supporting this episode.

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And if you're interested in supporting this channel, check out our Patreon link below.

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Trauma in dogs is complex and varied.

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And it doesn't always look the same.

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Maybe you've adopted a dog with a troubled past or perhaps a dog has lived through a

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stressful environment marked by instability, mental illness or harsh treatment.

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In some cases, trauma stems from subtle ongoing dysfunction within the home, leaving your

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dog confused and anxious.

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But whatever the cause, trauma can profoundly shape your dog's behavior, affecting their

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ability to trust, feel safe and interact with the world around them.

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Through my work with dog parents, I've seen how trauma unfolds in different ways.

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Some dogs becoming hypervigilant, constantly scanning for dangers, where others withdraw

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and become distant or fearful of their surroundings.

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And sometimes trauma surfaces in unexpected bursts of aggression or extreme anxiety.

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These behaviors are not signs of a bad dog.

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Their responses to overwhelming experiences that your dog may not have the tools to cope

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with.

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I'm also see dog parents who are surprised to learn their dog is showing signs of clinical

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trauma responses that they just thought were bad behaviors.

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Dogs can then feel saddened.

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Sometimes they feel guilt, sometimes shame for being misinformed in their approaches

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to dog care.

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But they can also feel reaffirmed that they are providing a safe home, free of stress

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to a dog with a poor past.

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Now given what we've just discussed, let me ask you this.

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Have you ever wondered if your dog's unexplained behavior could be linked to past trauma rather

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than a training issue?

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Now, by the end of this episode, you're going to learn how trauma impacts a dog's ecosystem,

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how to recognize the signs of trauma and be given an opportunity to have your dog assessed

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for potential trauma.

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So what is trauma?

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Well trauma is any experience that overwhelms a dog's ability to handle stress and it can

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come from many sources, whether it's a one-time event or a series of stressful interactions.

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The truth is, trauma could be the unseen force at play, reshaping your dog's behaviors in

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ways that are difficult to understand, but are crucial to address.

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And it's tempting to focus only on the behavior we see, but every aspect of the dog's life

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is impacted.

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Okay so trauma, again, is any experience that overwhelms a dog's ability to cope.

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And it can range from physical harm, like injury or abuse, to emotional harm such as

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neglect or abandonment.

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While we often think of trauma as a single devastating event, it can also be the result

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of smaller but repeated stresses over time.

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Research by Souter et al 2016 shows that traumatic experiences can leave a lasting impact on

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a dog's behavior and well-being, particularly in breeds that may be more vulnerable.

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And to make it even harder, trauma doesn't have a single face.

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Some dogs might become overly cautious, refusing to engage or explore while others, you know,

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they might exhibit unexpected bursts of biting or growling.

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Dogs are similar to children who've experienced trauma in this way, that they may both withdraw

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or act out after trauma.

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And like children, dogs react to stress based on their individual temperament, history,

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and environment.

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And I don't mean to draw direct parallels between a child's brain and a dog's brain

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because they are different, which I go into later in this episode.

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But in some ways, it helps us to recognize that the trauma a dog goes through is similar

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to what a child goes through in some ways.

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However, unlike children, you know, dogs cannot communicate the complexity of their experiences.

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So what makes it so much harder to understand the full scope of their distress?

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And let's face it, advanced psychological therapies are not in place like they are for

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children.

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So we must turn to systems thinking because its power is in taking complex problems and

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simplifying them and finding solutions.

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And that fits our criteria.

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If you remember from episode one, a complex problem or a persistent problem is not one

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that's easily solved.

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Okay.

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So given this, could it be that your dog's unpredictable behavior is actually a sign

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of trauma?

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Could it be that it's their way of asking you for help, even if they can't communicate

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it the way we expect?

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What we may be missing when we see their actions as just be bad behavior is the fact that there

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could be deep seated trauma.

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So now that you know this, what do you think about the idea that your dog's behavior is

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a piece of a much larger puzzle?

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But trauma impacts everything about a dog.

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And to understand it fully, we need to look at the entire system from the cellular level

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of a dog to the cultural factors that influence how dogs are treated.

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And each level affects the others, creating a complex web of influences that shape a dog's

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experience of trauma or recovery.

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So let me paint you a picture.

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So imagine your dog's life as a puzzle with different pieces coming together.

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Let's explore how these interconnected systems work together and shape the resilience of

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our dogs to recover and manage unexpected traumatizing events.

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And this brings to mind a question.

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What happens on a cellular level that could be affecting your dog's trauma response?

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So at the most fundamental level, a dog's DNA and biological makeup influence how they

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experience trauma.

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Genetic predispositions, like traits passed down through generations or through the lineage

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of your dog can make some dogs more prone to anxiety and stress.

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Genetic changes, which are the changes in gene expression caused by life experiences,

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can also make a dog more vulnerable to trauma.

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These genetic and cellular factors influence how a dog's brain and body respond to stress

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shaping their resilience.

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Now think of it this way.

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Your dog's genetics act like the foundation of a house.

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If there's a crack in the foundation, stress can seep through.

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In other words, some dogs are born more likely to be anxious or stressed, and life experiences

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can change how their genes act.

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So considering this, ask yourself, could your dog's anxiety be hardwired into their genetic

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makeup, making them more vulnerable to stress than you realized?

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Possibly.

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So what's happening inside the brain when trauma occurs?

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Let's take a look at the neurobiological system.

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A dog's brain structure and nervous system are central to how they process trauma.

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Changes in the brain, like overactive stress responses, and here I'm going to direct you

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back to Tom, where he's always looking for threats everywhere and where Reggie sends

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more and more activations.

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Now if you're not familiar with why I'm talking about Tom or Reggie, you really have to look

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at episode one, part two, that talks to brain characters and how they function in order for

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us to make sense of neuroscience in a much more simple way.

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So Reggie, who controls the nervous system and is responsible for the fight or the flight

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or the freeze response, which we also call the red and blue pathway, become hyperactive

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in traumatized dogs, making them more sensitive to triggers.

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These systems are essential to understanding how a dog's resilience to trauma is shaped.

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But what happens when Tom becomes overprotective and sees danger when there isn't any?

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That's when your dog's reaction might seem unpredictable.

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It's really there that their brain tries to shield them from perceived threats.

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In simple terms, trauma changes how the brain, Reggie, Tom, Conrad, Viv, work, and it makes

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them more sensitive to stress.

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With this in mind, have you ever noticed your dog becoming jumpy or overly sensitive?

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Maybe their brain might be stuck in an overprotective mode, right?

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But it's not just the brain.

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Trauma impacts the whole body too.

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Let's look at the physiological systems.

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The immune system, when a dog is under stress and certainly when they're traumatized, is

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weakened, making the dog more vulnerable to illness.

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And then there's digestive issues like upset stomachs are common in stress dogs.

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I see this all the time in my practice where a dog has multiple problems with their stomach

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and their digestive issues.

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Then there's cardiovascular health, which can also be effective as chronic stress puts

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pressure on the heart.

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Then there's hormonal imbalances like elevated cortisol levels, and they are often the result

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of prolonged anxiety.

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What if I told you trauma even disrupts sleep?

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Now this is one often overlooked issue, sleeping difficulties.

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Now dogs need around, get this, 15 hours of sleep each day for a healthy brain function.

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I mean we struggle with eight, but they need 15.

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So when trauma disrupts this, their ability to recover and build resilience is so severely

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impacted.

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Trauma can make a dog's body sick.

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That's the bottom line.

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It can cause stomach issues, weak immune systems, stress hormones, and it can disrupt their

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sleep.

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But now that you have this insight, let me pose a question to you.

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Is your dog getting enough sleep or could trauma be keeping them from the rest they

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need to recover?

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Now I have to talk to you about deep quality sleep because this is where a dog wouldn't

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notice you getting up and leaving.

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This is where you see them snoring or twitching or having a dream.

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This is deep quality sleep.

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It's not dozing with one eye open, right?

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So as you look at your dog's sleep after this podcast, consider if it is really deep quality

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sleep because it's great to measure it because we're always looking at 15 hours of sleep

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being the gold standard, but I'm even comfortable with 12.

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The thing is, is that many dogs with trauma are not sleeping nearly that much.

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Now let's take a step back.

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Think about how you feel when you're running on just a couple hours of sleep.

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I know for me, I am grumpy and irritable and I can't think.

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I can't connect the dots.

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So for a dog, it's much worse.

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Simply stated, trauma affects how a dog feels and behaves.

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They may become scared, aggressive or struggle to learn and or end up becoming sleep deprived.

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Now given what we've explored, does your dog behavior make more sense now when you think

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about their sleep and emotional state?

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Now how does trauma affect your dog's day to day feelings and actions?

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So let's explore at a behavioral level what trauma does.

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On an individual level, trauma influences how a dog feels, thinks and behaves.

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Emotional responses like fear and anxiety and aggression are common.

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Cognitive processing is also affected.

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Dogs may have trouble learning, remembering or focusing.

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Behavioral manifestations like hypervigilance, withdrawal or destructive habits are a direct

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result of the emotional and cognitive impact of trauma.

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So the next question I have is what role does your household play in your dog's recovery?

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Now we're going to dive into family dynamics.

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A dog's relationship with their human family and other pets in the home are key to understanding

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how trauma develops or heals.

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So positive stable interactions can help a dog recover while chaotic or stressful relationships

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can worsen trauma.

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Changes in the home environment or routine can disrupt a traumatized dog's sense of

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safety where inconsistent training approaches amongst family members, harsh training methods

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or dominant spaced approaches all can create and worsen trauma.

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How well the family recognizes and responds to the dog's trauma symptoms will shape their

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recovery journey.

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In other words, how the family treats a dog matters.

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A calm, loving family can help the dog heal.

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So what happens when a traumatized dog steps outside of the home?

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Let's look at the social environment.

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A dog's trauma doesn't just affect their home life, it also changes how they interact with

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the outside world.

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Traumaticism becomes a challenge as they may react strongly to new things like dogs, people

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or environments.

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Traumatized dogs are often hypersensitive to various stimuli like loud noises or sudden

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movements.

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And I discuss this in a blog on our website dogparentology.com and it's called dog with

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sensory processing sensitivities.

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So it's like this.

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If you could imagine for a moment being in a crowded noisy room with flashing lights,

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that's how a traumatized dog feels in everyday settings.

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These sensitivities can make it harder for dogs to engage in everyday activities and

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interact with others, affecting their social skills and resilience and their quality of

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life.

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Okay so let's now consider where a traumatized dog lives that would impact their trauma recovery.

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The environmental factors.

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Where a dog lives plays a big role in their trauma and recovery.

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Urban environments with lots of noise and limited space may increase the stress for

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dogs.

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Well, rural settings might offer peace but also it does introduce new triggers like

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unfamiliar animals or environments.

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So what do we do?

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Well the predictability and safety of a dog's surroundings is crucial.

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Traumatized dogs thrive in environments where they feel secure and know what to expect.

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So what if I told you that your own stress can affect your dog's recovery because in

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urban settings where there's a lot coming at them, your ability to co-regulate will

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be key and that means to calm yourself down.

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The place a dog lives, whether city or countryside, affects their stress and recovery and so do

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you.

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That's the bottom line.

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A dog's history is critical to understanding their trauma.

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Rescue dogs have come from troubled past and being surrendered is a horrendous ordeal for

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any sentient being hardwired to be bound to a human being.

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If they have witnessed abuse or violence or been abused themselves over time, the level

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of trauma increases.

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Let me ask you this.

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Have you ever considered how your dog's past, even events that you may not know about could

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be shaping their behavior today?

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Especially if you have an adopted dog where you don't have a lot of history.

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So we look at those early life experiences such as poor socialization, neglect or past

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traumatic events and they can all have a lasting impact on how a dog handles stress.

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The key takeaway here is that a dog's past including their breed, abandonment and early

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life shapes how they respond to trauma.

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So let's now consider how culture plays a role in treating traumatized dogs.

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So cultural attitudes towards dogs vary and these views shape how trauma is understood

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and treated.

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In some cultures, your dog might be seen as a valued companion while in others, they

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might be viewed more as a working animal or property.

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These attitudes affect training methods, care practices and even the accessibility of veterinary

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and behavioral care.

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But while cultural attitudes may differ, it's important to remember that their capacity

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to experience trauma and their neurobiological responses to stress are fundamentally the

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same everywhere.

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And much like a child, psychologically, a culturally sensitive approach is crucial when

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considering how to treat traumatized dogs and build their resilience.

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Now let's turn our focus to professional support because when we're thinking about trauma,

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we may require that.

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Veterinary care, behavioral specialists and support systems for dog parents are essential

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part of the recovery process.

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However, in some cases, especially in Canada, support for traumatized dogs is limited due

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to the lack of advanced psychological education for professionals.

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Many dog parents struggle to find the right help for dogs and access to trauma-informed

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care is scarce.

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This lack of support structures for traumatized dogs is one of the reasons this podcast exists

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to bridge that gap and provide caregivers with the knowledge they need.

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Now in the rest of this episode, we'll offer you a practical tool to gauge trauma in your

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dog and help them heal.

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So far, we've discussed different systems that can support your dog.

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Veterinarians, behaviorists, trainers, but here's something you need to know.

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If your dog has experienced trauma, it is certain that their executive function has been impaired.

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That means their brain has room for development.

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Now this is crucial insight because while we often focus on behavior, the real issue

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lies deeper in the brain's ability to regulate emotions, make decisions and control impulses.

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And that, if it rings a bell, is Conrad, right?

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It's the character that we've introduced as Conrad.

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He's the executive function.

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And Tom impacts Conrad and how he functions, especially the areas responsible for making

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those decisions.

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When Conrad is impaired, your dog loses the ability to regulate emotions, control impulses

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and adapt to stress.

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Trauma forces Tom, the part of the brain responsible for detecting threats, to work overtime, leaving

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your dog stuck in a constant state of stress.

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The unpredictable behavior you see is a direct result of this neurological imbalance.

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What makes this complex is that trauma impacts on Conrad or the executive function can vary

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depending on your dog's age, individual resilience and environment.

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So some dogs may show subtle signs while others may struggle more visibly.

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But make no mistake, trauma affects the brain and specifically the executive function, even

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if the signs are hidden or only appear in certain situations.

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So what if you long suspected your dog has been traumatized?

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And you've had trainers, calming techniques and even medications that have never truly

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resolved the issue.

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What you can think now is there's something deeper that still hasn't been addressed?

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And what if the answer lies within all those system layers we just reviewed?

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And what if instead of just treating the symptoms, I could focus on the specific neurological

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key that could help heal my dog's trauma for life?

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Well that's what's coming up.

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So let's just pause for a moment because what we're doing here is urgent.

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Dogs are being surrendered every day due to behavior issues that can be solved.

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But without the right support, they end up in an overtax system often facing uncertain

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futures.

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This is where you come in by subscribing, liking or becoming a patron.

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You're not just supporting this podcast.

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You're actively helping to keep dogs in loving homes.

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But first let's determine if your dog could be traumatized by asking what does Conrad

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look like when he's impaired?

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So trauma often hides behind common behaviors, making it difficult to spot.

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The signs can be subtle and easily mistaken for other behavioral issues.

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And unlike children who are traumatized and can tell us what's going on, dogs can't.

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They can't tell us what they're going through.

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So I'm going to give you a series of discernments, things that you can think about before you

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look at the signals to determine whether it could be a trauma-based signal.

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The first discernment on your part is to ask yourself, have trainers, calming techniques,

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or even medication truly resolve the issue?

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That's number one.

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And if the answer is no, then signs to look for include withdrawal, aggression, or changes

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in behavior that were not there before, like new habits.

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The second discernment is if you already know your dog came from less than ideal circumstances.

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The third is to reflect on circumstances that would not be trauma signals, like pain, or

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the normal developmental behaviors of puppies or adolescent dogs, because puppies and adolescent

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dogs are maturing and they're trying new things out.

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The fourth is to consider if your dogs may be from a working line, especially challenging

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when you have a mixed breed.

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We don't know which genes are the most powerful in the dog.

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However, as dog parents, you must understand that a working line dog, it's not a pet dog.

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And in keeping a genetically wired dog who needs to work as a pet is like having an Olympian

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on your couch and you say, what do you like to go for a calm walk where all they want

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to do is work out hardcore.

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Now the fifth discernment is, is it a genetic trait?

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And the only way to tell that is if you've met the mother of the dog.

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You're looking for behaviors that signify trauma that she's experienced or anxiety that

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she may have passed on to the dog.

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These are some of the ways to determine potential trauma in your dog.

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Okay, so now I'm going to tell you about some of the signs to determine potential trauma

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in your dog, but use those five levels of discernment first.

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So if you have a dog that's hyper vigilant from the early days of you having your dog,

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meaning they're constantly scanning for danger, or they withdraw, they become distant or fearful

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of surroundings, unexpected burst of aggression or growling and extreme anxiety.

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Despite growing awareness of canine trauma, the current approaches to treatment often

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miss the mark because they fail to consider the complexities that occur between a dog's

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biological emotional cognitive and environmental factors.

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That is why I created the neuro balance wheel, which I'm going to tell you about now.

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It's specifically designed to develop Conrad, strengthening your dog's executive function

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so they can heal from trauma and relieve Tom from constantly carrying the burden.

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By focusing on developing Conrad, you can make the biggest impact on your dog's recovery

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and long-term emotional stability.

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The neuro balance wheel addresses those underlying neuro biological and emotional dysregulation

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that drives these behaviors.

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So what's missing from what we have today is a comprehensive systemic gauge for dog

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parents that anyone can use regardless of background or circumstances.

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Now I'm going to be providing this to you and explaining it to you in the next section.

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I just ask that you help out other dog parents by subscribing to your channel, allowing others

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to know about us so we can keep dogs in homes.

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This is all about you, the dog parent, being given a tool that evaluates not just dogs

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outward actions, but the internal processes that shape the ability to recover from trauma.

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Let's start with step one, understanding the six key indicators.

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Now what you want to do is have your pen and paper ready as we go through these six factors.

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With each of these factors, we're going to use a scoring system of one to five, where

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one is poor or limited or low and five is great or good or fantastic.

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So the first one is impulse control.

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The question we ask here is can your dog stop and think before acting or do they react

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impulsively?

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Two, movement.

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Is your dog's movement calm and controlled?

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Are they frantic and unpredictable?

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Three, ask for assistance.

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Does your dog seek help when they're unsure or stressed?

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Or do they isolate and try to handle it on their own?

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Four, delayed gratification.

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Can your dog wait patiently?

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Or do they act impulsively when they want something?

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Five, working memory.

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Does your dog remember what they've just learned?

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Or do they frequently forget what you mean by your requests and lessons?

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Six, flexibility.

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Can your dog adapt to new situations or changes in their routine?

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Or do they struggle with anxiety and resistance?

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Step two, so now that you have those factors, you're going to observe and evaluate.

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So we're going to observe your dog's behavior over a few days or during specific scenarios,

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paying attention to how they respond in each area.

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Use the one to five scoring system that I mentioned to evaluate each factor.

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So as you think about impulse control, does your dog pause before reacting or do they

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impulsively bark, lunge or act out?

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So one would be like reacts immediately and without thinking where five is they consistently

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stop and wait for cues before acting.

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Okay, next is movement.

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Are your dog's movement smooth and controlled or do they seem anxious, frantic or hyperactive?

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So one would be like frantic jittery or excessive movement, where five would be calm, smooth

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movements even in a new situation.

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Okay, let's look at asking for assistance.

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Does your dog look to you for guidance when they're stressed or do they try to handle

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it alone or avoid the situation?

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One would be isolates like avoids eye contact or does not seek help.

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They basically are making decisions on their own.

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Five is to consistently seek guidance and reassurance from you.

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Okay, delayed gratification.

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When your dog wait when they want something like food or attention or do they immediately

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act out?

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So one would be unable to wait.

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They act impulsively when they want something and five, they can wait calmly even when they're

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excited.

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Okay, let's look at working memory.

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Does your dog remember what you mean by a request or a previous lesson or do they often

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need repetitive retraining?

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So one is could look like that they're frequently confused, that they don't understand.

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And five would be that they retain it and apply lessons well.

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Okay, let's look at flexibility.

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Does your dog adapt to new environments or changes in a routine or do they struggle with

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stress and anxiety in new situations?

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So one, it's highly, there would be like highly resistant to change and they react with stress

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and anxiety.

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And five would be adapts well to new environments or changes in routine.

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Okay, so step three, what we're going to do is we're going to score each of the indicators.

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So once you've observed your dog in each area, you're going to assign a score between

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one to five and be honest with your assessment to gain the most accurate understanding of

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your dog's current state.

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Okay, let's move on to step four, analyze the scores.

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Once you've scored each of the six factors, review your dog's results.

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Scores of four or five, well your dog is doing well in this area and show signs of recovery

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or stability.

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And Conrad is there and working well with Tom.

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But scores one to three, your dog may be struggling in this area and indicating emotional or neurological

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imbalances that need attention.

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So look for patterns.

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For example, low scores in impulse control and movement may indicate that your dog's

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stress responses are still highly reactive.

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While low scores in asking for assistance may suggest that your dog is not comfortable

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seeking help from you during times of stress.

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So you need to work harder on your relationship.

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Step five is to create a recovery plan.

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Using the results from the neuro balance wheel, you can focus on areas where your dog's dog

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scored lower like between one to three.

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These are areas where trauma might be affecting your dog most deeply and where you'll want

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to focus your efforts.

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Step six, reevaluate over time.

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So you repeat the neuro balance wheel evaluation every few weeks or months to track your dog's

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progress.

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Using this tool continually assess the improvements being made and celebrate them.

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And you can also identify where additional support is still needed.

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So today we've uncovered the deeper reason behind your dog's behavior issue.

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How trauma often hides behind common behaviors like aggression or fearfulness or withdrawal.

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You've learned how trauma affects everything from your dog's brain and body to their social

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interactions and environment.

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Most importantly, we've explored the role of the executive function and we've learned

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how important it is when we're dealing with a traumatized dog.

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The neuro balance wheel was designed specifically to help with building up the executive function

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or clonrad as we know it.

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And it's designed to rebuild that essential part of your dog's recovery.

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Now that you understand the impact of trauma on your dog, you can take steps to evaluate

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their behavior using the neuro balance wheel and start building their resilience.

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Use the six indicators we've covered today.

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Impulse control, movement, asking for assistance, delayed gratification, working memory and

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flexibility to get a full picture of where your dog needs support.

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And don't forget to reassess over time to track their progress.

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As always, your support allows us to continue this work.

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Seeing dogs out of shelter and in their homes where they belong.

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So if you found this episode helpful, share it with other dog parents, subscribe and like

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00:35:59,960 --> 00:36:01,680
and consider becoming a patron.

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It's very, very easy and that simple act of kindness keeps dogs in homes.

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You know, I know this together, we can provide dogs with the tools they need for recovery.

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Thank you so much for listening and I look forward to hearing about the progress you

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make with your dog.