my pup, about 9 months old, goes to daycare a couple days a week. I'm pretty sure he has ADHD, the trainers tell me he is NON STOP playing and running and just doing something for 5-6 hours straight. He's like that at home as well, but generally a little less after camp. He's always wiggling and wanting to move and just do something, even when you can physically see the tiredness in the eyes. IMO it's not the worst, at least the owner now knows how to work with it and understands its not something he's doing, but rather that she's a special lil gal who just needs some extra love. The hard part about it is trying to find other dogs, especially older ones, that are willing and can actually put up with that extra amount of energy.
I have adhd and just wanted to say adhd isn’t always hyperactivity of the body but can also be or only be hyperactivity of the mind which will lead to severe anxiety as the brain is constantly racing with no end in sight, it gets exhausting but it still doesn’t stop. Amongst many other symptoms. Adhd is also often confused/misdiagnosed with autism as they share a lot of symptoms.
Yeah true. I'm ADHD too. There will be differences tho in presentation of say doggo ADHD vs humans because of different brains, maybe lack of masking, different coping mechanisms idk. Those might affect presentation
True…. I think dogs respond slightly differently to the chemical disorders humans because they are still wired differently than us and are limited in their coping skills. Diet and activity has a known affect on us as they constantly say. Limit caffeine and sugar blah blah up your movement regulate your sleep learn calming techniques. Of course paired with structured education and medications. I’d like to try a diet and as structured set up is possible with a dog. My dogs typically have set meals, exercise, downtime and bedtimes. I wonder if I really changed up the food and activities how what and when would show some sort of affect
I have my first ADHD therapy next week, with a behaviorist, I am existed ,because all theraphy is been helpful, except for taking action, I am still incappable of doing shit hahaha
I train in Arizona and had a dog in for camp I suspected had some sort of doggie Down syndrome. He was a backyard bread German Shepard (coloring was a perfect Black and Tan) but bone structure was off. He had a forehead that made almost a 90 degree angle, a lump on his snout, an arching back and crooked legs. He would forget who his owners son was when the 16 year old came down the stairs and bark and charge at him until he realized who he was. Other times we would just stare into space and quiver. Training helped minimally, we suggested a trip to the vet and to inquire about Prozac. The vet agreed and after about a month of Prozac he came back for another week of training and it was the missing peace. A huge difference, he finally relaxed and became a happy dog
I ❤️ this video and your clients/subscribers. My OCD shadow fixated heeler has been transformed by your “giving him a purpose” backpack recommendation and loose leash walking off property. It was so sad that such an amazing dog could only focus on something unobtainable 24/7. People thought it was funny or cute, but it really wasn’t. Now, the only time he fights shadows is when I’m talking with a group of three or more people and I am able to understand and control it.
Thank you to Joel and to the owner who allowed us to learn about his dog and that dogs can have the same mental frailties as humans do, and that we can deal. I'd like to see the spaniel learn to "settle" herself down. Surely when she outgrows puppyhood settling down will be easier. So much best wishes to the owner!
Sadly - it’s unlikely to change it. ADHD isn’t a puppy/child thing. It will be with them for the rest of their lives. That pup will never get a days break from this. You can alleviate the issues - you’ll never cure them.
@@St0pTh3Insan1ty She'll leave the elevated energy of puppyhood behind, while the elevated energy of her adhd will continue. And there will be ways to help her settle. Every little bit will help.
I have a dog with adhd. He exhausts everyone in the household. We have tried natural calming supplements, exercise etc. He is quick to learn a command or a word but losing focus instantly. He can never stop moving. He can never sit still. Even at rest, he kicks his back legs and gets up multiple times. The only time he sleeps soundly and is calm, is in his kennel. We start training with a professional the beginning of next month but the thought of bringing him in public exhausts me with anxiety. I feel bad because he is a good dog. Very smart, very sweet but he constantly hurts me and others because he is so wild and clumsy. I also have adhd internal hyperactivity. And our adhds clash so bad.😅😭 wish us luck. I hope their is a treatment someday that will help him slow down and focus.
This video explains so much! I’ve always thought that one of my dogs has a form of autism. We jokingly call it Dog-tism. She WANTS to engage with other dogs but she can’t read the room and forever doesn’t know what they are doing. She will watch two other dogs playing as if its totally new to her. Every. Single. Time. She will insert herself like a third wheel, but she doesn’t want any direct attention. She will mirror their play bows in her own weirdly tense way like she’s in her own little world. When one of the dogs finally acknowledges her, she will act surprised at the attention she’s getting and either run away scared or show her teeth, or do other awkward things that make no sense in context of what we are doing. When she DOES play with another dog, her play style is like shes playing Mortal Combat, but doesn’t know how the buttons work so she just randomly presses all the buttons til something cool happens. You can see in her eyes that she truly doesn’t know what’s going on, but at the same time she has a sense that she wants to be involved. Its so odd. It reminds me of the one autistic kid everyone knows in school. People are always telling the kid, “STOP BEING WEIRD!” but the kid is oblivious to what they mean by that and is just kinda frustrated when trying to interact. I realize that on paper this seems like maybe she’s just anxious, but its so much deeper than that. She’s quite socialized (I’ll spare the details of all the work we put in), but I’ve settled on the fact that she will never play normally. I’m happy that she can just exist in the same space as other dogs and doesn’t embarrass me too bad at the dog park, lol. She does quite well with more bossy dogs that will let her follow them or maybe initiate a chase and let her chase them. Oddly, all of this strangeness is JUST with dogs. She is very emotionally connected to me and is totally normal in that regard. Shes very good with her obedience training and her intelligence is on par for her breed. She’s just always going to be in a glass case of emotion when she’s interacting with other dogs. The poor thing just can’t connect. Dog autism IS REAL.
This is an extremely important topic. Humans have become the sickest species on Earth, and so have our domesticated animals. Mental illness in small children is at an all time high & our dog population is catching up to that. There are MANY factors at play, but over the years I have watched this slow decline in mental & physical health (over 30 yrs now) and I finally got it ~12 yrs ago. What we put in their body effects them so much more than people realize. I cannot stress this enough!!! Some thing's you'll just have to live with, yes, but many things can be changed.
Joel, this is pure gold! I've never heard of mental illness in dogs but I suspect that my dog is on the spectrum. I truly believe we are one of the cases of "you've got what you've got".
@@shannon2228 Vaccines dont cause autism that has been disproven and the Doctor that conductied that study got his md liscence removed so you even saying is true. Good vitamins will help, like it will any dog, but it wont remove his autism.
@@may-kh9fo I have a couple of friends that are doctors and they disagree with you! The m m r cause autism in my son in 2004 and I've been doing cleanses ever since and now he is a a b students. And he had mild autism because of the vaccine! I do not care what you say or think because I have proof LOL you go ahead and live in denial and stay in your little box and believe whatever you choose. I will not judge you hugs hugs hugs
Just a thought sometimes diet can help just like in people foods can trigger things not saying cure but could help and good natural supplements. If they eat more species appropriate diet of fresh foods. Love your videos watch all of them.
Totally agree, food greatly impacts mental health in humans so it would in animals too. Also cut out unnecessary vaccines, worming and flea treatments. We are poisoning our animals with food, drugs and household chemicals.
@@nippichaos yeah but that's the way the rich stay rich . That's why no one promotes natural anything it's always this pill this vaccine etc work better than the natural remedies cause those remedies that are natural are usually cheaper .great comment tho you know what you're saying 👍
I had a golden retriever who I got as a puppy. I had the worst time training her beyond "sit" and house breaking was a nightmare. Something just didn't click with her. She eventually got it and successfully passed all of her obedience training and became a AKC canine good citizen and registered therapy dog, but it wasn't until she was about 4 years old that she was able to learn the rest of her obedience training. Just incredibly slow to learn. When she turned about 12, she started having a hard time holding her bladder and obsessively drank water. I took her to the vet, they tested her kidneys, blood tests for various genetic diseases, diabetes; everything came back perfectly normal. The vet diagnosed her as OCD because she could not stop herself from drinking water and spontaneously wetting herself 30 minutes later. I had never believed such neurological issues could be diagnosed in dogs until the vet diagnosed mine with OCD. Thanks for sharing -- very insightful!
This was the video I needed to see. Our pup used to be very much like this. Constantly in motion, constantly harassing our senior dog. She just wouldn't stop. She needs a lot of stimulation. She was also very anxious. I've been working with her and she's come a long way. We've put her in many different situations, acclimating her to the outside world. (She was kept in a garage before we got her.) I've also had to be the boss and step in and teach her what's acceptable and not acceptable behavior. (No harassing Big Brother, for instance.) We've had to be stricter with her than with any of our other pups, but she's responding much better now that we've set some firmer boundaries. She's much calmer now. Hubby and I have said from the beginning that something was off with her. Even as a little puppy she would display neurotic behavior. We've had dogs for 27 years and she has been by far our biggest challenge. And her behavior has been out of character for what we expected from her mix of breeds (golden retriever-lab-great pyrenees mix). Joel's videos have been the only thing getting me through. We were almost ready to give her up because I thought maybe we just weren't the right fit for her needs (which would have broken our hearts), but I kept watching the videos and trying his techniques with her and we persevered. After watching today's video, I truly believe she has adhd. We've got what we've got. And you're right about seeing it in the eyes.... Her eyes are very different when she's in her neurotic state.... Very shifty and even the shape of her eyes change, they narrow and become almond shaped. But, when she's calm her eyes are round and doe-like and sweet. It's the weirdest thing. All in all, the hard work, time and effort are starting to pay off now and we are seeing some wonderful new changes in her. She's our "special" lil pup. Thank you, Joel!
That dog is not a cocker. It's at least a Springer mix. showing very typical Springer behaviour. It needs scent work to occupy it as they are pretty much all very high energy dogs. I suggest you look at Springers working in a field trial. You'd recognise this behaviour.
Agree, this kind of behaviour is quite typical for the hunting dogs, especially when they are young. I have a flatcoat and everyone tells he has ADHD :) So, I wouldn't focus much on the diagnosis. These kind of dogs just require extra efforts on training to stay focused, they indeed need structured exercises like scent work or retrieving.
@@elenakorchounova3141 These dogs need a focused purpose. If the owner is not training the dog to hunt, he could teach it fetch, frisbee games, or go hiking with the dog wearing a doggie backpack carrying a light weight like her own doggie water and bowl.
So very glad you made this video. Amazing information. I did not know dogs could have these mental issues. Thanks. Edit: Thanks to the owners because we are watching to learn.
Thank you Joel and clients, gave me some clarity on things I’ve been questioning in my 12 month old Dane... I’ve called him autistic and sensitive (very empathic too) due to how he reacts to change, extreme and dramatic, (I’ve called him “hot” and compare him to a racehorse foal of the same age, twitchy and flinchy, crawly skin when you touch him)...had and has no desire to be near other dogs even while with his litter, his breeder stated he would just sit back and watch the mayhem and not participate, runt of the litter, brilliant brilliant dog, he would do anything I ask of him and dance on his head if I wanted him to...the reactions are improving with firm No’s and lots and lots of work, and now that thanks to your videos I know a lot was the second fear period just going a bit longer. When he arrived at 7 weeks if I raised my voice he would have melted into the floor, and now if I give a correction collar hold and then into sit he gets that look in his eyes he sits back on his legs like a donkey and his tongue hangs out the side like he left the building, most of the time this revs him up, the firmer i am, the more he “loves” me (still intact male 130 lbs)...I am the object of his OCD like the black dog, he broke collars at 4 months old when left him with a trusted family member and walked away. I “get” him and we “do it”, and make it look like we are normal and it’s a walk in the park LOL, because of the ability “listen”. That and I believe I have ADHD; you know what they say about our dogs being direct manifestations of the human on the other end of the leash right? 😉 His tail is always moving! His whole back end wiggles like a happy pitty butt 🐾💕 Thanks again for this
Awwh that was sweet of Prince to tell her to back off for a bit from the GS. Also raw meet digests slower so they get more tired and letting her run around after eating at home is dangerous because she can get a twisted gut. Also scent games will help her a lot, hiding treats around the house will focus her for awhile and keep her calm for a little bit.
Joel, thanks for the great video. We have a lab that revs very high and is hyperactive, never slows down. Since he was a tiny puppy, he couldn't settle himself. He is sweet, beautiful, whip-smart, looks you in the eye, etc. but can't stop moving. Everyone said " Oh, more exercise!." I have had labs all my life and I knew right away that this dog's high anxiety and constant motion was not normal. After going thru neutering, two very good trainers, lots of exercise, etc. we ended up taking him to a veterinary behaviorist ( a very quickly growing field ) and we are working with this vet specialist, in a combination of anti--anxiety medications, yes, exercise, and relaxation " stay" bed-training. Our vet says he is not technically hyperactivity, b/c he can learn things very quickly....but his is like a high anxiety, brain chemistry type thing. The meds do help and the exercise is a good help, too, but by itself, the exercise didn't calm him. The vet and the vets trainer work with him regularly...... This has been a very frustrating process and sometimes overwhelming. My dog is now 18 months old, and we are having some luck with this, he is calmer and combined with him aging out of puppyhood, he is better, laying down at times, etc. but we are still on the long journey. This doctor is the only one who was able to help us, to see any real difference and he is about 40% calmer. Thank you for showing this video, please do more on this. I do think that there are many dogs like this out there....people don't know where to turn, blame themselves, You are bringing up a topic that really needs more exposure and discussion, so people know what to do. I feel like crying when I read what I just wrote. I want so much for him to be normal. This is very hard and I have a new empathy for people who have troubled kids.
Hi, I just read your comment and my dog is exactly the same. He is now eleven months and it has been an exhausting journey. He is also on medication and is gonna start a different training next month. I was wondering how your dog is doing and if it got any better? Because at this point it us impossible to even leave him unsupervised five minutes.
@@rebecafederici1148 You didn't say what kind of dog you have. I feel for you, 100 percent. My lab dog is 4 years old now, and with medication changes, etc. he IS getting better but its just the last six months. They did increase his meds about 15 month ago, but he is alert, active, just not so anxious. He has calmed down with the meds right away, but he then leveled off at about 60% less crazy. Then, gradually, just this year, as he has turned four, he somewhat calmed down on his own as well. He is crate trained and has to be in his crate when I am gone, which is not often due to my working at home. I have had several trainers but the best guy is a retired k-9 officer, my dog loves him and he is a kind, gentle guy but really knows his stuff with the big dogs. And going on walks, exercise, is important as well, but these crazy dogs need some meds, too, I think. They say, also, that generally, labs slow down at about age 4-5, and I can see some of that happening as well. A lot of k-9 officers open civilian training services when they retire, and I would try to look for someone like that, they know what they are doing and are learning their dog training abilities at the highest and most important levels, saving lives and diffusing danger...Joel Beckman is the one of the two best trainers on the internet, but I am on the other coast, so have no access to him. We got a second lab, a female, last year and she has actually been a good influence on him. Joel says that no one can exercise a dog like another dog, and for this reason, we tried it. It was successful....and they really like each other, she is normal, and he seems to watch her and follow her lead on things... they love to chase around out in the back yard, and its helped him to get more exercise and have companionship.
I'm going through this with my own lab cross now, and I had a friend years ago who had similar issues with her lab-golden cross. I've also seen other comments from lab owners regarding the same- I'm starting to wonder if there is a genetic susceptibility in the breed. Hopefully things are going smoother for you both now!
@@johanna8206 He is better, two years later, he is calmer, but still gets nuts without the medication. I have a second dog now, took a page out of Joel's book, the " helper' dog, a normal yellow lab female and they run and play in the backyard until they are exhausted which is good for both of them. He seems to be copying some of her healthy calmer behavior. I am also more confident with my male dog, probably getting used to him and he is def calming some, but still paces and has trouble settling down. I would say he is better, though, he is four now. I have had labs forever and the labs I had 15-20 years ago, were calm, docile and great dogs from the beginning. So it might be that over-breeding, etc. caused the problems, not sure. I know that my current dogs are yellow field labs, tall legs, more hyper and hunting stock. The calmest ones, from what I hear, are English block-headed labs, they are supposed to be much calmer...I didn't know this at the time.
Our dog was like this when we got her. I honestly thought her brain just didn't know how or when to turn off. When she gets tired, she tends to level up instead of chilling. We have been rewiring her brain with the help of a behaviorist (who was trained by Cesar Millan so I truly do trust her). when I see her starting to spin, I either give her crate rest or give her a job to focus on (such as sitting in one place by me and relaxing - that's been a process becasue of course he wants to get up and chase things that she sees. She's a beagle). It's been insane to see her welcome the chance to turn off. And once I've hit the off switch and I either let her out of the crate or off her spot, nine times out of ten she will just go chill with the other dogs. It's been a crazy amount of work (teaching her to be calm in the crate, stay on her place, etc). I never would have thought it was possible. She needs structure or she just loses her sh**.
How fascinating! Thank you for covering a topic I've never seen covered. I definitely see the difference between the ADHD dog and the others. Your diagnosis seems spot-on.
I have to say i loved that episode, you really do make my youtube experiences fantastic....i am always checking to see when u put up new stuff. We had a dane with mental health issues like if he didnt see u go upstairs he would bark when u came back down. But he made 8 yrs befor heart desease took him so he taught us alot while he lived.
Joel, You are a Breath of Fresh AIR !!! I have LEARNT SO MUCH, in such a short time, Your method’s have already been put into practice, worked IMMEDIATELY, and Angel has ADHD and OCD, BAD !!! Thanks, I’m so Grateful. ☯️☮️😌
If she can focus long enough to take direction, there are probably a lot of handlers that would fall all over themselves to run her in agility. She definitely looks like she needs a sport that will work her brain along with her body. Personally, I love her. 🥰 That being said, my young dog is only half as crazy and she wears me out!
Make everything a game with ADHD dogs. I have an ADHD dog and kids. Also exercise is really critical. But if it's genuine ADHD it's a dopamine uptake deficiency. Cuddle with your dog. Bond with your dog. Play games. Train them often in a way that is rewarding for both of you. Engage them. And yes dog play is important but don't hesitate to interrupt them and tell them to chill out like joel does. It helps them connect the dots
Super interesting Joel. Some friends of mine have a dog that is almost a year old now and its pattern of energy and movements while interacting with people and dogs has had me a little puzzled from a training point of view. After watching this video it certainly makes more sense exactly what might be going on with their dog. Funny I had told them a couple weeks ago (somewhat jokingly) that perhaps there was something not quite normal from a mental perspective but that I was just guessing. Thanks for all the information you provide us viewers Joel. I genuinely appreciate your no nonsense approach.
I have a not-so-bright german shepherd/labrador mix. She "bites" at water and does not chew her food well - causing her to be a higher choke risk. I am a nurse. It wasn't hard for me to notice problems with her, having owned my fair share of dogs - but mostly being a nurse for many years and that experience carries over. She is large - 102 lbs - 14 months old now, big boned and was born with hip dysplasia which could very well shorten her life span. She listens fairly well and adores her German shepherd partner who is 7 months older and pretty hyper, may have a bit of ADHD in him but he handles it well and is maturing slower than other dogs. I do see significant changes for the better in him in the last 2 months. He acted quite young for his behavior - if you know what I mean - wasn't maturing as fast as other dogs his age. He seems to be catching up now. Anyhow, I adore them both and they are great dogs and have a loving home with me for life. She, Maimie - is super sweet and wouldn't hurt a fly. He, Mikey, is very loving but also quite protective of us, so gets extra socializing and training to make sure he behaves, which has been very effective. The huge uptick in human cases since the 1990's will probably correlate to other species. (See "Round-Up and the midwest USA" if you are interested.)
Brilliant. Very informative! My energetic whippet X Jack doesn’t understand when another dog barks aggressively at him, he thinks they want to play, he’ll keep trying to say hello! He’s very smart in other aspects of his life though.
Pretty sure my girl has adhd and ocd overlap. I have never been able to exercise her enough. She’s an Aussie so it’s hard to say but she doesn’t rest like other dogs. We’ve been trying since I got her at 8 weeks and still she gets so over excited she cannot control herself when meeting people or listening always. Good video. Would love to see you training them.
Springer spaniels are often going to be extremely hyperactive when they are young, as a breed trait, but it is highly unusual that it's not using its nose really at all, which I would suggest is a big indicator of neurodivergence here. One of the reasons that they are normally so hyperactive is that they have very sensitive olfactory senses and it's kind of physiologically overstimulating for them by design.
i definitely think you should do more of these! i think i'd also be interested in how to tell if a dog is under-socialized vs if they can't/aren't learning "how to be a dog" from other dogs. autism is often characterized by basically an inability or deficit on our ability to learn how to interact with other people at a young age. so in K-7th grade, us autistics do not know how to be people and we often have to break ourselves learning how to interact with society and people in general at a much older age than our neurotypical peers. where other kids learn how to make friends in first grade, it took me until my twenties to learn how to *talk* to people in an appropriate way. do you see that in dogs as well? where a dog just *isn't* learning those doggy social/behavioral cues no matter how long they spend with other dogs or how many dogs they meet? please do a video on this topic! its interesting to me as a multiply mentally ill person myself!
I love your clearness and putting it all out there. 👏👏 I have a dear childhood friend that is now speaking out loud and clear about her mental illness. No more sweeping mental health under the carpet. She said, “How will people know about mental illness if no one talks about it. Your post reminded me of her. Well done! 👏❤️
Thank you for showing this. I know it sounds mad but we have an 11 week old puppy and I feel she has something like this. I absolutely know that puppies are bat crazy as I have had puppies before. We have another dog who we have had since a puppy and there is just something missing in my new puppy. The main odd thing is that she doesn’t sleep much. She is active all the time. Most puppies are active then nap but she won’t rest. She constantly whines and barks. She has lots of playtime and toys. Crate training in progress but she’s exhausting to watch. She has been vet checked and in perfect health. And she’s absolutely obsessed with food. We have a schedule but if anyone gets any food out of the cupboards she basically screams. (She is not fed human food) she has been wormed a flead etc. her eyes are blank, she looks through you. No affection or love to us. Never known anything like it. I am going to work with a trainer so hopefully she be helped by them.
Thing is - the coffee - would actually slow the dog down. No jokes. The sugar doesn’t do anything - but the caffeine works differently in an ADHD brain.
Thanks for another very interesting video. And a thanks to all the clients who let us learn from their dogs. I have known for some time that dogs can have mental issues. Had a female rottie who would just randomly but suddenly change. I would see it in her eyes. The trainer I took her to didn't believe me until it happened when I went to pick her up from boarding training and he was demonstrating something. Lol...it as an "I told you so" moment for me. We made out ok...I just always was observant of her eyes. She did not become aggressive just very very wilful and stubborn.
I had a JRT/Lakeland cross from age 3 mos til he was 10 yrs old who I am sure was autistic. Didn’t like to be touched, was easily overwhelmed by loud noises, was very unhappy if furniture got moved around, poor social skills and fear aggression issues (until we adopted the right second dog), overstimulated by car rides and would just cower, would retreat under the deck for a half a day if you looked at him funny, etc. After I figured it out, we just adjusted his life and our expectations to accommodate what he could handle. He was never a fun dog to have but became manageable after we assessed him right. My vet was dubious about my assessment but I lived with and observed that dog for 10 yrs and I know what I was seeing on a routine basis in his behavior.
I have a 12 year old shepherd that I have labelled autistic and hyperactive. I describe her as always on. If you pat her she looks away or through you. Any contact is tolerated but she will move away from touch given the chance. The added challenge through her life is that the physical and constant over excitement is complimented with extremely loud yelps and barks. I didn't realise that this was a real condition for dogs. I have treated her like I would a person with the condition for most of her adult life. I have had and trained Great Danes and German shepherds for the past 40 years. Accepting that she is not the norm has given us and her a joyous life. Acceptance and conditioning have been the key to surviving her condition. Finding this video has been a wonderful confirmation that what I suspected, but didn't know was actually real.
Have an English Bulldog that just passed away that was randomly terrified of various things. I strongly felt she was autistic. Extremely king, very gentle, could not adjust to a new environment whatsoever. In doing so she would usually find a corner and cower. She was never beat, never mistreated, and was "fine" if at home but would be randomly frightened of strangers.
I agree with you Joel, I've trained a lot of dogs over the years too and have seen a lot dogs that I may not have a name for it but you know these dogs cannot stop moving, or it's nearly impossible to get any eye contact or connection with and like you said it's just not right or normal.
I have a Spaniel who isn't as bad as this one but he needed mental stimulation and training. He was trained to work going out with the shoot flushing up birds which he needed to do because he needed to use his brain. I found training him to do scent work to earn his food tired him out just as much if not more than physical activity because he would just go and go and go. I see a lot of anxiety in this little dog, she's not getting the desensitisation that she needs, she's not being shown how to direct and use her brain. I hope things get better for her.
Great video. Yes I agree dogs have mental issues. I adopted a jack Russell x with anxiety fear reactive to dogs. I'm sure she has adhd too. I have achd and anxiety so I know the signs. For a year I have worked with Sasha and alot has been knowing what I go through with my boredom, hyperactivity and attention span. This has helped me help her issues. Sasha's reactivity has dropped by 70%, she can socialise in controlled ways with dogs, is very well mannered and separation anxiety has gone. Knowing her short attention span meant modifying training to work with her issues just like when I train and study. I have to learn in a way that stimulates my brain. This is what I do with Sasha. Lots of agility, games that have running , go find, new things all the time. Keep up the great videos
I agree with your training methods but I have to say this dog looks like a typical working Springer spaniel .. they are great drug /bomb detection dogs at airports . The police in the U.K. use them They never stop moving every springer I have known acts very similar to this . 🙂
Interesting you say this. Our Brittany acts like this. But, I think the difference is subtle between super high energy and ADHD. We've had several Brittanys, they all are a bit crazy energetic, seeking novelty, hunting, etc. And, we have land and lot's of entertainment, but one of them is just above the rest in energy and has a bit of that crazy back leg syndrome. Even while running the rear legs will do their own thing and this hasn't changed much as she's become 2 years old. I think she's a bit more calm than this one though, and over time there are subtle changes and improvements.
Disfocus is what you mean instead of autism, autism is when they cannot socialize properly, have trouble comprehending things, usually cannot manage more then one thing at a time, autism is also lack of ability to communicate properly I have autism so i am very knowing of symptoms i could tell you if a dog is autistic or not, its going to be vary rare in dogs How you could identify it in a dog After extensive training the dog does not 1 Socialize normally the dog does not see cues, frequently causes fights, or reacts to nothing or does odd behaviors doing such like a severe awkwardness 2 has trouble doing multiple tricks in a sequence or doing multiple things at once like ignoring a dog and doing a sequence of tricks or doing a sequence of tricks period 3 dog fails to see or listen to cues another dog gives (frequently causing fights due to this) 4 dogs seems to not listen when hyperfocusing on something you dont see at first that is small like a bug or crumb 5 fails to communicate to other dogs or otherwise lacks body language essential being non verbal body language wise in dogs it could be that the dog does not use its tail or body or parts of their body, or they don't use there body period to communicate and instead result to barking whining or over energetic things Autism typically also has adhd and anxiety in people and probably dogs I have both -_- its very exhausting Now no one should be just diagnosing their dogs for no reason it requires symptoms and multiple people's opinions just as it does in real life with humans
So interesting to hear someone actually broach this subject! I do agree 100%. Unfortunately I believe a large amount of this is caused by 💉 injuries. I had a pit mix who changed behaviorally after getting 7 at once at the vet. She became fearful and obsessive on shiny things and water (a LOT of holistic vets link this with the rabies 💉). We did chelation treatments and she improved significantly but was never the same as before. I now have an adolescent who seems completely unable to settle or stop moving anywhere other than his pen area, no matter how much we train or how much exercise he gets. He also gets overstimulated extremely easily and becomes unmanageable at those times. Its a real struggle trying to find a balance. I've had dogs all my life and have never witnessed anything quite like it. I definitely know the difference between a high-energy dog and this, and this is absolutely different. I have noticed across the board all dogs I've known with behavioral issues seem to have food/environmental allergies, wondering if you or anyone else here have noticed the same? I suspect strongly a link to the gut as well. I do believe these dogs can be helped some by a clean, fresh diet, and also wonder about hormonal testing and hair mineral analysis for heavy metals, etc. I'm a firm believer that there's always something that can be done. The science in this area is fairly new, and we certainly don't know everything there is to know about it! I love that you support these owners in keeping and caring for their dogs despite their behavioral difficulties. Just so heartbreaking to see though 💔.
Hi Joel!!! Amazing video!!!! My puppy grew up in a shelter!!! It’s like being an orphanage for people!!! They had her since she was nineteen pounds!!! She was probably taken away from her mom very quickly after she was born! I believe that my dog has ADHD and that’s why she’s so hyper! It’s fine cuz she’s an amazing dog!! She’s friends with Rambo, a neighbor’s German Shepard mix!! Thanks for the amazing video!!! People need to understand that dogs have mental health disabilities just like humans! It affects her behavior every day!!! She loves to play all day and night long!!! She’s wide eyed! 😍🥡🐣🐶🐊🐬🐳
Hey Joel, thanks for speaking on the 'mental disorders' in our precious dogs. There are patterns and lots of similarities to the same disorders in children.
Such a great video, I have a one year old mini schnauzer who was bottle fed, my friend has the brother and he's fine. But mine all I do is work with him never had a dog like this. He goes crazy sometimes gets way to excited at small changes take him on three walks a day, has taking a year for him to learn to walk on leash calm, vet noticed it on first visit gave me meds for it but read up on them, to dangerous. Does get better, but don't think it will ever go away.
I’ve seen that “stare beyond me” look, but it was with a dog who had just woken up. It was creepy, like his body opened its eyes, but he wasn’t home. Then he blinked and he was THERE. Weirdest look ever.
Hey Joel, cool video! OCD in humans is an anxiety disorder. I've experience with dogs with OCD-like symptoms that got a lot better simply by exposing them to the world. The obsessiveness slowly disappeared or at least got better the more secure they felt in their enviroment. Plus: are you going to make a video showing the things you did with the spaniel? I'm curious.
That was very helpful. I am currently dealing with an ADHD cane corso and the behaviour is mirrored of that white dog. Cannot settle, constantly pacing, doenst leave other dogs alone regardless of social cues, attention span is zero, distractions are everything. I feel bad for the owner because this type of behaviour can only be managed but not cured
I need to bring my dog to you. You seem knowledgeable on so many different aspects. My dog seems to have adhd/ocd/anxiety, so training in general is tough for him. He moves nonstop, has giant pupils 24/7, and cannot calm well. He is also attacking our other dog in the house (but only inside, they get along and play fine outside). It is so frustrating and sad to see these dogs who got along fine for 2 years to now be like this.
I think my dog had ADHD. And it was a Pitbull Terrier. I couldn't deal with it. I tried for four years. Then I had a new child come into the home and I just couldn't chance it once he began to act strange. He growled at my wife my son. He peed and pooped in my bed. He literally couldn't sit for 20 seconds straight. It was insane. And his legs did the kick out. I probably would've kept him had the baby not come. But once I saw the aggression I couldn't allow him to stay no matter how much it hurt. Had she got hurt because I wanted to keep a dog I never would've forgave myself. But I'll never buy a puppy from someone that had dog because there dog got pregnant. You are taking a major chance. My new puppy is the same breed. I've has 8 dogs my entire life. And I think this is the smartest puppy I've ever had. 😍😍😍
Going by your description for OCD......obsessession with objects, lights, their tails......I believe now my dog has maybe a low level (if there are levels) of OCD. She is super obsessed with balls (i now use them for training), obsessed with lights such as lazer pointers (for cats) and shiny lights. Sun reflection of your phone, sun reflection off collar or keys, even a FLASHLIGHT!! that i use at night to be able to see her in my yard. I have been using your "POP" method with her and she has calmed down quite a bit. I paid $2500 for a board n train and she came back as a dog more scared than when she went onto the training. I would NOT have done the training if i knew that they used ecollars. Got her as a rescue at about 10 months, i now have Bayleigh, my female American Doberman, under voice command off leash. On leash, i use your techniques and they work with her. Many of her new friends she has made on our travels, have commented how well behaved she is. Bayleigh still needs a LOT of work but you are helping sooooo much!!!!!
The world of veterinary psychopharmacology has come a long way from when I wrote the vet school at NC State 30 years ago. Medications often have a place in helping people with disorders like ADHD or OCD. Some animals also benefit from the combination of medication. lifestyle help (diet, exercise, good sleep habits...), calm training, and behavioral strategies. A difference is people can verbalize what helps or doesn't while we have to interpret behaviors and the way animals communicate.
Thx so much for these distinctions! I like your comment about the ‘extremely unintelligent dog’, that he was probably not noticing it and having a great life. 😂
Your video just solved my concern about my 3-year old American Field Lab who was bred for hunting. She's absolutely, positively ADHD and most likely OCD as well. She can NOT calm her mind, notices every little thing that is out of place in our home or yard, and is in a constant state of motion. Her Dogtor gave me some 100mg Trazadone and said to give her 1-2 of them once or twice a day as needed to calm her. If that doesn't do the trick we can also try Ritalin. Thank you for putting this video together!
Thank you for this video. I really think my dog has adhd. He is a year old and never rests. He runs full force and ricochets off of everything in my house. Training has always been hard because his focus is 0. He also has incredibly high anxiety and frequent loose stools. Every trainer remarks about how lean he is and is all muscle which is odd given he’s a basset hound. He gets the full amounts of suggested dry and wet dog food, plenty of treats, a busy bone every day, and usually meat and fat scraps and I am barely able to keep him at a stable weight.
I would love to watch a video about teaching calmness. Its hands down my biggest challenge w my 1 yr old Aussie right now. We exercise 3 times a day, we do heals and general obedience once to twice a day. But he just has no chill.
Fascinating video. I agree with ADHD and OCD in dogs, not sure about the others. It sounds like that great dane mix (??) you thought had unintelligence/autism might have had brain damage. Interesting topic for sure! I would like to see some studies on it. And, can I just say, you have awesome clients that take the time and resources to get the training for their dogs at your facility! Thanks for the videos!
There is nothing wrong with this dog that I can see. She is very excited in this video especially since she has never met another dog! If you had put here in the backyard with another puppy who wanted to play it would look different. I see her trying to elicit play from these older dogs that do not want to play. This is a hunting breed and they are very trainable and they need a lot of exercise. I would first ask the owner how does he exercise her and for how long? Does he give her a job? also very important! My springer spaniel looked like this when she was this age when she was introduced to a new environment. I walk my dog for an hour every day and play catch where she runs super fast and gets lots of exercise. These hunting dog breeds are very smart and energetic. You need to focus that energy and work with her on training. That is crazy to say this dog has adhd, autism, and OCD. There is nothing wrong with that sweet dog. The owner should have done some research first before getting this breed. She looks like a field springer spaniel to me, just like mine. I do agree that the owner should work on calming her down and teaching her what behavior is acceptable. She will learn if given the opportunity and a job (sniffer dog, agility, playing catch and finding the ball), or hunting.
I don't think it's crazy for the possibility that dogs could have [their form] of neuraldivergence. It'd be a great disservice to sweep it under the rug and say it's normal... should it REALLY be normal for dogs/certain breeds to act like this, especially in the pet population? A reliable gun dog is one thing, but I've met several obsessive dogs, and most of them were spaniels. But I don't want to assume the opposite is true either... It's a severely under studied topic. 😿
This dog, as anyone who has ever owned or worked with working strain Springers is showing absolutely typical behaviours. It absolutely does not have any kind of mental illness. Springers can differentially scent with each nostril and they can scent underwater. They can pick up your scent a mile away. You have put this dog in a pen that has so many new smells plus water and somehow think this is abnormal behaviour? Please don't get dogs that you do not have the energy knowledge or expertise to train. So many Springers are misunderstood and end up being put down out of ignorance. They are beautiful and intelligent ....be prepared to give then a job and they won't let you down.
I diagnosed my lil guy a few days ago w/ adhd. He does great with obedience training, he listens, does everything I ask but he absolutely can not sit still. So I cut him some slack. My pit, no slack. He sits but gets up and re-sits 3 or 4 times, fine, he's doing what he's supposed too. I also give him about an extra foot he can go out in front of us on walks. As long as he's checking in, I'm fine with it. He doesn't get to do whatever he wants but I definitely cut him a lot of slack.
Joel, Any tips on a hyper focused puppy that when outside will focus on anything and everything? Calling them by their name, nudging them won't get any sort of attention. Thanks!
Become more interesting than the environment. Carry a squeeky toy, or a ball, or whatever they love playing with and redirect their attention to you. But it can be tough, because you're always around and that noisy thing over there is new and fascinating.
Oh my goodness! This video just proved my suspicion that my dog has serious ADHD. He's acting exactly like the white dog just even crazier. He's extremely friendly, but he never stops running. Same with his back legs. I can't even pet him without him getting overexcited. My mental health is seriously affected because of him and I'm literally on the edge ready to give up on him. 😭💔
Have to totally agree with Joel's assessment of the dog. I worked as a nurse in mental health in the past, different specialty areas and there's a parallel between canine behavior and humans in my opinion (humble I hope).
Man she is exhausting to watch. And I completely agree about mental disorders. I used to foster a lot and a few have had these issues. Fostered one pup and my 10 year old looked at me and said can dogs have autism? I said yes I believe so. He was a happy, good boy just something was a bit off.
i see the same with my mini poodle. He doesn't stop moving. he's always walking. running, round and round the dinner table. He keeps himself busy with a ball. and he gets stressed if the ball gets stuck under the couch. he humps my female dogs always. he's thin as well. he's happy hyper on walks- i noticed that when he pees he's almost bouncing on his hind legs. i haven't seen him relax- he's pacing through out the night. we've tried a few calming treats but haven't found the perfect one for him yet.
I haven’t listened to much of the book… But I’m listening to your dog is your mirror. He basically describes dogs as electricity building and releasing by finding ways to ground the energy. Some dogs we just need to find their polarity instead of trying to capture the lightning bolt lol like this little lady
I didn't know if dogs could have autism, but have sworn one of my dogs must have it if its possible. He is very intelligent, and not very difficult to train regarding following commands, but he doesn't act like a normal dog. He rarely plays, even as a puppy, and when he does, he has never learned how to play appropriately and snaps his jaws very hard, regardless of the amount of training. Its always too rough, despite attempts to correct it, and the fact that he is a very calm dog. He won't play with other dogs, not even our other dog, never. He also has zero interest in toys, or bones, even the kong toys with food in them. He's calm, low energy, kinda withdrawn, but listens, is house trained, and is obviously intelligent. Its like he just doesn't know what to do when it comes to play and social interaction, especially with other dogs, but he's not aggressive either. It is very similar to what autism can look like in people, high intelligence but with difficulty learning social cues and interaction.
I'd say this dog is fine but would benefit from training based on being rewarded mostlyfor calmness .For a while, take her tons of places and scenarios, for varied lengths of times and only letting activity be small percentage of the experience. Show her just observing is just fine. Also enjoy quieter brain games regularly with her in the home at first then on locations with increasing distractions. These build relationship and tire pooch out. Remain very calm in your leadership and praise of her use excitement sparingly and focus on building a relationship where she follows your emotions as well as instructions. Karen overall's RELAXATION PROTOCOL helped my dog and I get there and I use aspects of it whenever I want to reinforce. Hope this comment helps
This looks a lot like our 7-month old Springer. So. Much. Energy. Super smart and affectionate pup, and we’ve taken great care to socialize her to people and dogs. But holy cow loose leash walking has been a challenge. Progress is slow. And we are active outdoor people who walk her miles a day.
I have a rescue dog, he was diagnosed with Pica, the compulsion, craving or desire to consume things that are not food. I had no idea dogs could have mental health conditions until I was told this. We believe he has some sort of ADHD if u will but haven't checked. It's so hard because even when he's exhausted he won't stop. I feel for him so bad, he's hyperactive, has bad rear legs but I take him for a run before work & bed and he gets a long walk during the day but this dog never stops... It's hard to manage
Is it possible that the dog comes from "working " stock? Seen dogs like this before( border collies,spaniels or other "gun dogs")and they have a large drive to work but have been bought for pet homes and dont have an outlet?
@Libreria Belvedere I have 2 Dobermans presently used to have 3, and have had many more over the years sadly they have all come to me through rescue or rehomed,lovely breed .I also have a setter spaniel cross and a utonagan
Allowing the dog time to decompress immediately after intervals of short training sessions shapes calm behaviours. Quiet time in the crate is important to teach a young dog the difference between work and rest. In his space, the dog will recover from any stresses experienced in learning new skills. We want enthusiast responses of muscle memory, to help condition the dog to succeed through repetition.
For OCD in dogs somehow we have to stop them doing a compulsion - so if it is chasing their tail we need to physically stop them using a crate or leash. Over time the brain readjusts and the compulsion reduces. Exposure no response therapy effectively.
I used to say my dog has ADHD but not to this degree. I remember one time we went running for 4-5 miles and when we were done he was ready for more and I wanted to chill out on the couch. Going camping for a weekend made him mellow for a day after we got home. He also has a quirk where if he had the right kind of stuffed animal or toy, he would suckle it, for hours on end if we let him. Other than his oddities he is a wonderful temperament dog and is totally loyal to his family. I hope these owners can figure out a treatment for their dog to allow it to simmer down.
Yeah that didn't sound like an intelligence issue to me either and the fact that he equated need to do a behavior in a different way (that you learned to consistantly do that way) to extreme inability to think and reason kind of bothered me.
I agree.. with you on ADHD.. I think my rescue is OCD. Maybe proud cut too.. chases his tail and masterbaits when he catches it.. Aussie mix.. cut the long hair off his stub.. helps a little.. I try to correct him but have been unsuccessful in curing that so far.. He also gets weird about lights on the floor.. Thanks for all your videos!
I have a working cocker spanial young dog who has been described by other dog owners as having ADHD. However, when I meet a cocker/springer owner they say I have a super bright and active dog. These dogs are bred to be very busy - when not trained to do a job they will find their own job! Dog in this video appears to need a focus and purpose and leadership.
I had a springer spaniel runt for 14 years. She was a little like this, but was able to calm down after exercise and play. Very trainable and smart. This stuff in the video isn't normal for the breed. Still a cute dog though.
The dog probably gets enough physical exercise from the constant hyperactivity, but probably needs a lot more play time. My dog was very fond of fetching to the point of obsessiveness until her late senior years (goes with the hunting dog breed). Could be this dogs not getting that kind of stimulation. I'm no expert though.
Watching her never stop is exhausting. I feel so badly for her.
my pup, about 9 months old, goes to daycare a couple days a week. I'm pretty sure he has ADHD, the trainers tell me he is NON STOP playing and running and just doing something for 5-6 hours straight. He's like that at home as well, but generally a little less after camp. He's always wiggling and wanting to move and just do something, even when you can physically see the tiredness in the eyes. IMO it's not the worst, at least the owner now knows how to work with it and understands its not something he's doing, but rather that she's a special lil gal who just needs some extra love. The hard part about it is trying to find other dogs, especially older ones, that are willing and can actually put up with that extra amount of energy.
honestly yea. she could barely hold still long enough to let other dogs greet her/smell her
Me too
I feel simply tired just by looking at this dog.
I totally agree with you. Thank you very much for this video.
LMAO
I have adhd and just wanted to say adhd isn’t always hyperactivity of the body but can also be or only be hyperactivity of the mind which will lead to severe anxiety as the brain is constantly racing with no end in sight, it gets exhausting but it still doesn’t stop. Amongst many other symptoms. Adhd is also often confused/misdiagnosed with autism as they share a lot of symptoms.
Yeah true. I'm ADHD too. There will be differences tho in presentation of say doggo ADHD vs humans because of different brains, maybe lack of masking, different coping mechanisms idk. Those might affect presentation
Same here I have ADHD but I am not physically active just active in my brain
Same here I have ADHD but I am not physically active just active in my brain
True…. I think dogs respond slightly differently to the chemical disorders humans because they are still wired differently than us and are limited in their coping skills. Diet and activity has a known affect on us as they constantly say. Limit caffeine and sugar blah blah up your movement regulate your sleep learn calming techniques. Of course paired with structured education and medications. I’d like to try a diet and as structured set up is possible with a dog. My dogs typically have set meals, exercise, downtime and bedtimes. I wonder if I really changed up the food and activities how what and when would show some sort of affect
I have my first ADHD therapy next week, with a behaviorist, I am existed ,because all theraphy is been helpful, except for taking action, I am still incappable of doing shit hahaha
I train in Arizona and had a dog in for camp I suspected had some sort of doggie Down syndrome. He was a backyard bread German Shepard (coloring was a perfect Black and Tan) but bone structure was off. He had a forehead that made almost a 90 degree angle, a lump on his snout, an arching back and crooked legs. He would forget who his owners son was when the 16 year old came down the stairs and bark and charge at him until he realized who he was. Other times we would just stare into space and quiver. Training helped minimally, we suggested a trip to the vet and to inquire about Prozac. The vet agreed and after about a month of Prozac he came back for another week of training and it was the missing peace. A huge difference, he finally relaxed and became a happy dog
David - Wow. That was interesting.
Kudos to the camera person! Good job keeping up with Sage.
I ❤️ this video and your clients/subscribers. My OCD shadow fixated heeler has been transformed by your “giving him a purpose” backpack recommendation and loose leash walking off property. It was so sad that such an amazing dog could only focus on something unobtainable 24/7. People thought it was funny or cute, but it really wasn’t. Now, the only time he fights shadows is when I’m talking with a group of three or more people and I am able to understand and control it.
Thank you to Joel and to the owner who allowed us to learn about his dog and that dogs can have the same mental frailties as humans do, and that we can deal. I'd like to see the spaniel learn to "settle" herself down. Surely when she outgrows puppyhood settling down will be easier. So much best wishes to the owner!
Sadly - it’s unlikely to change it. ADHD isn’t a puppy/child thing. It will be with them for the rest of their lives. That pup will never get a days break from this. You can alleviate the issues - you’ll never cure them.
@@St0pTh3Insan1ty She'll leave the elevated energy of puppyhood behind, while the elevated energy of her adhd will continue. And there will be ways to help her settle. Every little bit will help.
I have a dog with adhd. He exhausts everyone in the household. We have tried natural calming supplements, exercise etc. He is quick to learn a command or a word but losing focus instantly. He can never stop moving. He can never sit still. Even at rest, he kicks his back legs and gets up multiple times. The only time he sleeps soundly and is calm, is in his kennel. We start training with a professional the beginning of next month but the thought of bringing him in public exhausts me with anxiety. I feel bad because he is a good dog. Very smart, very sweet but he constantly hurts me and others because he is so wild and clumsy. I also have adhd internal hyperactivity. And our adhds clash so bad.😅😭 wish us luck. I hope their is a treatment someday that will help him slow down and focus.
This video explains so much! I’ve always thought that one of my dogs has a form of autism. We jokingly call it Dog-tism.
She WANTS to engage with other dogs but she can’t read the room and forever doesn’t know what they are doing. She will watch two other dogs playing as if its totally new to her. Every. Single. Time. She will insert herself like a third wheel, but she doesn’t want any direct attention. She will mirror their play bows in her own weirdly tense way like she’s in her own little world. When one of the dogs finally acknowledges her, she will act surprised at the attention she’s getting and either run away scared or show her teeth, or do other awkward things that make no sense in context of what we are doing. When she DOES play with another dog, her play style is like shes playing Mortal Combat, but doesn’t know how the buttons work so she just randomly presses all the buttons til something cool happens. You can see in her eyes that she truly doesn’t know what’s going on, but at the same time she has a sense that she wants to be involved. Its so odd. It reminds me of the one autistic kid everyone knows in school. People are always telling the kid, “STOP BEING WEIRD!” but the kid is oblivious to what they mean by that and is just kinda frustrated when trying to interact. I realize that on paper this seems like maybe she’s just anxious, but its so much deeper than that. She’s quite socialized (I’ll spare the details of all the work we put in), but I’ve settled on the fact that she will never play normally. I’m happy that she can just exist in the same space as other dogs and doesn’t embarrass me too bad at the dog park, lol. She does quite well with more bossy dogs that will let her follow them or maybe initiate a chase and let her chase them. Oddly, all of this strangeness is JUST with dogs. She is very emotionally connected to me and is totally normal in that regard. Shes very good with her obedience training and her intelligence is on par for her breed. She’s just always going to be in a glass case of emotion when she’s interacting with other dogs. The poor thing just can’t connect. Dog autism IS REAL.
My dad had a pointer just like that; and was in perpetual motion until he died at 17. He was sweet, well trained, and lived for the hunt..
This is an extremely important topic. Humans have become the sickest species on Earth, and so have our domesticated animals. Mental illness in small children is at an all time high & our dog population is catching up to that. There are MANY factors at play, but over the years I have watched this slow decline in mental & physical health (over 30 yrs now) and I finally got it ~12 yrs ago.
What we put in their body effects them so much more than people realize. I cannot stress this enough!!! Some thing's you'll just have to live with, yes, but many things can be changed.
Joel, this is pure gold! I've never heard of mental illness in dogs but I suspect that my dog is on the spectrum. I truly believe we are one of the cases of "you've got what you've got".
Stop all vaccines and give him good vitamins
@@shannon2228 Species appropriate diet is at the top of the list too!
@@shannon2228 Vaccines dont cause autism that has been disproven and the Doctor that conductied that study got his md liscence removed so you even saying is true. Good vitamins will help, like it will any dog, but it wont remove his autism.
@@may-kh9fo I have a couple of friends that are doctors and they disagree with you! The m m r cause autism in my son in 2004 and I've been doing cleanses ever since and now he is a a b students. And he had mild autism because of the vaccine! I do not care what you say or think because I have proof LOL you go ahead and live in denial and stay in your little box and believe whatever you choose. I will not judge you hugs hugs hugs
@@shannon2228 i dont know you but that was a very arrogant reaction..it doesnt hurt to be openminded about other people opinions.
Just a thought sometimes diet can help just like in people foods can trigger things not saying cure but could help and good natural supplements. If they eat more species appropriate diet of fresh foods. Love your videos watch all of them.
You hit the nail on the head with that comment! 100%
Totally agree, food greatly impacts mental health in humans so it would in animals too. Also cut out unnecessary vaccines, worming and flea treatments. We are poisoning our animals with food, drugs and household chemicals.
@@nippichaos yeah but that's the way the rich stay rich . That's why no one promotes natural anything it's always this pill this vaccine etc work better than the natural remedies cause those remedies that are natural are usually cheaper .great comment tho you know what you're saying 👍
Great point
@@bottomherout2357 home brews and wives tales usually can’t trump science lol.
I had a golden retriever who I got as a puppy. I had the worst time training her beyond "sit" and house breaking was a nightmare. Something just didn't click with her. She eventually got it and successfully passed all of her obedience training and became a AKC canine good citizen and registered therapy dog, but it wasn't until she was about 4 years old that she was able to learn the rest of her obedience training. Just incredibly slow to learn. When she turned about 12, she started having a hard time holding her bladder and obsessively drank water. I took her to the vet, they tested her kidneys, blood tests for various genetic diseases, diabetes; everything came back perfectly normal. The vet diagnosed her as OCD because she could not stop herself from drinking water and spontaneously wetting herself 30 minutes later. I had never believed such neurological issues could be diagnosed in dogs until the vet diagnosed mine with OCD. Thanks for sharing -- very insightful!
This was the video I needed to see. Our pup used to be very much like this. Constantly in motion, constantly harassing our senior dog. She just wouldn't stop. She needs a lot of stimulation. She was also very anxious. I've been working with her and she's come a long way. We've put her in many different situations, acclimating her to the outside world. (She was kept in a garage before we got her.) I've also had to be the boss and step in and teach her what's acceptable and not acceptable behavior. (No harassing Big Brother, for instance.) We've had to be stricter with her than with any of our other pups, but she's responding much better now that we've set some firmer boundaries. She's much calmer now. Hubby and I have said from the beginning that something was off with her. Even as a little puppy she would display neurotic behavior. We've had dogs for 27 years and she has been by far our biggest challenge. And her behavior has been out of character for what we expected from her mix of breeds (golden retriever-lab-great pyrenees mix). Joel's videos have been the only thing getting me through. We were almost ready to give her up because I thought maybe we just weren't the right fit for her needs (which would have broken our hearts), but I kept watching the videos and trying his techniques with her and we persevered. After watching today's video, I truly believe she has adhd. We've got what we've got. And you're right about seeing it in the eyes.... Her eyes are very different when she's in her neurotic state.... Very shifty and even the shape of her eyes change, they narrow and become almond shaped. But, when she's calm her eyes are round and doe-like and sweet. It's the weirdest thing.
All in all, the hard work, time and effort are starting to pay off now and we are seeing some wonderful new changes in her. She's our "special" lil pup. Thank you, Joel!
That dog is not a cocker. It's at least a Springer mix. showing very typical Springer behaviour. It needs scent work to occupy it as they are pretty much all very high energy dogs. I suggest you look at Springers working in a field trial. You'd recognise this behaviour.
I’ve had 6 Springer Spaniels. This is typical of their behavior under 2 years of age.
Agree, this kind of behaviour is quite typical for the hunting dogs, especially when they are young. I have a flatcoat and everyone tells he has ADHD :) So, I wouldn't focus much on the diagnosis. These kind of dogs just require extra efforts on training to stay focused, they indeed need structured exercises like scent work or retrieving.
@@elenakorchounova3141 These dogs need a focused purpose. If the owner is not training the dog to hunt, he could teach it fetch, frisbee games, or go hiking with the dog wearing a doggie backpack carrying a light weight like her own doggie water and bowl.
i agree vezza
I agree lol. This guy hasn't got a clue. Looks like a typical UK Springer 🤷 ADHD ? Ahahah ridculous
So very glad you made this video. Amazing information. I did not know dogs could have these mental issues. Thanks. Edit: Thanks to the owners because we are watching to learn.
Thank you Joel and clients, gave me some clarity on things I’ve been questioning in my 12 month old Dane... I’ve called him autistic and sensitive (very empathic too) due to how he reacts to change, extreme and dramatic, (I’ve called him “hot” and compare him to a racehorse foal of the same age, twitchy and flinchy, crawly skin when you touch him)...had and has no desire to be near other dogs even while with his litter, his breeder stated he would just sit back and watch the mayhem and not participate, runt of the litter, brilliant brilliant dog, he would do anything I ask of him and dance on his head if I wanted him to...the reactions are improving with firm No’s and lots and lots of work, and now that thanks to your videos I know a lot was the second fear period just going a bit longer. When he arrived at 7 weeks if I raised my voice he would have melted into the floor, and now if I give a correction collar hold and then into sit he gets that look in his eyes he sits back on his legs like a donkey and his tongue hangs out the side like he left the building, most of the time this revs him up, the firmer i am, the more he “loves” me (still intact male 130 lbs)...I am the object of his OCD like the black dog, he broke collars at 4 months old when left him with a trusted family member and walked away.
I “get” him and we “do it”, and make it look like we are normal and it’s a walk in the park LOL, because of the ability “listen”. That and I believe I have ADHD; you know what they say about our dogs being direct manifestations of the human on the other end of the leash right? 😉
His tail is always moving! His whole back end wiggles like a happy pitty butt 🐾💕
Thanks again for this
Awwh that was sweet of Prince to tell her to back off for a bit from the GS. Also raw meet digests slower so they get more tired and letting her run around after eating at home is dangerous because she can get a twisted gut. Also scent games will help her a lot, hiding treats around the house will focus her for awhile and keep her calm for a little bit.
Joel, thanks for the great video. We have a lab that revs very high and is hyperactive, never slows down. Since he was a tiny puppy, he couldn't settle himself. He is sweet, beautiful, whip-smart, looks you in the eye, etc. but can't stop moving. Everyone said " Oh, more exercise!." I have had labs all my life and I knew right away that this dog's high anxiety and constant motion was not normal. After going thru neutering, two very good trainers, lots of exercise, etc. we ended up taking him to a veterinary behaviorist ( a very quickly growing field ) and we are working with this vet specialist, in a combination of anti--anxiety medications, yes, exercise, and relaxation " stay" bed-training. Our vet says he is not technically hyperactivity, b/c he can learn things very quickly....but his is like a high anxiety, brain chemistry type thing. The meds do help and the exercise is a good help, too, but by itself, the exercise didn't calm him. The vet and the vets trainer work with him regularly......
This has been a very frustrating process and sometimes overwhelming. My dog is now 18 months old, and we are having some luck with this, he is calmer and combined with him aging out of puppyhood, he is better, laying down at times, etc. but we are still on the long journey. This doctor is the only one who was able to help us, to see any real difference and he is about 40% calmer.
Thank you for showing this video, please do more on this. I do think that there are many dogs like this out there....people don't know where to turn, blame themselves, You are bringing up a topic that really needs more exposure and discussion, so people know what to do. I feel like crying when I read what I just wrote. I want so much for him to be normal. This is very hard and I have a new empathy for people who have troubled kids.
Hi, I just read your comment and my dog is exactly the same. He is now eleven months and it has been an exhausting journey. He is also on medication and is gonna start a different training next month. I was wondering how your dog is doing and if it got any better? Because at this point it us impossible to even leave him unsupervised five minutes.
@@rebecafederici1148 You didn't say what kind of dog you have. I feel for you, 100 percent. My lab dog is 4 years old now, and with medication changes, etc. he IS getting better but its just the last six months. They did increase his meds about 15 month ago, but he is alert, active, just not so anxious. He has calmed down with the meds right away, but he then leveled off at about 60% less crazy. Then, gradually, just this year, as he has turned four, he somewhat calmed down on his own as well. He is crate trained and has to be in his crate when I am gone, which is not often due to my working at home. I have had several trainers but the best guy is a retired k-9 officer, my dog loves him and he is a kind, gentle guy but really knows his stuff with the big dogs. And going on walks, exercise, is important as well, but these crazy dogs need some meds, too, I think. They say, also, that generally, labs slow down at about age 4-5, and I can see some of that happening as well. A lot of k-9 officers open civilian training services when they retire, and I would try to look for someone like that, they know what they are doing and are learning their dog training abilities at the highest and most important levels, saving lives and diffusing danger...Joel Beckman is the one of the two best trainers on the internet, but I am on the other coast, so have no access to him. We got a second lab, a female, last year and she has actually been a good influence on him. Joel says that no one can exercise a dog like another dog, and for this reason, we tried it. It was successful....and they really like each other, she is normal, and he seems to watch her and follow her lead on things... they love to chase around out in the back yard, and its helped him to get more exercise and have companionship.
I'm going through this with my own lab cross now, and I had a friend years ago who had similar issues with her lab-golden cross. I've also seen other comments from lab owners regarding the same- I'm starting to wonder if there is a genetic susceptibility in the breed. Hopefully things are going smoother for you both now!
@@johanna8206 He is better, two years later, he is calmer, but still gets nuts without the medication. I have a second dog now, took a page out of Joel's book, the " helper' dog, a normal yellow lab female and they run and play in the backyard until they are exhausted which is good for both of them. He seems to be copying some of her healthy calmer behavior. I am also more confident with my male dog, probably getting used to him and he is def calming some, but still paces and has trouble settling down. I would say he is better, though, he is four now. I have had labs forever and the labs I had 15-20 years ago, were calm, docile and great dogs from the beginning. So it might be that over-breeding, etc. caused the problems, not sure. I know that my current dogs are yellow field labs, tall legs, more hyper and hunting stock. The calmest ones, from what I hear, are English block-headed labs, they are supposed to be much calmer...I didn't know this at the time.
Our dog was like this when we got her. I honestly thought her brain just didn't know how or when to turn off. When she gets tired, she tends to level up instead of chilling. We have been rewiring her brain with the help of a behaviorist (who was trained by Cesar Millan so I truly do trust her). when I see her starting to spin, I either give her crate rest or give her a job to focus on (such as sitting in one place by me and relaxing - that's been a process becasue of course he wants to get up and chase things that she sees. She's a beagle). It's been insane to see her welcome the chance to turn off. And once I've hit the off switch and I either let her out of the crate or off her spot, nine times out of ten she will just go chill with the other dogs. It's been a crazy amount of work (teaching her to be calm in the crate, stay on her place, etc). I never would have thought it was possible. She needs structure or she just loses her sh**.
How fascinating! Thank you for covering a topic I've never seen covered. I definitely see the difference between the ADHD dog and the others. Your diagnosis seems spot-on.
I have to say i loved that episode, you really do make my youtube experiences fantastic....i am always checking to see when u put up new stuff. We had a dane with mental health issues like if he didnt see u go upstairs he would bark when u came back down. But he made 8 yrs befor heart desease took him so he taught us alot while he lived.
Joel, You are a Breath of Fresh AIR !!! I have LEARNT SO MUCH, in such a short time, Your method’s have already been put into practice, worked IMMEDIATELY, and Angel has ADHD and OCD, BAD !!! Thanks, I’m so Grateful. ☯️☮️😌
If she can focus long enough to take direction, there are probably a lot of handlers that would fall all over themselves to run her in agility. She definitely looks like she needs a sport that will work her brain along with her body. Personally, I love her. 🥰 That being said, my young dog is only half as crazy and she wears me out!
Agility 🤗
Make everything a game with ADHD dogs. I have an ADHD dog and kids. Also exercise is really critical. But if it's genuine ADHD it's a dopamine uptake deficiency. Cuddle with your dog. Bond with your dog. Play games. Train them often in a way that is rewarding for both of you. Engage them. And yes dog play is important but don't hesitate to interrupt them and tell them to chill out like joel does. It helps them connect the dots
Something like agility training will be beneficial
I’m exhausted just watching her. Great information I had never heard that dogs could have ADHD. Thank you
Super interesting Joel. Some friends of mine have a dog that is almost a year old now and its pattern of energy and movements while interacting with people and dogs has had me a little puzzled from a training point of view. After watching this video it certainly makes more sense exactly what might be going on with their dog. Funny I had told them a couple weeks ago (somewhat jokingly) that perhaps there was something not quite normal from a mental perspective but that I was just guessing.
Thanks for all the information you provide us viewers Joel. I genuinely appreciate your no nonsense approach.
I have a not-so-bright german shepherd/labrador mix. She "bites" at water and does not chew her food well - causing her to be a higher choke risk. I am a nurse. It wasn't hard for me to notice problems with her, having owned my fair share of dogs - but mostly being a nurse for many years and that experience carries over. She is large - 102 lbs - 14 months old now, big boned and was born with hip dysplasia which could very well shorten her life span. She listens fairly well and adores her German shepherd partner who is 7 months older and pretty hyper, may have a bit of ADHD in him but he handles it well and is maturing slower than other dogs. I do see significant changes for the better in him in the last 2 months. He acted quite young for his behavior - if you know what I mean - wasn't maturing as fast as other dogs his age. He seems to be catching up now. Anyhow, I adore them both and they are great dogs and have a loving home with me for life. She, Maimie - is super sweet and wouldn't hurt a fly. He, Mikey, is very loving but also quite protective of us, so gets extra socializing and training to make sure he behaves, which has been very effective. The huge uptick in human cases since the 1990's will probably correlate to other species. (See "Round-Up and the midwest USA" if you are interested.)
Brilliant. Very informative! My energetic whippet X Jack doesn’t understand when another dog barks aggressively at him, he thinks they want to play, he’ll keep trying to say hello! He’s very smart in other aspects of his life though.
Wonderful content! Never thought about adhd in dogs. Thanks for all of your expertise!
Pretty sure my girl has adhd and ocd overlap. I have never been able to exercise her enough. She’s an Aussie so it’s hard to say but she doesn’t rest like other dogs. We’ve been trying since I got her at 8 weeks and still she gets so over excited she cannot control herself when meeting people or listening always. Good video. Would love to see you training them.
This is an awesome channel on UA-cam! I have learned so much and used these techniques for my dog! Thanks :)
Springer spaniels are often going to be extremely hyperactive when they are young, as a breed trait, but it is highly unusual that it's not using its nose really at all, which I would suggest is a big indicator of neurodivergence here. One of the reasons that they are normally so hyperactive is that they have very sensitive olfactory senses and it's kind of physiologically overstimulating for them by design.
i definitely think you should do more of these! i think i'd also be interested in how to tell if a dog is under-socialized vs if they can't/aren't learning "how to be a dog" from other dogs. autism is often characterized by basically an inability or deficit on our ability to learn how to interact with other people at a young age. so in K-7th grade, us autistics do not know how to be people and we often have to break ourselves learning how to interact with society and people in general at a much older age than our neurotypical peers. where other kids learn how to make friends in first grade, it took me until my twenties to learn how to *talk* to people in an appropriate way.
do you see that in dogs as well? where a dog just *isn't* learning those doggy social/behavioral cues no matter how long they spend with other dogs or how many dogs they meet? please do a video on this topic! its interesting to me as a multiply mentally ill person myself!
I love your clearness and putting it all out there. 👏👏 I have a dear childhood friend that is now speaking out loud and clear about her mental illness. No more sweeping mental health under the carpet. She said, “How will people know about mental illness if no one talks about it. Your post reminded me of her. Well done! 👏❤️
@@User7688.--_ thank you! my openness and honesty about my own mental health struggles is something i'm passionate about!
That dog made me dizzy just watching her on the video - so much energy. Great video and so informative 👍🏽👍🏽
Thank you for showing this. I know it sounds mad but we have an 11 week old puppy and I feel she has something like this. I absolutely know that puppies are bat crazy as I have had puppies before. We have another dog who we have had since a puppy and there is just something missing in my new puppy. The main odd thing is that she doesn’t sleep much. She is active all the time. Most puppies are active then nap but she won’t rest. She constantly whines and barks. She has lots of playtime and toys. Crate training in progress but she’s exhausting to watch. She has been vet checked and in perfect health. And she’s absolutely obsessed with food. We have a schedule but if anyone gets any food out of the cupboards she basically screams. (She is not fed human food) she has been wormed a flead etc. her eyes are blank, she looks through you. No affection or love to us. Never known anything like it. I am going to work with a trainer so hopefully she be helped by them.
Looks like the owner feeds that dog strong black coffee with a quarter cup of sugar every morning. Then Coca-cola and Mountain Dew throughout the day.
Yup
Lmao !
And then meth
@@moisty254 not lolol
Thing is - the coffee - would actually slow the dog down.
No jokes.
The sugar doesn’t do anything - but the caffeine works differently in an ADHD brain.
Thanks for another very interesting video. And a thanks to all the clients who let us learn from their dogs. I have known for some time that dogs can have mental issues. Had a female rottie who would just randomly but suddenly change. I would see it in her eyes. The trainer I took her to didn't believe me until it happened when I went to pick her up from boarding training and he was demonstrating something. Lol...it as an "I told you so" moment for me. We made out ok...I just always was observant of her eyes. She did not become aggressive just very very wilful and stubborn.
I had a JRT/Lakeland cross from age 3 mos til he was 10 yrs old who I am sure was autistic. Didn’t like to be touched, was easily overwhelmed by loud noises, was very unhappy if furniture got moved around, poor social skills and fear aggression issues (until we adopted the right second dog), overstimulated by car rides and would just cower, would retreat under the deck for a half a day if you looked at him funny, etc. After I figured it out, we just adjusted his life and our expectations to accommodate what he could handle. He was never a fun dog to have but became manageable after we assessed him right. My vet was dubious about my assessment but I lived with and observed that dog for 10 yrs and I know what I was seeing on a routine basis in his behavior.
I have a bull terrier much the same, have thought for many years she is on the spectrum .
I have a 12 year old shepherd that I have labelled autistic and hyperactive. I describe her as always on. If you pat her she looks away or through you. Any contact is tolerated but she will move away from touch given the chance. The added challenge through her life is that the physical and constant over excitement is complimented with extremely loud yelps and barks. I didn't realise that this was a real condition for dogs. I have treated her like I would a person with the condition for most of her adult life. I have had and trained Great Danes and German shepherds for the past 40 years. Accepting that she is not the norm has given us and her a joyous life. Acceptance and conditioning have been the key to surviving her condition. Finding this video has been a wonderful confirmation that what I suspected, but didn't know was actually real.
Have an English Bulldog that just passed away that was randomly terrified of various things. I strongly felt she was autistic. Extremely king, very gentle, could not adjust to a new environment whatsoever. In doing so she would usually find a corner and cower. She was never beat, never mistreated, and was "fine" if at home but would be randomly frightened of strangers.
That Spaniel really doesn’t stop, i think leaving food out all day is counter productive
Wow. This was an eye opening video on a number of levels. 🙋🏻♀️Thanks Joel and puppy-owner.
I agree with you Joel, I've trained a lot of dogs over the years too and have seen a lot dogs that I may not have a name for it but you know these dogs cannot stop moving, or it's nearly impossible to get any eye contact or connection with and like you said it's just not right or normal.
I have a Spaniel who isn't as bad as this one but he needed mental stimulation and training. He was trained to work going out with the shoot flushing up birds which he needed to do because he needed to use his brain. I found training him to do scent work to earn his food tired him out just as much if not more than physical activity because he would just go and go and go. I see a lot of anxiety in this little dog, she's not getting the desensitisation that she needs, she's not being shown how to direct and use her brain. I hope things get better for her.
Agreed
Great video. Yes I agree dogs have mental issues. I adopted a jack Russell x with anxiety fear reactive to dogs. I'm sure she has adhd too. I have achd and anxiety so I know the signs. For a year I have worked with Sasha and alot has been knowing what I go through with my boredom, hyperactivity and attention span. This has helped me help her issues. Sasha's reactivity has dropped by 70%, she can socialise in controlled ways with dogs, is very well mannered and separation anxiety has gone. Knowing her short attention span meant modifying training to work with her issues just like when I train and study. I have to learn in a way that stimulates my brain. This is what I do with Sasha. Lots of agility, games that have running , go find, new things all the time. Keep up the great videos
Great video, glad you covered this as not many people do,we definitely have a dog on the spectrum.
Thanks again for the content Joel. And for just doing what you’re doing!
I agree with your training methods but I have to say this dog looks like a typical working Springer spaniel .. they are great drug /bomb detection dogs at airports . The police in the U.K. use them They never stop moving every springer I have known acts very similar to this . 🙂
Interesting you say this. Our Brittany acts like this. But, I think the difference is subtle between super high energy and ADHD. We've had several Brittanys, they all are a bit crazy energetic, seeking novelty, hunting, etc. And, we have land and lot's of entertainment, but one of them is just above the rest in energy and has a bit of that crazy back leg syndrome. Even while running the rear legs will do their own thing and this hasn't changed much as she's become 2 years old. I think she's a bit more calm than this one though, and over time there are subtle changes and improvements.
Disfocus is what you mean instead of autism, autism is when they cannot socialize properly, have trouble comprehending things, usually cannot manage more then one thing at a time, autism is also lack of ability to communicate properly
I have autism so i am very knowing of symptoms i could tell you if a dog is autistic or not, its going to be vary rare in dogs
How you could identify it in a dog
After extensive training the dog does not
1 Socialize normally the dog does not see cues, frequently causes fights, or reacts to nothing or does odd behaviors doing such like a severe awkwardness
2 has trouble doing multiple tricks in a sequence or doing multiple things at once like ignoring a dog and doing a sequence of tricks or doing a sequence of tricks period
3 dog fails to see or listen to cues another dog gives (frequently causing fights due to this)
4 dogs seems to not listen when hyperfocusing on something you dont see at first that is small like a bug or crumb
5 fails to communicate to other dogs or otherwise lacks body language essential being non verbal body language wise in dogs it could be that the dog does not use its tail or body or parts of their body, or they don't use there body period to communicate and instead result to barking whining or over energetic things
Autism typically also has adhd and anxiety in people and probably dogs
I have both -_- its very exhausting
Now no one should be just diagnosing their dogs for no reason it requires symptoms and multiple people's opinions just as it does in real life with humans
So interesting to hear someone actually broach this subject! I do agree 100%. Unfortunately I believe a large amount of this is caused by 💉 injuries. I had a pit mix who changed behaviorally after getting 7 at once at the vet. She became fearful and obsessive on shiny things and water (a LOT of holistic vets link this with the rabies 💉). We did chelation treatments and she improved significantly but was never the same as before. I now have an adolescent who seems completely unable to settle or stop moving anywhere other than his pen area, no matter how much we train or how much exercise he gets. He also gets overstimulated extremely easily and becomes unmanageable at those times. Its a real struggle trying to find a balance. I've had dogs all my life and have never witnessed anything quite like it. I definitely know the difference between a high-energy dog and this, and this is absolutely different.
I have noticed across the board all dogs I've known with behavioral issues seem to have food/environmental allergies, wondering if you or anyone else here have noticed the same? I suspect strongly a link to the gut as well. I do believe these dogs can be helped some by a clean, fresh diet, and also wonder about hormonal testing and hair mineral analysis for heavy metals, etc. I'm a firm believer that there's always something that can be done. The science in this area is fairly new, and we certainly don't know everything there is to know about it! I love that you support these owners in keeping and caring for their dogs despite their behavioral difficulties. Just so heartbreaking to see though 💔.
Hi Joel!!! Amazing video!!!! My puppy grew up in a shelter!!! It’s like being an orphanage for people!!! They had her since she was nineteen pounds!!! She was probably taken away from her mom very quickly after she was born! I believe that my dog has ADHD and that’s why she’s so hyper! It’s fine cuz she’s an amazing dog!! She’s friends with Rambo, a neighbor’s German Shepard mix!! Thanks for the amazing video!!! People need to understand that dogs have mental health disabilities just like humans! It affects her behavior every day!!! She loves to play all day and night long!!! She’s wide eyed! 😍🥡🐣🐶🐊🐬🐳
Hey Joel, thanks for speaking on the 'mental disorders' in our precious dogs. There are patterns and lots of similarities to the same disorders in children.
I have ADD, and it’s a hard life to live, my advice to the owner, just be patient…it sounds like he is .
Such a great video, I have a one year old mini schnauzer who was bottle fed, my friend has the brother and he's fine. But mine all I do is work with him never had a dog like this. He goes crazy sometimes gets way to excited at small changes take him on three walks a day, has taking a year for him to learn to walk on leash calm, vet noticed it on first visit gave me meds for it but read up on them, to dangerous. Does get better, but don't think it will ever go away.
I forgot to add there was a whole bunch of other stuff he did an didnt do...but we loved him for it
Thanku for being who you are👍😊
I’m so glad you decided to address this. Thanks for another great video!🙏
I'm so glad you made this video. My in-laws have a dog just like the one in the video.
so basically ADHD dogs and hyperactive ADHD people are meant for each other. I love it!
me and my dog have adhd. im the only one who understands him! everyone else doesnt like him. but hes my baby
I’ve seen that “stare beyond me” look, but it was with a dog who had just woken up. It was creepy, like his body opened its eyes, but he wasn’t home. Then he blinked and he was THERE. Weirdest look ever.
I have seen it in animals just before crossing rainbow bridge. It's like they left, but the body is still going for a minute or two.
Hey Joel, cool video! OCD in humans is an anxiety disorder. I've experience with dogs with OCD-like symptoms that got a lot better simply by exposing them to the world. The obsessiveness slowly disappeared or at least got better the more secure they felt in their enviroment.
Plus: are you going to make a video showing the things you did with the spaniel? I'm curious.
Me too. Poor shnok…
That was very helpful. I am currently dealing with an ADHD cane corso and the behaviour is mirrored of that white dog. Cannot settle, constantly pacing, doenst leave other dogs alone regardless of social cues, attention span is zero, distractions are everything. I feel bad for the owner because this type of behaviour can only be managed but not cured
I need to bring my dog to you. You seem knowledgeable on so many different aspects. My dog seems to have adhd/ocd/anxiety, so training in general is tough for him. He moves nonstop, has giant pupils 24/7, and cannot calm well. He is also attacking our other dog in the house (but only inside, they get along and play fine outside). It is so frustrating and sad to see these dogs who got along fine for 2 years to now be like this.
I think my dog had ADHD. And it was a Pitbull Terrier. I couldn't deal with it. I tried for four years. Then I had a new child come into the home and I just couldn't chance it once he began to act strange. He growled at my wife my son. He peed and pooped in my bed. He literally couldn't sit for 20 seconds straight. It was insane. And his legs did the kick out. I probably would've kept him had the baby not come. But once I saw the aggression I couldn't allow him to stay no matter how much it hurt. Had she got hurt because I wanted to keep a dog I never would've forgave myself. But I'll never buy a puppy from someone that had dog because there dog got pregnant. You are taking a major chance. My new puppy is the same breed. I've has 8 dogs my entire life. And I think this is the smartest puppy I've ever had. 😍😍😍
Going by your description for OCD......obsessession with objects, lights, their tails......I believe now my dog has maybe a low level (if there are levels) of OCD. She is super obsessed with balls (i now use them for training), obsessed with lights such as lazer pointers (for cats) and shiny lights. Sun reflection of your phone, sun reflection off collar or keys, even a FLASHLIGHT!! that i use at night to be able to see her in my yard. I have been using your "POP" method with her and she has calmed down quite a bit. I paid $2500 for a board n train and she came back as a dog more scared than when she went onto the training. I would NOT have done the training if i knew that they used ecollars.
Got her as a rescue at about 10 months, i now have Bayleigh, my female American Doberman, under voice command off leash. On leash, i use your techniques and they work with her. Many of her new friends she has made on our travels, have commented how well behaved she is. Bayleigh still needs a LOT of work but you are helping sooooo much!!!!!
The world of veterinary psychopharmacology has come a long way from when I wrote the vet school at NC State 30 years ago. Medications often have a place in helping people with disorders like ADHD or OCD. Some animals also benefit from the combination of medication. lifestyle help (diet, exercise, good sleep habits...), calm training, and behavioral strategies. A difference is people can verbalize what helps or doesn't while we have to interpret behaviors and the way animals communicate.
omg, i get tired just watching this dog. but very interesting video and props to the owner for sharing
Thx so much for these distinctions! I like your comment about the ‘extremely unintelligent dog’, that he was probably not noticing it and having a great life. 😂
Your video just solved my concern about my 3-year old American Field Lab who was bred for hunting. She's absolutely, positively ADHD and most likely OCD as well. She can NOT calm her mind, notices every little thing that is out of place in our home or yard, and is in a constant state of motion. Her Dogtor gave me some 100mg Trazadone and said to give her 1-2 of them once or twice a day as needed to calm her. If that doesn't do the trick we can also try Ritalin. Thank you for putting this video together!
Thank you for this video. I really think my dog has adhd. He is a year old and never rests. He runs full force and ricochets off of everything in my house. Training has always been hard because his focus is 0. He also has incredibly high anxiety and frequent loose stools. Every trainer remarks about how lean he is and is all muscle which is odd given he’s a basset hound. He gets the full amounts of suggested dry and wet dog food, plenty of treats, a busy bone every day, and usually meat and fat scraps and I am barely able to keep him at a stable weight.
I would love to watch a video about teaching calmness. Its hands down my biggest challenge w my 1 yr old Aussie right now. We exercise 3 times a day, we do heals and general obedience once to twice a day. But he just has no chill.
Fascinating video. I agree with ADHD and OCD in dogs, not sure about the others. It sounds like that great dane mix (??) you thought had unintelligence/autism might have had brain damage. Interesting topic for sure! I would like to see some studies on it. And, can I just say, you have awesome clients that take the time and resources to get the training for their dogs at your facility! Thanks for the videos!
There is nothing wrong with this dog that I can see. She is very excited in this video especially since she has never met another dog! If you had put here in the backyard with another puppy who wanted to play it would look different. I see her trying to elicit play from these older dogs that do not want to play. This is a hunting breed and they are very trainable and they need a lot of exercise. I would first ask the owner how does he exercise her and for how long? Does he give her a job? also very important! My springer spaniel looked like this when she was this age when she was introduced to a new environment. I walk my dog for an hour every day and play catch where she runs super fast and gets lots of exercise. These hunting dog breeds are very smart and energetic. You need to focus that energy and work with her on training. That is crazy to say this dog has adhd, autism, and OCD. There is nothing wrong with that sweet dog. The owner should have done some research first before getting this breed. She looks like a field springer spaniel to me, just like mine. I do agree that the owner should work on calming her down and teaching her what behavior is acceptable. She will learn if given the opportunity and a job (sniffer dog, agility, playing catch and finding the ball), or hunting.
I don't think it's crazy for the possibility that dogs could have [their form] of neuraldivergence. It'd be a great disservice to sweep it under the rug and say it's normal... should it REALLY be normal for dogs/certain breeds to act like this, especially in the pet population?
A reliable gun dog is one thing, but I've met several obsessive dogs, and most of them were spaniels.
But I don't want to assume the opposite is true either... It's a severely under studied topic. 😿
This dog, as anyone who has ever owned or worked with working strain Springers is showing absolutely typical behaviours. It absolutely does not have any kind of mental illness. Springers can differentially scent with each nostril and they can scent underwater. They can pick up your scent a mile away. You have put this dog in a pen that has so many new smells plus water and somehow think this is abnormal behaviour? Please don't get dogs that you do not have the energy knowledge or expertise to train. So many Springers are misunderstood and end up being put down out of ignorance. They are beautiful and intelligent ....be prepared to give then a job and they won't let you down.
I diagnosed my lil guy a few days ago w/ adhd. He does great with obedience training, he listens, does everything I ask but he absolutely can not sit still. So I cut him some slack. My pit, no slack. He sits but gets up and re-sits 3 or 4 times, fine, he's doing what he's supposed too. I also give him about an extra foot he can go out in front of us on walks. As long as he's checking in, I'm fine with it. He doesn't get to do whatever he wants but I definitely cut him a lot of slack.
Joel,
Any tips on a hyper focused puppy that when outside will focus on anything and everything? Calling them by their name, nudging them won't get any sort of attention.
Thanks!
Become more interesting than the environment. Carry a squeeky toy, or a ball, or whatever they love playing with and redirect their attention to you. But it can be tough, because you're always around and that noisy thing over there is new and fascinating.
I have this same frustrating problem is so disheartening because no matter how much we train there’s no improvement
Oh my goodness! This video just proved my suspicion that my dog has serious ADHD. He's acting exactly like the white dog just even crazier. He's extremely friendly, but he never stops running. Same with his back legs. I can't even pet him without him getting overexcited. My mental health is seriously affected because of him and I'm literally on the edge ready to give up on him. 😭💔
most people are helpful, sure there are very awful people in society but we all know helpful and hurtful people and you kind sir are VERY helpful(:
Have to totally agree with Joel's assessment of the dog. I worked as a nurse in mental health in the past, different specialty areas and there's a parallel between canine behavior and humans in my opinion (humble I hope).
Fantastic topic....thank you!!!!!
Wow! Iam convinced now..shes definitly adhd
Man she is exhausting to watch. And I completely agree about mental disorders. I used to foster a lot and a few have had these issues. Fostered one pup and my 10 year old looked at me and said can dogs have autism? I said yes I believe so. He was a happy, good boy just something was a bit off.
i see the same with my mini poodle. He doesn't stop moving. he's always walking. running, round and round the dinner table. He keeps himself busy with a ball. and he gets stressed if the ball gets stuck under the couch. he humps my female dogs always. he's thin as well. he's happy hyper on walks- i noticed that when he pees he's almost bouncing on his hind legs. i haven't seen him relax- he's pacing through out the night. we've tried a few calming treats but haven't found the perfect one for him yet.
Very interesting the poor GSD must get fed up with never getting a minute to relax
I was thinking the same
I haven’t listened to much of the book… But I’m listening to your dog is your mirror. He basically describes dogs as electricity building and releasing by finding ways to ground the energy. Some dogs we just need to find their polarity instead of trying to capture the lightning bolt lol like this little lady
I didn't know if dogs could have autism, but have sworn one of my dogs must have it if its possible. He is very intelligent, and not very difficult to train regarding following commands, but he doesn't act like a normal dog. He rarely plays, even as a puppy, and when he does, he has never learned how to play appropriately and snaps his jaws very hard, regardless of the amount of training. Its always too rough, despite attempts to correct it, and the fact that he is a very calm dog. He won't play with other dogs, not even our other dog, never. He also has zero interest in toys, or bones, even the kong toys with food in them. He's calm, low energy, kinda withdrawn, but listens, is house trained, and is obviously intelligent. Its like he just doesn't know what to do when it comes to play and social interaction, especially with other dogs, but he's not aggressive either. It is very similar to what autism can look like in people, high intelligence but with difficulty learning social cues and interaction.
Dogs don’t have autism
First! Great videos Joel!
I'd say this dog is fine but would benefit from training based on being rewarded mostlyfor calmness .For a while, take her tons of places and scenarios, for varied lengths of times and only letting activity be small percentage of the experience. Show her just observing is just fine. Also enjoy quieter brain games regularly with her in the home at first then on locations with increasing distractions. These build relationship and tire pooch out. Remain very calm in your leadership and praise of her use excitement sparingly and focus on building a relationship where she follows your emotions as well as instructions. Karen overall's RELAXATION PROTOCOL helped my dog and I get there and I use aspects of it whenever I want to reinforce. Hope this comment helps
This looks a lot like our 7-month old Springer. So. Much. Energy. Super smart and affectionate pup, and we’ve taken great care to socialize her to people and dogs. But holy cow loose leash walking has been a challenge. Progress is slow. And we are active outdoor people who walk her miles a day.
I have a rescue dog, he was diagnosed with Pica, the compulsion, craving or desire to consume things that are not food. I had no idea dogs could have mental health conditions until I was told this. We believe he has some sort of ADHD if u will but haven't checked. It's so hard because even when he's exhausted he won't stop. I feel for him so bad, he's hyperactive, has bad rear legs but I take him for a run before work & bed and he gets a long walk during the day but this dog never stops... It's hard to manage
Is it possible that the dog comes from "working " stock? Seen dogs like this before( border collies,spaniels or other "gun dogs")and they have a large drive to work but have been bought for pet homes and dont have an outlet?
@Libreria Belvedere I have 2 Dobermans presently used to have 3, and have had many more over the years sadly they have all come to me through rescue or rehomed,lovely breed .I also have a setter spaniel cross and a utonagan
Allowing the dog time to decompress immediately after intervals of short training sessions shapes calm behaviours. Quiet time in the crate is important to teach a young dog the difference between work and rest. In his space, the dog will recover from any stresses experienced in learning new skills. We want enthusiast responses of muscle memory, to help condition the dog to succeed through repetition.
For OCD in dogs somehow we have to stop them doing a compulsion - so if it is chasing their tail we need to physically stop them using a crate or leash. Over time the brain readjusts and the compulsion reduces. Exposure no response therapy effectively.
I used to say my dog has ADHD but not to this degree. I remember one time we went running for 4-5 miles and when we were done he was ready for more and I wanted to chill out on the couch. Going camping for a weekend made him mellow for a day after we got home. He also has a quirk where if he had the right kind of stuffed animal or toy, he would suckle it, for hours on end if we let him. Other than his oddities he is a wonderful temperament dog and is totally loyal to his family. I hope these owners can figure out a treatment for their dog to allow it to simmer down.
Not able to drink water could be a fine motor skill deficit in mouth control. This is my thought.
Could be, the dog was super unintelligent in every aspect of his life
Yeah that didn't sound like an intelligence issue to me either and the fact that he equated need to do a behavior in a different way (that you learned to consistantly do that way) to extreme inability to think and reason kind of bothered me.
I agree.. with you on ADHD.. I think my rescue is OCD. Maybe proud cut too.. chases his tail and masterbaits when he catches it.. Aussie mix.. cut the long hair off his stub.. helps a little.. I try to correct him but have been unsuccessful in curing that so far.. He also gets weird about lights on the floor..
Thanks for all your videos!
Thank you this has confirmed my belief about one of my dogs
I have a working cocker spanial young dog who has been described by other dog owners as having ADHD. However, when I meet a cocker/springer owner they say I have a super bright and active dog. These dogs are bred to be very busy - when not trained to do a job they will find their own job! Dog in this video appears to need a focus and purpose and leadership.
I had a springer spaniel runt for 14 years. She was a little like this, but was able to calm down after exercise and play. Very trainable and smart. This stuff in the video isn't normal for the breed. Still a cute dog though.
The dog probably gets enough physical exercise from the constant hyperactivity, but probably needs a lot more play time. My dog was very fond of fetching to the point of obsessiveness until her late senior years (goes with the hunting dog breed). Could be this dogs not getting that kind of stimulation. I'm no expert though.
Such an energetic dog. She would be excellent and excell at rounding up animals on a farm. Doesn't seem to mind doing all that work :)