IF your pooch is too hyper or refuses to listen, vets say they could be displaying ADHD-like behaviour.
Dogs aren’t formally diagnosed with human ADHD, however, experts say they could be hyperactive in the same way.
All 12 signs of ADHD in dogs:
- Refuses to stay put when told to stay
- Can’t stop fidgeting
- Runs around and plays excessively
- Gets jumpy and is difficult to control on walks
- Struggles to learn tricks and commands
- Gets distracted easily
- Has trouble focusing
- Can be unusually fearful
- Can be aggressive
- Engages in compulsive behaviours
- Eats non-food objects
- Goes to the toilet inside the house or in inappropriate places
Dr Guy Sandelowsky, founder of OMNI Pet Limited, said some dogs can display “behaviours that look remarkably similar to some of the features associated with ADHD in people”.
These behaviours are usually described as hyperactivity, hyperkinesis or impulsivity.
Signs can include constantly fidgeting, excessively running or playing, leaving a spot after being told to stay and being particularly excitable or difficult to control on walks.
Dogs displaying these traits may also struggle to learn tricks and commands because they are easily distracted and find it difficult to maintain their owner’s attention.
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Another unusual telltale sign is dogs using a bathroom inside the house or in inappropriate places.
Research has linked ADHD-like behaviour in dogs to disruptions in the brain’s dopamine and serotonin systems.
Some breeds appear more likely to display these traits, with Cairn terriers, Jack Russells, German shepherds, Staffordshire bull terriers, smooth collies and border collies among those scoring highly.
The behaviours also appear to be more common among young and male dogs, as well as pooches that spend more time home alone.
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But owners have been warned not to diagnose their pets based on social media videos, with Dr Sandelowsky urging people not to use a “TikTok checklist”.
Owners should first make sure their pet is getting enough sleep, exercise, enrichment and training, while also having a calm and healthy environment.
If extreme or persistent behaviour continues despite those needs being met, experts recommend speaking to a vet rather than assuming the dog has a medical condition.