Can a Dog be Autistic? 

Over recent years our knowledge of neurodivergence and autism spectrum disorders in humans has sky rocketed. More of us are now able to understand ourselves and our loved ones better than ever before, and to seek help and adaptations to make everyday life easier. Since 2020 pet ownership in the UK has risen markedly, but behavioural issues in dogs are unfortunately also on the rise. Given that most of us consider our dogs to be as important as other family members (if not more so!), it’s not surprising that owners are interpreting concerning behaviours as autism and neurodivergence, and want to know how they can help. 

What is autism in humans? 

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is defined by the National Institute of Mental Health as: 

“a neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave” 

It is a spectrum, meaning that no two autistic people show symptoms in the same way, and that it can variably affect their life and how they function. It is not fully understood how it is caused, but you are born with it and it is not a disease to be cured. It is recognised as a disability, but it is not caused by vaccination. In addition, it is often associated with other neurodivergent and mental conditions such as ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, depression and epilepsy. 

At its core, autism affects how effectively individuals can communicate with those around them. 

How dogs communicate 

Dogs are social pack animals, whose survival depends on maintaining good relationships. They communicate using four of the five senses (sight, hearing, touch and smell) to ensure their needs are met and resources can be shared without conflict. They use the same language to communicate with dogs and other species like humans. 

Dogs are a domesticated species, meaning that their evolution has run alongside humans’ for many thousands of years. They view us as part of their social group, and will do what is necessary to relate well to us. If we ignore what they are trying to tell us by ignoring or misreading their communication, behaviour can change from trying to please (‘appeasement’) to aggression. 

Dogs show adaptive behaviour, meaning they can change it in response to their external environment and to their internal drives, such as hunger and desire to reproduce. These interact with the dog’s mood, level of arousal and previous lived​ ​experience to produce unique behaviours in any situation. 

Problem behaviour is often a failure of communication 

It must be remembered that dogs are not humans! Many of the behaviours people have ascribed to them as being ‘autistic’ are in fact a misunderstanding of canine communication. 

Many behaviours that seem strange, funny or annoying to us are in fact part of a dog’s natural behaviours. These include chewing, herding, chasing, digging and barking. What is important is context; a dog chasing a toy during play is desirable, but a dog who tries to chase motorbikes on a busy road is a danger to themselves and others. The key thing is to provide safe opportunities for normal behaviour to be performed, but also to know when this is becoming a problem. 

It’s very useful to understand basic dog body language so we know what our dog is trying to say to us. There is also the idea of ‘The Ladder of Communication’, a framework developed by behaviourist Kendal Shepherd. It describes the increasing behaviours that a dog will show when trying to communicate that they are unhappy with a situation, starting with yawning and blinking, moving up through changing body position to ultimately growling and biting. Dogs do not want to move ‘up the rungs’ on the ladder as it compromises their social relationship with you, but will do so if they feel ignored. Even worse, the next time they may skip these lower rungs altogether as they feel they do not work. You can learn more about this here. 

A note about ‘pandemic dogs’ 

The Covid-19 pandemic reportedly saw a surge in pet ownership, as locked down families sought to find positivity in uncertain times. Many of these owners had never had a dog before, and were unable to access advice and veterinary services in the usual way to help inform their decision. Unscrupulous people took advantage of demand by inappropriately breeding from unsuitable parents and then charging extortionate amounts of money for poorly bred and poorly socialised puppies. Even if they were socialised well with responsible breeders, puppies entered homes where they were not meeting other people and dogs as normal. Did you know pups need 16-20 hours of sleep a day when they first come home? Having humans home all day for these puppies meant they were also continually engaged and unable to rest, meaning sleep deprivation at a critical time of brain development. 

This generation of dogs are now young adults, and recent research from the Royal Veterinary College showed that 97% of the owners they surveyed who bought a puppy in 2020 reported at least one problem behaviour, and a third stated they had underestimated how hard training would be (full article here). We are still learning from this unique generation of dogs and owners, but this research demonstrates the significant welfare issues for both species involved, and the need for action to help dogs and their caregivers live happily together. 

Problem behaviours 

Behaviours that have roots in natural drive that can get out of hand include: 

The good news is that all of these can be addressed with consistent, positive reward based training. It may mean going back to absolute basics and does take will power, but ultimately your dog will respond because you are talking their language and letting them know where their boundaries are. 

Although it may seem a quick fix at the time, punishment based techniques (such as shouting, isolating the dog away from you, loud noises, strong smells or physical abuse) ALWAYS make matters worse in the long run, as they destroy the bond of trust between you and your dog and they will not listen to you going forward.  

Speak to your vet about approved local dog trainers that can help set you on the right path to deal with these behaviours. Remember anyone can claim to be a dog trainer under UK law and not all are worth listening to! 

Behavioural diseases and signs of mental distress 

Some strange behaviours your dog may show are in fact considered as a disease state, one that causes physical and mental distress and needs more than just training to address. 

Separation anxiety 

This is where a dog engages in excessive, often destructive behaviours as a response to their human being gone. It can be caused by different things such as fear, anxiety, over-attachment or lack of appropriate stimulation.  

Noise phobias 

Fear responses can be seen to any noise, but most commonly seen are fear of fireworks, thunder, gunshots and engines. Sometimes there was an initial trauma related to this but not always, and other factors such as lack of learning to ignore to these noises as puppies (‘habituation’) may play a part. 

Fear aggression 

‘Naughty’ behaviour is often a dog reacting because they are fearful, trying to protect themselves before something they think may be harmful happens. This is where the Ladder of Communication is really helpful to help us understand that they are showing us fear. Trying to understand what it is the dog is fearful of is essential for forming a treatment plan. Common fears are of vet practices, other animals (especially other dogs), car journeys, traffic, new places and new surfaces for walking on. 

Compulsive behaviours 

Commonly mistaken for ‘autistic’ behaviours are repetitive and compulsive behaviours, also known as ‘stereotypies’. These are often considered to be a result of stress, frustration or conflict. Some breeds are more prone to these, such as flank sucking in Dobermans, tail chasing in German Shepherds and visual fixations in Border collies where they stare at shadows or ripples in water. 

Things you can do at home to help 

Before any training starts or before you see your vet, there are some useful steps you can try and information you can gather. 

Diary of behaviours 

What exactly are they doing? When are they doing it? Who was around? Did anything seem to trigger it? How did you respond? Keeping a detailed diary will help you spot patterns and is the sort of information your vet or behaviourist will be asking for. 

Dog cams 

Take photos and videos when you can, or even better set up a doggy cam to take footage of what they are like when you’re not there! 

Pheromones 

Several companies now make products based on dog appeasement pheromone, a chemical message produced by female dogs when they feed their puppies to help them feel safe and relaxed. These collars, sprays and diffusers can help your dog feel more relaxed and be more responsive to training. 

Tryptophan supplements 

Tryptophan is the building block for the ‘happy hormone’ serotonin. Supplementing this may also get your dog into a better frame of mind to respond to training. 

Enrichment at home 

Is your dog just bored? This is the root of many problem behaviours. Make sure your dog is getting outside for a walk at least 2-3 times a day (even if just to go around the block), and that they are not being left alone for more than 4 hours at a time. Consider a dog walker or asking a friend or neighbour to help if you cannot do this yourself. Provide puzzle feeders and toys which stimulate their brain for their downtime at home. Look into training or activity classes to stimulate that brain – there’s lots out there! 

Rehoming charity support 

Did your dog come to you as a rescue from a charity? Many will be able to offer behavioural support post adoption, as they want all of their dogs to be able to stay in their forever home. 

Things you need a vet or behaviourist for 

You never need to suffer in silence when dealing with a behavioural issue.  

It’s always worth speaking to your vet to make sure there isn’t a medical reason for the problem, as many can be explained this way and then easily treated. 

If your vet feels it is a behavioural issue, they can refer you to an accredited behaviourist for a proper assessment. This should take place in your own home ideally, and they will take their time to really understand the problem before suggesting a training plan. If medications are felt to be necessary, they will liaise with your vet to prescribe these. 

Summary 

Autism is not recognised in dogs in the same way that it is understood in humans, but many similar seeming traits might be recognised by owners. These are often down to a breakdown of communication between dog and caregiver, and recognising the difference between medical issues, problem behaviours and mental disorders is important. Your vet can help you with assessing this, and can then referred to suitably qualified behaviourists as needed.  

Further resources 

Understanding Your Dog – Dogs Trust  

Behavioural Problems in Dogs – MSD Vet Manual  

Impacts of Puppy Early-Life Experiences 

Canine Ladder of Communication – PDSA 

How to Understand your Dog’s Body Language – Dogs Trust