Do traumatized dogs just need high energy activities, firm boundaries, and lots of obedience?

All right dog friends, it’s myth-slaying time.
I’ve seen too many toxic myths about dogs with trauma, ones that guardians must break away from in order to help their dog recover. Because with anything you do with your dog, your mindset is what will set you up for success.
Myth 1: Dogs With Trauma Need High Energy Activity
This is sooo not true. In fact, it irritates me every time I hear it.
A tagline you will often hear along with this is: "A tired dog is a happy dog!"
Obviously, if a dog is too tired to express trauma behaviors then you will see less of them. But that is not the same as recovery.
While working a dog to the point of inability to misbehave may be "effective" from a certain point of view it is unnecessary, time consuming, and turning a blind eye to the reality of the dog's condition.
Most of the people that hire me have already tried throwing physical exercise at the problem - and it either did not help or only helped temporarily. Proper enrichment is vital to recovery, and that does include physical exercise, but the needs of the dog are more nuanced than most people would assume.
Don't let anybody tell you that your traumatized dog just needs to be worked out.
The truth:
Solid enrichment is key to a dog's recovery but physical exercise is only one component of that. What is often more relevant is genetic or breed-based behavioral fulfillment and mental stimulation.
Additionally, many high energy activities (fetch is a good example) can produce stress hormones which can be a big problem for traumatized dogs living with chronic stress. These types of activities need to be spaced out appropriately.
Myth 2: Dogs With Trauma Just Need Firm Boundaries
I can totally understand why someone would believe this, especially if you are struggling to manage your dog's trauma behaviors - which can often be potentially dangerous.
The idea that if you just show them who's boss they will behave and obey can be a tempting fantasy to cling to. But it is still a fantasy.
I’ve been there myself, and I can tell you that most of the dogs that I work with have already had quite enough of humans "getting tough" with them. What they need now is care, empathy, and the space to be able to heal and feel safe again.
Dogs surely need boundaries, and managing difficult behaviors is always a top priority when I begin working with somebody - but so is the dog's emotional safety. A dog can only express the identity that they feel safest in and our job as guardians of recovering dogs is to create that safety for them.
Fearing your responses will not help them heal.
The truth:
Dogs with trauma need to feel safe. The path to that safety is best taken with lots of freedom of choice, consistent and empathetic boundaries, and low-pressure training and behavior work.
Obedience is simply not a priority, especially at first. We want to ensure that safety needs are addressed through management and that the dog has what skills they need to live well. Any "training" (in a traditional sense) beyond that can wait for the dog to be in a better more receptive state.
Speaking of which...
Myth 3: Trauma in Dogs is Purely a Training Issue
This one may be surprising coming from a professional dog trainer.
Don't I run a program specifically for helping dogs with trauma?
I sure do.
However, trauma in dogs is a serious health issue and dog trainers are almost never medical experts. Your primary care practitioner should be your Veterinarian.
Run from the dog trainers that say otherwise.
As a dog trainer that specializes in helping dogs with trauma there is a lot that I can do to help you and your dog. But I am only a component of a bigger necessary team.
The truth:
In addition to the mental health impacts of trauma (and that is enough to warrant Vet care) dogs with particularly tough histories also have very high incidents of physical health issues as well. This is complicated by the fact that the effects of trauma can sometimes mask problems like pain and discomfort.
It is absolutely critical that your dog's health related problems are being treated. Something as simple as an unidentified source of pain can hold back progress more than you think.
It may also be possible that your dog could get some relief from their distress through the use of behavior medication - much like with humans. There is no shame in this and if your Vet suggests it my advice is to consider what they have to say.
In my experience medication has only ever helped with the training and behavior work that I do when recommended by a Veterinarian.
Of course I suggest that you work with a qualified dog trainer / behavior consultant such as myself. There is a lot that we can do for your dog's healing journey!
But let's not lose sight of the fact that the keyword is "healing". This is absolutely a health issue and having a good Vet in your corner is the first priority.
Why is it harmful to believe these 3 myths?
Believing in these myths can significantly hold back your dog's healing journey. You will focus on the wrong things, damage the trust between you and your dog, and be led astray by nonsense advice.
And I absolutely know you have everything it takes to teach your dog to live well. You just need the right guidance to succeed in these matters of well-being.
Whatever you do, don’t give up!
I’ve seen so many clients do this for their healing dog and, I promise you, there is nothing mysterious or magical about how they did it.
They did it by getting professional support and putting in the hard work. There are no quick fixes.
I offer virtual consultations for anyone that needs support for their dog recovering from the effects of trauma. It won't cost the world and may help more than you think.
Robin Wong is a certified dog trainer, a graduate of the prestigious Victoria Stilwell Academy, and a Certified Behavior Adjustment Training Instructor (Knowledge Assessed). He founded Holy Sit to provide trauma-informed behavior work and positive dog training in London Ontario.
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