Analysis of canine stereotypic behaviour and treatment

Abstract

Problem behaviour may have a physiological basis; it may be conditioned to inappropriate stimuli; or it may be abnormal in terms of frequency or duration of display, known as stereotypic behaviour (SB), that is considered functionless (Mason, 1991). However, repetitive, invariant behaviours that are resistant to change are also characteristic of normal behaviours, and may have phylogenetic influences (Timberlake and Lucas, 1989). So, when does normal behaviour become a stereotypy? Whilst SB is not uncommon in animals that have had to live in severely impoverished or restricted environment, they are likely to be less common in companion animals, particularly dogs and cats who tend not to be caged for long periods. Yet many repetitive behaviours in these species are labelled SB and treated initially with drugs, rather than undertaking a complete case history which may indicate other motivations for the behaviour and that behavioural management is a more appropriate treatment.
The case history needs to identify both initiating and maintaining factors, as well as breed specific characteristics and the relevant elements of the human – animal relationship. The rationale for behaviour modification programme and the pre-treatment and post-treatment data will be presented for clinical cases of repetitive behaviour in dogs.

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ORCID for Ed Redhead: orcid.org/0000-0002-7771-1228

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