Dog behaviour and trauma

I am proud to announce that, after months of studying, I am now a twice-certified trauma informed canine behaviour practitioner. Those who know me well know that as a former Open University employee I am a committed life-long learner and carry the university's ethos over into my personal life. However it makes me particularly happy to add this dual certification to my professional skill set. It closely aligns with my values both as a canine professional and a transformational coach and is at the heart of how I approach problems and try to find solutions that serve both dogs and their humans.

A trauma informed approach is important in animal work because it recognises that animals, like humans, can be affected by past negative or frightening experiences. Understanding this changes how humans interact with them, leading to safer, more compassionate and more effective relationships.

A trauma informed approach reduces fear, stress and re-traumatisation. Dogs who have experienced neglect, abuse, chaotic environments or medical trauma may react with fear, avoidance or aggression. A trauma informed approach minimises triggers and helps them feel safe, lowering stress and preventing further psychological harm. It also improves behaviour and cooperation. Fear-based behaviours such as growling, hiding, biting or shutting down are often misunderstood as bad behaviours. Trauma informed care reframes them as adaptive survival responses. When humans respond with patience and gentleness instead of punishment, dogs become more willing to cooperate with handling, training, and veterinary procedures.

On a professional level, a trauma informed approach supports more accurate assessment and treatment. Stress and trauma responses can mask health issues or surface as behaviour problems. Understanding trauma allows humans to better interpret reactions and create care plans that account for emotional as well as physical well-being. This approach builds trust and strengthens human–animal relationships. Dogs who feel safe and respected can form healthier bonds with humans. Trust-based relationships improve their quality of life and make long-term care easier and more positive for everyone involved.

On a practical level, this enhances the safety for humans. Recognising trauma signals helps prevent bites, scratches and defensive aggression. Humans can spot danger signs early and modify their approach, making interactions safer. For dogs in rescue, this increases success in rehabilitation and rehoming. Shelter animals or those recovering from injury or abuse benefit greatly from environments that prioritise safety, predictability and agency. This makes them more adoptable and better prepared for stable, loving homes.

As a canine professional who is accredited by several industry-leading organisations I am proud to emphasise that a trauma informed approach aligns with ethical and welfare best practices. Modern animal welfare standards acknowledge that emotional health is part of overall well-being. Trauma informed strategies support humane, science-based care.

How it affects behaviour modification

A trauma informed lens fundamentally changes how behaviour modification is approached. It shifts the goal from simply “changing behaviour” to understanding the emotional state driving the behaviour. It reframes behaviour as a survival strategy. Instead of seeing fear, reactivity or shutdown as “problems”, trauma informed care recognises them as adaptive responses to past events. This has a significant impact on behaviour modification. It avoids punitive or confrontational methods that can worsen fear. It chooses low-stress, consent-based, trust-building techniques. It prioritise safety and nervous-system regulation.

Dogs with trauma may have a heightened stress response (known as the 5 Fs of trauma, i.e. fight, flight, freeze, fidget, fawn). That's why a trauma informed approach starts with helping the dog feel safe. This means sessions are shorter, softer, quieter and paced to the dog’s tolerance.

A trauma informed approach emphasises relationship before training. That's because trauma can fracture trust. Training cannot succeed if the dog feels unsafe. Bonding, secure attachment and agency/choice become part of the training plan. I may delay skill-building until the dog shows readiness cues (relaxed body, curiosity). This can change how triggers are handled. Trauma informed care identifies and respects triggers instead of forcing exposure. This means I rely more on counterconditioning and desensitisation, at extremely low intensities. I avoid flooding (overwhelming exposure), which can hinder progress or cause shutdown.

This approach builds the dog’s sense of agency. Dogs who have lived through trauma may feel powerless. That's why I reinforce behaviours that show choice (approaching, investigating, consenting to touch) and promote cooperative care methods for handling and grooming whenever possible.

A trauma informed approach also sets realistic expectations. While Brain behind the Bark has always been clear about not offering quick fix solutions, it is important to recognise that trauma can create long-term sensitivities. Goals may need to be adjusted to reflect the dog’s emotional capacity. Progress is measured in tiny increments and setbacks are to be expected. It is therefore important for the human to be patient, resilient and to be able to compromise where necessary, which may not always be easy. As a certified transformational coach I can help with this.

However, a trauma informed approach is ultimately successful in the long run because it integrates emotional healing with training. Behaviour modification through a trauma informed lens includes environmental adjustments, sensory considerations, predictable routines, enrichment that supports nervous-system recovery and slow trust-building exercises. Rather than “fixing” behaviour, the aim is to help the animal feel safe so the behaviour naturally improves.

Neuroscience and trauma

Because of my scientific background I have always been fascinated by neuroscience and neurobiology. Boths fields have had a major impact on trauma informed animal care because they explain what trauma does to the brain and nervous system, and therefore why certain training and handling approaches are more effective or harmful.

Trauma sensitises the amygdala (the part of the brain that detects danger) and makes it hyper-reactive. It triggers fight/flight/freeze before the thinking brain (prefrontal cortex) can evaluate. That's why in my behaviour work I avoid punishments, startling corrections or forced exposures, because they activate the threat system. Instead I focus on safety, predictability and gentle approaches to keep the dog below threshold.

Fear shuts down higher cognitive functions needed for learning. That's why when stressed or scared, dogs cannot access memory and problem-solving as easily. A high arousal means poor learning retention. That's why I prioritise calmness during training sessions and use short, low-pressure learning experiences.

Trauma dysregulates the production of stress hormones like cortisol. Dogs may either overproduce or underproduce stress hormones. This can cause hypervigilance, shutdown, irritability or reactivity. That's why I promote species-appropriate regulation strategies, prioritise recovery time after stressful events and help clients manage the environment to reduce chronic stress load.

What it means for my behaviour work

The good thing is trauma doesn’t mean the brain is “broken”. It adapts. Repeated safe experiences literally reshape neural pathways. Positive associations strengthen new circuits.

Trust, predictability and gentle training support healing. Gradual exposure and positive reinforcement reshape emotional responses. That's why I prioritise tiny, repeated safe interactions over “one big breakthrough”. I focus on consistency, because the brain rewires through repetition.

Neuroscience shows that trauma changes the brain and body. Trauma informed care adjusts handling, training and expectations to match those changes. This supports the dog's safety, emotional regulation and agency. Gentle, slow learning helps build positive associations and aids long-term neurobiological healing.

Traumatised brains generalise triggers faster. A single sensory cue can activate traumatic memory networks. Dogs store traumatic memories in the body and nervous system, not just consciously. This means that trauma often creates implicit memories stored as sensations and reflexes. That's why we need to understand sudden fear or shutdown as a body-based memory, not defiance.

When you work with me, relationship becomes part of the treatment plan. Don't wait to reach out if you need help. I look forward to working with you.