Not long ago I asked readers to tell me what they’d like to talk about, and got a plethora of great ideas. One of them that hit home was the question of whether dogs could “be autistic.” (Best described as on ASD, or Autism Spectrum Disorder, which effects social communication, learning, and behavior.) I’ve met a few dogs that got me wondering myself, and it brings up so many issues that I thought it would be interesting for us to talk about.
Let me start with a story, if you’ll indulge me, not about ASD, but about ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), because ADHD and ASD are neurodevelopmental disorders that often co-occur. Early in my career a couple brought in an Old English Sheepdog who was driving them mad. Boris, I’ll call him, couldn’t seem to contain himself in his own body. Sometimes he was attentive and learned his lessons in short order; other times he seemed to have forgotten everything, couldn’t stay still, and become so agitated he’d leap and bite at his owners, who were covered in nips and scratches. At first I thought it was just a dog with no frustration tolerance and not enough to do with his brain and his body. But by the second lesson something about him felt off. It felt like he simply couldn’t focus his brain much of the time. I began reading everything I could find about dogs described as “impossible” and “unable to concentrate.” I finally found a reference, written by a veterinary couple in Illinois, (whose names I can’t remember or find–anyone?) arguing that dogs could get ADHD and could be helped with Ritalin.
Wow. I called the couple’s vet, we had a long discussion, and everyone agreed that it was worth a try, as long as I was there to ensure that the effects didn’t make things worse. (As you no doubt know, stimulants like Ritalin can have an antithetical effect on people with ADD and/or ADHD.) In twenty minutes there was a different dog. His eyes were no longer glassy, he stopped flipping from barking at birds out the window to jumping on your legs, and he seemed, well, relaxed. For the first time. Wow.
I start with that story because of the relationship mentioned above; that both conditions are neurodevelopmental disorders that are often found together. If dogs can have attention deficit disorder, does that mean they can also be on the autism spectrum? We’re not the only ones asking: Recently, there has been a lot of interest in whether dogs can suffer from ADD/ADHD. Here’s from a 2021 paper in Translational Psychiatry:
“Our results indicated that high levels of hyperactivity/impulsivity and inattention were more common in dogs that are young, male and spend more time alone at home. Additionally, we showed several breed differences suggesting a substantial genetic basis for these traits. Furthermore, hyperactivity/impulsivity and inattention had strong comorbidities with compulsive behaviour, aggressiveness and fearfulness. Multiple of these associations have also been identified in humans, strengthening the role of the dog as an animal model for ADHD.”
You no doubt have noticed that the condition was most common in young, male dogs, who spent more time alone–which reminds me of an article in Whole Dog Journal that cautions readers to not label every dog who is super active as having ADHD. Dogs who truly have ADD/ADHD are exceptionally impulsive and simply can’t concentrate for any length of time on anything, even if it involves large pieces of chicken or liver.
You’ll also have noticed that I’ve spent a lot of time not talking about Austism, but if we’re going to ask if dog can have that condition, it’s a good place to start. Both conditions are neurodevelopmental, occur most often (or, at least, are diagnosed in them more often) in young males of highly social species (but are not limited to), and exist on a spectrum. So, one could argue that since the evidence is multiplying that dogs can have ADHD, it is at least reasonable to ask if they can be on the autism spectrum.
Even more compelling is the research out of Sweden, that found genetic markers in beagles related to genes that affect “social abilities” in humans with autism and aggression in adolescents with ADHD. Thus, the evidence is growing that dogs, as highly social mammals whose ability to communicate is critical to their function, may indeed be able to suffer from genetic conditions that impair their ability to function in a group, and a highly stimulating environment. But if they do, how would we diagnose it?
I actually started my research on this topic by talking to Anna Halverson, a friend and neighbor who has worked for years with children on the spectrum. I asked her what one would look for if they suspected a dog was on the spectrum. She started with a caution: “When you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism.” The symptoms vary so much that it can be hard to diagnosis in a human, much less another species. But given that, what symptoms would one look for in a dog? First, given that the primary symptoms relate to social communication, perhaps that’s where we should look. Children with ASD may start out smiling at others, but then change to avoid eye contact, stop responding to people talking to them, and struggle to engage in play with others. Perhaps the equivalent in dogs might be dogs who seem to have to little or no interest in social interactions, or, perhaps, only with one person or one other dog that they are comfortable with. It would be hard to predict when this would occur in dogs, given the huge difference in physical and social development between people and dogs, but it well might occur (just speculating) long before a puppy goes to a new home.
Anna reminded me that children on the spectrum DO want to make eye contact; it’s usually just too painful for them to do so because it is overwhelming. That’s the other symptom of ASD that we could look for in dogs; and the one that has triggered my interest with a few of my client’s dogs. Sensory overload is common in people on the spectrum, and I’ve met some dogs who simply couldn’t tolerate, for example, walking in the neighborhood, or even being petted in a quiet environment. The trick, of course, is to consider all the other, far more common, explanations: lack of socialization/environmental variability during critical periods, fear-based reactions due to past experiences, and/or lack of frustration control due to a number of factors. To name just a few.
The other symptom commonly seen in ASD is the existence of repetitive behaviors, believed to be self-soothing actions that help individuals cope with sensory overload. That is a behavior that could be easily seen in dogs, but that can have a myriad of causes, from licking paws because of pain or itching from allergies, obsessive tail chasing related to canine compulsive disorder, or anxiety about being left alone.
This is just a start to answering the question: Can dogs have ASD? The answer so far? Possibly. Probably? If so, would it be easy to diagnosis? Nope. If it does indeed exist (and, fyi, I’m guessing it does but is extremely rare), it would be good to know. Not just to use as a model for the condition in people (which seems to be the focus on most of the research), but, because dogs count too. And if they suffer from it, they deserve help and understanding.
What about you? Have you ever had or worked with a dog that you thought might be on the spectrum? Or, if you yourself have some version of ASD, is there anything your experience and wisdom could add to this conversation? I’m so curious what you all have to say . . . And, I want to add my thanks to Anna Halverson and several of my Certified Applied Animal Behavior colleagues who added so much to this conversation!
One last thing: It feels only right here to mention that I’m somewhere in the middle of the ADD one. I have all the classic symptoms of moderate ADD–difficulty organizing, staying on task, being forgetful. I don’t want to make this about me; I only add this because it’s important to emphasize that these “neurodiverse” conditions can sometimes make life more difficult, but still wonderful. I’ve done a few good things in my life, helped some people, some dogs, and written a few good books. I’m liking how my mystery is shaping up. And I can make the best strawberry/rhubarb pie you’ve ever had. So don’t think of these diagnosis as disasterous, or something to be ashamed of, they’re just part of the amazing range of potentials that come with these complicated brains we have, and the highly social world in which we live.
MEANWHILE, back on the farm: Holy moly, I had to put on a sweatshirt Friday & Saturday morning at a sheepdog trial! What a switch. (And a wonderful one at that.) Here’s the sunrise that accompanied the cool air on Friday:
There was a gorgeous “super moon” the night before; Jim and I went out to appreciate it and I tried taking a few snaps with the iPhone. I paid no attention to settings, just clicked away, and ended up with some shots better viewed in an art museum. But sort of fun, here’s one:
I’ll be waiting for the offers from museums . . .
Roberta and Robert have been devoted parents, stuffing worms and insects down their babies throats so vigorously you wonder that they don’t stab them to death.
There are actually three babies, and they are barely able to fit into the nest this morning. Last night I watched one of them flapping their wings like crazy; a clear sign that fledging is going to happen soon. I don’t want to miss watching their first flights, but it will happen fast so it’s doubtful I’ll manage to see it.
Wait! I just went to check, and one is gone already! Two left; one was flapping away but withdrew when I tried to get a photo. I don’t want to disturb them, so I’ll lay low.
In other bird news, the two other nests we’ve been following have failed (House Wren and Chipping Sparrow). The sparrow made a bad location choice–4 inches of rain on an unprotected nest, and the wren’s nest, I’m guessing was a victim of predation. A good reminder how difficult it is to raise babies successfully.
The Hummingbirds, on the other hand, appear to have had population explosion. I’d say it makes for fun feeder watching, but honestly, the continual fighting at the feeder–think Tom Cruise in Tom Gun on cocaine laced with steroids–is actually getting tiring. I have been known to spit out “There are three perches there! Just f’g share them!” There are a multitude of other places to feed here, so I’m not worried in the least about them getting food, and it’s amazing to watch their astounding in-flight abilities, but still. The cost-benefit analysis doesn’t add up.
Dogs, are you all interested in dogs? Sorry, I’ve spent so much time with the dogs lately but haven’t had a phone in my pocket and haven’t gotten many photos. Last weekend we were at the Cedar Stone Sheepdog Trial. I wish I could say that Skip and I did great, but alas, we did not. On his first run he couldn’t move the sheep, then he did fine on the second until the cross drive, when reverted to panicking and bringing back the sheep. I thought that was long over, sigh. The sheep were actually lovely to work. So, we did great at two trials and not well at all in two others. I have suspicions about what happened, but it’s a fact we have lots of work cut out for us.
We were back on Sunday to volunteer, which was great fun. I spent some time helping in the pens to get the sheep ready to be set out, and then both Maggie and Skip worked for several hours sometimes bringing sheep into the rest area when they were done with their run (mostly trivial, the sheep knew where to go and needed little encouragement), and more critically, holding sheep off that same area while the Novice dogs were running. Young dogs can be too enthusiastic and start running the sheep, who could end up smashing into a fence or closed gate. So our job was to protect the area to protect the sheep. It was a great exercise, because the dogs never knew if they were supposed to bring the sheep or drive them away; the task changed from minute to minute and they had to listen carefully to me to do it right. They did really well; I was happy for that anyway.
I didn’t get my own photos, but here’s a nice shot of Skip taken by friend Richard Kane at Nippersink:
Time for me to go pay the dogs some attention, who are a tad tuckered from yesterday’s hard work, but we all three need to get up and get moving. Please weigh in on the topic of the week–dogs and autism/ADD, I’m so curious what you have to say!
Michelle says
I loved your “One last thing” paragraph; so true, and so important to emphasize!
Trisha says
Thanks Michelle!
Catherine Noftz says
My Aussie has always had me wondering about this very topic! She was a pup who never followed the litter. Mom and pups go right, Herriot would go left. She is impulsive, socially awkward and often too enthusiastic. She just can’t seem to pay attention for long. A leashed dog because she just runs off. (all my other dogs are off leash….daycare dogs are off leash, not Herry)
She has a look in her eye. Rudderless? A little too noisy in there too listen to the outside.
Herry is a good dog at heart. She just can’t help herself. She is perfect with by rote obedience. But only in the moment. Not so much with life lessons ….don’t jump on people, be quiet when asked, don’t steal my food. Rules like those she ignores or cannot maintain. She needs verbal or signal input to respond properly. So, things the other dogs have internalized, Herry has not. Maybe she can’t do it. She has to be asked and reminded almost every time.
Is that her choice or her dilemma! Herry most definitely could be choosing to blow me off, but her eyes signal something else. To humanize her….It seems like she would like to get off this ride and have a quiet mind.
Rona says
Something I have wondered for sure! Given that the canine brain and the human brain are so similar in many ways then why couldn’t it be? I loved your ‘one last thing’ also … yes I do believe we are all somewhere on the spectrum, just different places. As for Hummers, we had few most of the summer and now I seem to have many! I counted 9 the other day and a friend who studies them told us that you could multiply that by 4 and have a more realistic number of how many you actually have visiting! Right now I am getting through 3/4 of a cup of sugar every morning! What with them and the chipmunks I seem to be spending more on their groceries than mine!
Abby says
Similar in that it was a confusing situation and plasticity of the brain/neuro development.
I rescued what they were told was a lab but she looked like a larger version of a known to be ACD crossed with basenji.
Bad situation (think kid hitting the dog house when she was in it with a big stick, standing on her tail). She appeared to be doing the header targeting to the other kid’s face. I could see a bite in the future. She did some herding of the kids as well.
Never found a fear she could not fall in love with. I chalked up the difficulty in training as the perils of no socialization. Progress measured quickly to mm. I thought it really bad genetic coding.
A student of mine mentioned that she thought her dog (a stray) was a Carolina Dog. I’m like ok, whatever. But I looked it up to see if there was something there which could help me.
I could put up pictures of my dog on the AKC site and it would be my dog.
So I think that while all the breeding, socialization, interaction with humans, epigenetics going on in Europe for centuries while the yellow swamp dogs didn’t – means that the brains now have some different neuroplasticity. A good situation can help compensate for it but in a bad one, the brain heads more towards the much closer to their feral beginnings.
Wendy S. Katz says
“We’re all on the spectrum…” jumped out at me. That, and the complexities of diagnosis make me appreciate Dr. Susan Friedman’s “Unlabel Me” principle.
Having said that, I did once care for a friend’s dog who led me to contemplate neurodiversity, because of the way he seemed to become overwhelmed at intervals. He needed help to retreat and recover so as not to blow up.
I love your moon photo. It looks like a Van Gogh painting. I would definitely hang it in my museum.
Wendy S. Katz says
Oh yeah, dogs: I’m really grateful for all you share about the joys and tribulations of trialing. I just registered for my very first competition ever (Barn Hunt) and did a practice trial this past weekend. Having read about your many ups and downs helped me be calm about whatever happened. We found our rat just in time, though for some reason she declined to indicate when she first came on it. I was very happy that we succeeded even though we were slow, and she was high as a kite afterward.
LisaW says
So interesting to think about. I’ve known people with Asperger’s, again one range on the spectrum. I wonder if the actual neurological re-orderings are the same in animals; the outward behaviors look familiar but is the neurology the same? Where are those MRI-trained Golden Retrievers when we need them! Oh, wait, they probably can focus pretty well 😉
What’s curious to me is even if Boris did or didn’t have ADD or ADHD, the drug affected his neuropathways in ways that enabled him to process and respond to stimuli more appropriately. Was there something else going on that the drug also altered?
Phoebe definitely had what we would call ADD. She would get distracted by something shiny multiple times a day. We lovingly called her a lunkhead, but I think her brain was wired a bit differently. Luckily, she was also a loving peacenik, so it didn’t really matter once we realized who she was, we could adjust our expectations accordingly.
Pie, please! Do you ship? 🙂
Teri Brown says
My 30 yr old son is on the spectrum. I first questioned if animals can be autistic when I took my son to equine assisted therapy when he was 8. I met some horses who reminded me of children with ASD. Hyper acoustic, some were stall weavers or cribbers, avoiding eye contact, etc. I had a lot of empathy for them. I eventually ended up buying a young, big Thoroughbred for us both to ride. As for dogs, I have always loved and owned wonderful dogs. Some friends suggested that I should be a dog trainer and I thought it was a great idea! I have been helping dogs and their hand for 15 yrs and it has been eye opening for me to keep learning more about dog and human behavior. I currently have a Border Collie mix that I rescued from a horrible situation at just 5 wks old. Chance has many problems, predation withy horses, socially awkward, hyperactive ( well he is a BC) and problems focusing. Makes me wonder. My family all dislike him but his quirks touch me. He really does struggle emotionally. Thank you for this post, I also have often said we are all somewhere on the spectrum, I see some of it in myself and relatives but I have learned to appreciate our differences.
Teddy says
Thank you so much for this post. I am one of those who chimed in asking for the autism topic and so I’m very interested to read it.
Our current rescue is the first dog I’ve had or known, about whom I’ve wondered if she might have very mild autism. She had a very bumpy puppyhood, though (born under a porch, taken to a shelter, littler split up into two groups who went to rescue homes, then eventually winding up in our home), so it is difficult to untangle what’s related to that history, and what may be the “autism” that I think I detect. She did indeed find neighborhood walks EXTREMELY overwhelming – way too many stimuli – at first, but given her history, that was not surprising. She is very, very dog-friendly, but does not always seem to know how to read cues or lower the play “volume” – so that might be a clue. But most of all, she seems to have a slight disconnect from us, though I think she loves us in her way. She learns obedience commands quickly, but still, sometimes when we say (for instance) “Lily, Come!” she just sits there – not in a stubborn way, it’s just like it’s taking a while for the signals to wind their way into her brain. Then it’s like she says, “Oh! Okay!” and comes. So there’s this little tiny time-lag that we’re not accustomed to. And she also is very choosy and how and where she snuggles, but that is so individual among dogs, so that’s not a great indicator. Last little nugget, her DNA test says she is about 20% beagle, so that Swedish study really caught my eye. (She’s the first even partial beagle we’ve ever had.)
So. Lots of rambling here on my part, but it’s fascinating, and it’s also strangely hopeful to think that this could be one component of what makes her her. We do love her! She’s just “an odd cat,” as we call her sometimes.
Monika @ Tails Around the Ranch says
I often accused my super sweet but pogo stick of a standard poodle, Sam of being a bit on the edge of the spectrum. He was a beautiful strawberry blond and I often joked he was a classic blonde (couldn’t maintain his focus and was dumb as a stump). But the fact that he was the sweetest dog I began to imagine him being a therapy dog. Going through various training classes had me pulling out my hair at times, wondering if he understood Spanish, German or some other language because he certainly didn’t seem to understand commands in English. When test time came, I was beyond anxious but miraculously he passed-top of his class. He may have been a real nut bar but he was a totally different dog when we got to the hospital to visit patients and staff. His behavior was a striking turnaround. He brought such joy to everyone for over 7 years and even 2-1/2 years after he passed at the ripe age of 14, he is still missed by all who knew him at the hospital. I guess he just needed a job…beyond being my heart dog and he more than excelled at it, especially and ironically, with the mental health patients with whom he was particularly comforting and patient.
Now that I have another pet therapy dog (an OES coincidently), I have come to believe that having a job is extra important, especially for those dogs that need a special kind of stimulation/enrichment. Perhaps neither were on the spectrum but simply needed a job to zero in on mental focus. Fascinating topic, Pat, thank you for sharing your thoughts and experience.
Elaine says
OMG! You are talking about MY dog! Well bred, well-socialized before I got her at 10 weeks, well socialized by me after I got her. I like to think “well-trained” but you know that’s MY opinion. But the things we struggle with: not allowed to touch her (so bad that I had to put “collar” and “I’m going to touch you now” on command); repetitive behaviors (path in the back yard – 6 laps = 1 mile and yes I measured. . .; of course every dog in agility loves tunnels but her stress relief when training is laps around the arena and through tunnels; refusal to come into one side of me because the “other side” is right in her mind, even though we diligently trained both sides!, etc.). Not the least bit interested in playing with other dogs OR humans. . .so much so that if a friend is over and is “allowed” to touch her it’s a big deal! Will tolerate other dogs – as long as they don’t annoy her. Add in some other little “clues” such as very picky eater, and upset if her routines are changed (we call it checking all the daily boxes) and I am convinced she is “on the spectrum”. Much more so than the rest of dogs that are “all on the spectrum.” Thank you for this blog – and beautiful sunset!
Hali says
I am very familiar with ADD/ADHD, and I am extremely sensitive with sensory stuff which is migraine-related, not ASD. Smells are the worst because they’re so pervasive and often inescapable; perfumes, stinky candles, plug-in room deodorizers. I feel so sorry for any animal that has to live in a house with constant smells like that. I’ll take a “dog smell” any day over whatever neurotoxic perfume cloud is spewing in a house to cover it up! A friend said I have the nose of a pregnant woman, and my sister said, “No, she has the nose of a pregnant dog!” I’m also sensitive to sounds (I have ear plugs) and light (special glasses for fluorescents) and I can’t stand anything scratchy or rough on my skin. Being so sensitive gives me a greater appreciation for people with ASD, as well as understanding what might be going on with an animal. You and Temple Grandin have both helped me gain even more understanding!
Back to the ADD: the organization thing! Ugh. When you get diagnosed as an adult, it all makes sense. I have hired organizers, read books, Feng Shui’d, etc. etc. I finally started getting a handle on my home when I found Dana K. White of A Slob Comes Clean, who has been unofficially diagnosed by all her ADD followers! She’ll say, “That’s not how my brain works” when it comes to some sort of conventional, organizational practice that makes sense to already- organized people.
ADDer Rick Green on YouTube is great, explaining how his brain works and how he manages executive brain functions. “Scattered” by Dr. Gabor Mate` is a really good book. He was diagnosed at age 55 and has done a lot of research about trauma and addiction. He also has some talks on YouTube about his experiences and makes a connection between trauma, family patterns, and ADD.
I would rather gnaw off my own arm than do paperwork, but give me a creative project and people will marvel at my talents! They are sometimes the same people who judge my messy desk. Ha!
Gayla says
Forgive if this is an ignorant question, but aren’t the majority of human sufferers also male? If so, do we know why they are disproportionally affected?
Nannette Morgan says
Great topic! I started suspecting a little ASD in my dog a few years back after seeing a blurb about an ASD study in Tufts “Your Dog” which mentioned that the study suspected this with things like lining up toys by shape etc. It didn’t cite the study but boy does that describe my boy.
He likes to line up the Kong bones by shape and size. Also by color (or what he perceives the color as – red vs blue vs yellow). Although well socialized before I got him at 9.5 weeks and after by me at puppy socials etc. he seems to not be able to read dog body language well and just runs straight up impulsively to other dogs which of course offends them (and I don’t let him do that of course). He is super affectionate towards people but then he’s a Siberian Husky 😉
Cathy Balliu says
I’ve always thought that my dog Pete is on the spectrum. I bred him and he’s been in my household for 10 years. He is the ultimate in border collies – always staring at the object of his desire. And that object is the orange cat, Pippa. I have 3 cats, he only sees Pippa. He’ll lay and stare at her for all his waking moments if I’d let him. I put him in his crate to turn him off. If he’s outside, he’s by the sliding glass door hoping to catch a glimpse of her. But why do I really think he’s on the spectrum and not just a fixated border collie is that he almost never solicits affection. Days go by where I don’t touch him because he never wants to be petted. Very occasionally and suddenly he’ll look up, see me, wag his tail and come over for a pet. One single pet. At this stage of his life, I’m not sure there is much I can do to change his behavior and he’s certainly not hard to live with.
chris says
We have hummingbird feeders too and then they fight. So we read that you are to put up multiple feeders where they cannot see each other. It is territorial that they are used to the nectar running out eventually. There is sometimes a brief fight over one certain feeder but it has really helped in our situation and we are in Michigan.
Deborah Stoll says
I’m normally a reader and not a responder, but this hit a chord. Years ago I bred a puppy that I was sure fell on the Autism spectrum disorder. I was so sure that I ended up looking for anything articles that referenced it. I recall finding something that indicated it was possible in dogs, but I can no longer recall where I found it.
This was a Golden Rt. puppy – normally a highly social breed, and the rest of the puppies were normal, happy, trainable puppies, many of whom went on to achieve titles in hunt tests, and were outstanding personal gun dogs. This puppy was different from the start. She did not interact with her littermates in the same way puppies normally do and in every picture I had of her she was off by herself. At the time I didn’t think anything of it. She went to a competition agility home with an owner who was a skilled trainer – though frankly she was also a little odd, but had done well with her other dogs. This puppy literally lived under the bed for the first year. When outside she’d hide in the tunnel. She did not like to interact and felt most comfortable by herself. Her owner did manage to get her through some fairly high agility titles, but she could not be drilled, would often shut down in the confusion and excitement of trials and did best in the calmer, less stressful environment of CPE. So I’d say she was trainable but it was not enjoyable for either her owner or the puppy. Her owner told me that she never really sought attention until her later years when a new puppy came home. She is gone now and we’ll never know for sure but I did go down that rabbit hole at the time.
Greta Kaplan says
I’m a dog behavior consultant and it occurs to me not infrequently that a dog has autism-like patterns or sometimes ADHD-like patterns. There are dogs who are extremely sensorily sensitive, with big avoidance of or reactions to touch, sound, sight and sometimes smell and/or taste. Dogs who have rigid, repetitive responses to stress and who cannot seem to learn alternative social patterns. Dogs who check out at the slightest bit of social pressure (I’m working with a field-bred Lab on this right now; she also has very high arousal around water and some other stimuli and teaching her loose leash walking has been spectacularly difficult).
There’s no doubt in my mind that the things that go wrong in human brain functioning can also go wrong with dog brain functioning, adjusted for the facts that dogs don’t have language (this prevents directly applying an ASD diagnosis) and some other blatant differences.
I had a dog who had a terribly puppyhood and a lot of adult behavioral problems. We eventually tested him on Ritalin: 1 week at dose n, 1 week at dose 2n, and 1 week at dose 3n. In theory, if he had an ADHD-like condition, it should have calmed him. It did not. But also in theory, if he didn’t have that condition, it should have speeded him up… it didn’t. It had zero apparent effect. It left me and his VB scratching our heads.
I don’t know the answers but I’m sure there’s more we could be doing for dogs by exploring these ideas.
Judy Collins says
I am so happy to have found this article and reading the comments, I’m sitting here amazed because so many are describing my Koda. Koda was rescued from under a shed with his Mom and littermates in a remote northern community at about 5 weeks. I’ve had him from about 6.5 wks old and he’s now 9 years old. We have many times wondered if he is on the spectrum. He’s never been “right”. He flunked obedience class the first night because he was too overwhelmed. He can’t walk on the road because it’s too overwhelming. He loves all dogs but doesn’t have any interest in really playing. He has to walk around the table before he goes outside even though it’s faster to go past the table. He cannot be in the same room with us to relax. He has to leave and go under the bed in his room. He gets extremely overwhelmed in different places so I get a sitter when I go away because it’s too stressful for him to be in a different place. Totally socially awkward with people and dogs. Something as small as moving a piece of furniture can make his whole day go sideways. He has days when he’s just frantic all day and nothing pleases him but the next day he’s completely exhausted. I could seriously write a book here but I’ll stop now and just say Thank You for this article!
BARB STANEK says
Totally think that dogs can have any neurological condition known to malfunction for whatever reason. Why not? What would prevent them from getting the condition? I also believe that neurological malfunction is rare enough that looking for it might be a great research project, but would do little to solve the every -day problems of a dog so afflicted. In other words, as with so many conditions in dogs where we are guessing (most of the time correctly) at the cause, treat the dog in front of you and try not to waste too much time guessing at the cause.
Interestingly, I have had two dogs in the last 10 years that have shown me unusual impulse control — or lack of it. The first dog was easy enough to do a work-around and get done what we wanted to get done.
My current dog will not sit and stay! She is now three, and we’re still working on it. I’ve just decided to lower the bar and see if she’ll stand and stay. (Slower learning human.) She does that like a champ. So I will continue to work with her and try to evolve the stand-stay into a sit-stay.
She does have impulse control issues in other areas, but none that prevent her from doing a task. Am I the problem? In my advancing age, am I screwing up the command and loosing consistency and ? It’s interesting. While I don’t think she has ADD or ADHD, (I was a teacher for 34 years. I’ve seen both conditions.) maybe she does. Bottom line, can we get a sit-stay? Stay tuned. News at 11.
Wendy says
I greatly admire your work and know that you mean well, but giving credence to the statement “We’re all on the spectrum, right?” does a disservice to people who are actually on the autism spectrum. The neurodiversity associated with autism does not involve a simple linear progression, on which people on one “end” of the spectrum may display a couple of quirky behaviors. As an autistic person, I can attest to the fact that autism does much more than “sometimes make life more difficult.” Please do not trivialize the challenges associated with facing persistent, life-long challenges related to socio-emotional reciprocity, nonverbal communication, the development/maintenance/understanding of relationships, and engagement in restricted/repetitive patterns of behavior/interests/activities. Encouraging folks to consider if their dog might be a little bit autistic due to a couple of problematic traits will not be helpful to those of us on the autism spectrum. For more info, please refer to articles such as the one at https://autisticnotweird.com/stop-saying/ Thanks.
Wendy says
Responding to Gayla’s question: Young males receive the diagnosis of autism much more often than girls due in part to the fact that diagnostic criteria are skewed in favor of behaviors common in the male presentation of autism. Because of the ways in which girls are socialized, they are more likely to “mask” symptoms and go undiagnosed. You can find a brief overview of these issues at https://www.spectrumnews.org/news/autisms-sex-ratio-explained/#:~:text=Autism%20is%20significantly%20more%20common,for%20the%20ratio%20remain%20unclear.
Kaari says
We have two staghounds who were described as “very shy” when we adopted them at age 3. In my Googling around on “shy greyhounds,” I discovered that there are greyhounds referred to as “spooks.” Speculation is that a spook is likely neurodivergent/possibly autistic rather than just shy/under socialized. They have difficulty tolerating novelty/change in routines, are easily overwhelmed by stimuli in the environment, may not be social with people, etc. Spooks are reportedly born, not raised (that is, they seem to be that way from the start, rather than becoming “shy” due to a traumatic or unsocialized puppyhood). And, from what I read, the trait seems to run in families (I was a special ed teacher for 32 years until I recently retired; when I started teaching we were taught that autism does not run in families, but now we know there is definitely a genetic component). Has anyone heard of this with other breeds? On the greyhound forums, conversations about a newly adopted racer who was shy often revolved around how to determine whether it was “shyness,” which would likely improve with experience and time, or whether the dog was a “spook” and the new owner would likely need to figure out what environment and routines worked for the dog, and plan to adapt to the dog’s needs rather than hoping/expecting the dog would evolve and change. So it seems that greyhound owners do indeed believe that some dogs are neurodivergent/autistic. By the way, both our girls turned out to be shy/timid/anxious, rather than spooks…both have changed significantly in the 3 years we’ve had them.
mgsmrb says
A fascinating read, indeed. Patricia brings up many good points and I can certainly think about dogs in my life that may have been neurodivergent. The one point made, which as an autistic person I take issue with, is the idea of, “We’re all on the ‘spectrum,’ right? That’s why they call it a spectrum.” No. WE’RE not. ASD, ADD, ADHD, etc., are neurodevelopmental and neurochemical imbalances that DO NOT impact everyone. These differences are genetic, so if they don’t exist in your blood line, you are considered neurotypical. If we are thinking that animals can also possess these divergent differences, then we are saying that it exists in the animal’s genetic makeup. This is important as there are breeds that are naturally more hyper than others, more reserved, etc., yet they are probably not on the spectrum. Conversely, there are most certainly dogs that are beyond hyper, beyond behaviorally challenged that with meds and training accomodations, could be better supported.
Carole Sullivan says
I have not had this experience with dogs, but I think I have an autistic goat. We raised dairy goats for over thirty years, and found them to be very affectionate and fun. When I would walk into their yard, they would come over for pets and to be generally friendly. At this point, we only have one goat left. This goat, after being fed by me for 12 years, still runs away with terror in her eyes when I walk into the area. This goat will still not allow me to touch her in any way. When her partner goat died (who was quite friendly) , I expected her to be lonely, but she really didn’t seem to care (which is very unusual for goats, as they are strong herd animals.) Most of our goats we bred and raised from birth; this one we got from a neighbor when she was about 6 months old. I have no idea what her experiences were before we got her, but it’s pretty strange that after all this time she still doesn’t trust me.
Curtisy Briggs says
Hi, Trisha–I found a journal article several years ago about some Poodles with ASD. It’s from the journal of Comparative Psychology and was published in 2017. I don’t think I can attach it here, but if you send me a direct message on Facebook with an email address, I will be happy to send it to you.
Shelly says
Have you read the border collie books by Carole Price. She talks in depth about Border Collies and autism. Interesting read I thought.
Sabena Lund says
Thanks for the article. My gorgeous Bindi is a 2 year old cavoodle (cavalier king charles x poodle). I think that she has tactile sensitivity. We have a routine each morning before heading on a walk. I move to the door and she’ll come to me for a scratch. When she’s ready to have her harness put on, she moves right up to the door. However even then, she shivers each time I put the harness on. She absolutely hates being touched on the head, or any harness/clothing going over the head, so I don’t have any of those. Similarly she can be sensitive to being touched. She will approach if she’d like a scratch, but often is quite particular about where she does and doesn’t like to be scratched/patted. Other times much less particular. Bindi also seems very sensitive to sounds, and she flinches at the sound of velcro on her jacket.
Amanda says
“One last thing”— I want to correct something in that paragraph. Being a spectrum does NOT mean that everyone is somewhere on it between “no autism” and “lots of autism”. You either have autism or you don’t, but having autism looks very different for each individual which is why it is a spectrum of different characteristics and levels of functioning. It is the same with ADHD (ADD is no longer a diagnosis). You either have it or don’t, but each person with ADHD will have different levels of functioning in different areas.
This is coming from someone who has done a lot of research on autism, has a degree in counseling, is familiar with the autistic community, and is diagnosed with autism. But I enjoyed reading this and identify with my in-laws’ dog who cannot tolerate disruptions to his routine and most noises!
Julie says
I know a dog who seemed to have the canine equivalent to ASD. Only select people and dogs easily affected by sound and movement compared to others in the breed. Not want much physical contact. In addition I would say this dog found retrieving regulating much like rocking or repetitive movements in humans.
Trisha says
Thanks for the clarifications Amanda, so much to learn here.
Trisha says
Shelly: Haven’t seen those, thanks for the reference. The part I just don’t get is that all the BC’s I know, and I see them often at clinics and trials, are super friendly with people, very easy going.
Trisha says
Thx so much Curtisy! I probably can find it based on your info, very grateful!
Trisha says
mgsmrb: Thank you so very much for that correction. You’re right, and I am going to revise the post.
Trisha says
Right on Wendy, thx for getting on this before I did!
Trisha says
Wendy, I am so grateful that you chimed in. You are absolutely right, and I am going to correct the post accordingly. I made that statement based on a comment flippantly, not thinking carefully enough about its implications. This is relevant to me both professionally and personally, because I am just, at 73, becoming aware of how very much ADHD has made my life difficult in so many ways, and how different I am from my friends and family. (Except my mother, who I am 100% sure now had ADHD. So, thank you. On to correct the post…
Dorothy Hall says
Thank you so much for exploring this topic! I have been diagnosed with “red flags” for ADHD but my symptoms don’t overlap much with those of my dog. I have long described one of my BCs with “on spectrum” behavior but the symptoms are mostly different than what you have described. Flora is not fond of being touched, her meetings with humans can have joy but they are always cursory. She says “hi” and quickly moves on, as if checking the human off on some mental inventory. She either ignores or attempts to repel other dogs, never plays. She will attempt to sleep on my bed but even any slight movement of my toe will cause an annoyed moan and she leaves. She is monomaniacal and requesting fetch with toys until I remove the toy as if she needs to be relieved of the responsibility and can rest. She can pick up and drop a ball over and over for long stretches. Even if she wants it thrown, she gets caught in a pattern and seems to have trouble breaking it. This bringing me to the next question…how many BC traits are cultivated and bred traits from “the spectrum”? Looking forward to any further contemplation you have on this topic!
Gayla says
Thank you for the links, Wendy. I see that even with the more conservative estimates, it’s still not well understood. If gene expression can regulate OTHER genes… that’s crazy complicated stuff!
Jackie Duckworth says
I will echo some of the above comments explaining in detail what spectrum means in this respect. It is more like the way that ‘heart disease’ covers a number of problems that may or may not overlap. And not everyone has heart disease!
Back to dogs. A very well known UK vet behaviourist told me that in his opinion, for a significant number of the dogs with severe intractable behaviour problems this might be caused by oxygen deprivation during birth, but it was hard to prove. That would not be the same as a dog version of ASD.
I also think that a lot of pet owners are more familiar with ADD/ADHD and ASD than they are with the effects of poor socialisation. So they adopt a dog from a semi-feral or hoarding background and don’t properly understand why the dog isn’t responding to their love. It’s an easy mistake to make.
I’m also cautious re ADD/ADHD in dogs. You could easily apply that diagnosis to the majority of young dogs of certain breeds – high drive working bred dogs in pet homes in particular. Our spaniels have frequently appeared to be completely insane most of the time when young. However they have also always been able to be totally focussed on an appropriate job – scentwork.
I’m not saying it is impossible for dogs to have something analogous to these conditions; I am saying that it would be very, very easy to over diagnose it.
Wendy says
Trisha – thanks for making the amendment. I hope you’ll find that exploring ramifications of ADHD makes life more comfortable and understandable. Like those diagnosed later in life with ASD, you’ll probably find better ways to approach difficult tasks, all while feeling less “broken.” Good luck on the journey!
Mary says
I’ve been working with a behaviorist for year now with my Begrer Picard. Since I brought him home at 8 weeks of age he has been fearful of other dogs, base or loud sounds, chases shadows, fearful of strangers and friends that come to the house. Walking him along the road I’m finding he more used to the traffic unless its a school bus, garbage truck, or speeding vehicle. He’s now 1yr 7 mos old. We walk three miles each day and he’s allowed off leash to run outside of the horse pasture (he will try herding the horses if inside the fence) and he comes back when recalled. He can leap 4 ft in the air and runs like a bat out of of hell! He was going to be my agility dog. But he does not like other dogs! He was kindly kicked out of puppy kindergarten, and I had to take him out of puppy daycare. He is an intact male with lymphoma in his bloodlines so I’m hesitant to castrate but will seek a vasectomy…..his testosterone will help him with the lymphoma risk. He love to be petted but not so much groomed. Once he gets to know you you are his friend forever. He gets 1.5 calming chews a day. I’m told Berger Picards are slow to mature so we wait patiently. Our sessions with the behavourist consists of walking in a busy park area where people are walking dogs and children are playing to desensitize him . Could he be autistic? or maybe fearful all his life? Only God knows. We love him just the same
Wish you were still taking cases Trish. You helped me years ago with one of my rescue dogs.
Kim Dietrich says
I had a pointer, Jasper, that I am convinced was on the ASD spectrum. In the ten years he lived with me and four other dogs, he NEVER played with them. He engaged in a lot of parallel play but never cooperative play. When other dogs initiated play, he would run to the office and sit about 18 inches from the wall and stare. He would do this from 20 to 30 minutes. He had rituals. When I shifted his crate 90°, it took twobweeks for him to adjust to the change in door position. Initially, he would run in, go to where the door had been and stare at the crate or bump it with his nose a few times. At 9 pm every night, he would come stare at me if I was sitting in the recliner (aka his bed). When it was time to eat dinner, dogs waited in crates while I got food ready. Then they would be released to a different place to eat. One evening, Jasper was outside while I got food ready. I figured it was no big deal, let him have some extra time out. I took care of all the other dogs and then called Jasper in. I was going to feed him in the bedroom. He came in, started after me down the hall, then abruptly stopped. He ran to his crate, went in, turned around and then came to the bedroom to eat. He loved wearing shirts year-round so I bought tees for summer in addition to sweaters for winter. He loved being hugged tightly and having his front legs pulled / stretched and squeezed. He loved having pets on his back with enough pressure to push him to the ground. So many other stories. As an Intervention Specialist, I worked with many students on the Autism spectrum. Jasper seemed similar in his difficulty communicating with other dogs and the apparent overwhelm that would lead to his finding a place to sit and stare alone. He was a wonderful odd duck. It took so many years for me to learn to communicate with him. We finally found our connection and his last few years were amazing.
Trisha says
Jackie: Jackie: First, I hear you loud and clear about over diagnosing dogs. I can see that happening far too easily. (Which is why I included a link to Whole Dog Journal’s good article expressing that very few dogs have the symptoms. I’m already seeing it, so yes, I get it and worry about it too. Second, I am truly sorry about that line “… everyone’s on a spectrum.” I’ve changed the post and regret throwing that line out without thinking it through. This is such a complicated and touchy topic: I put off writing about it for a long time because I was afraid I’d say something wrong. I sent it to 2 people who are experts, and they didn’t flag the line, but it’s my post and my responsibility. Thank you for the gracious correction; I just wish I’d never made that mistake.
Nicola says
Some time ago, like 15 years, a researcher at Sydney University (Australia) did her (I think?) PhD on autism in dogs. She came up with an answer of “yes” but rarely. Sorry, I can’t find her paper online. It came up in a discussion of dog trainers, and when we consulted with a behaviour vet specialist, she agreed.Sorry I can’t remember (or find) more details.
Brittany says
Excellent discussion, and as with other subjects, thank you for normalizing certain challenges in life both for dogs and for people, Trisha. You are always an inspiration.
In regards to ADD… Earlier this year I had a dog (I’ll call Ruff) very similar to the one Catherine Noftz described- her Herry. I was so angry with myself for being unable to move this puppy forward in his training, even after many sessions. The challenge was in the dog’s inability to focus, no matter the reward. He could only stay on task for, literally (!!!), seconds. He’s a brute to walk because he seems to “forget” what he’s doing, giving in to every scent, sight, sound, etc. He was mouthy and jumpy, again almost “forgetting” that he had just been asked for a simple Sit or Watch behavior. Much like you describe in your story of “Boris,” I thought that it was a lack of frustration control. However, I tried to address his training from this angle, and I still saw no progress.
I brought up the rare possibility for ADD with his parents, but they are confident that his breed (Doberman) is the reason for his lack of focus. I’ll admit that I haven’t worked with many Dobermans, but I still feel that this dog had an extra challenge that went beyond his breed and age. It’s not that he didn’t want to focus on the training, but his mind was just too busy to stay in the moment with me. I just reached out to them to ask if they’ve seen any progress with him since we last worked together. I’m very curious…
Daniëlle says
Such an interesting topic. I have wondered about this many times. Being a dog professional a think i might overthink lots of things my dog do but one of them always had troubled me. She has been different from birth. I bred her myself and she was the only dog i ever had that as a pup couldn’t be crated. She would cry all the time despite taking this really slow. After 5 months trying with all kinds of crates and puppypens I gave up and let her be free in the house with the other dogs. She never cried anymore and never destroyed anything like pups can. She is fearful of unknown dogs and will bark and lunge when i am too late to get her at a safe distance, she wants to be near me always but doesn’t likes to be petted or be really close to you. She is 7 now and will indulge me now and then but it is not for her pleasure. She doesn’t like new environments and will be stressed about it. she will happily walk the same route daily but when we change it she gets stressed. And i could go on because the list is much longer. Since my husband had aspergers and so does my eldest daughter i recognize some things they do. Although the aspergers manifest in the both of them in totally different ways. as mentioned before autism is different in so many ways for so many people. I think it is possible that my dog has a form of autism of at least a form of neurodevelopment disorder. But to diagnose as a dog behaviorist will be difficult and takes an extensive investigation into a particular dogs life. For me it became clearer during the years but would not have been my first idea before she was two because i needed to rule out all the other possibilities. And that takes time. But I am definitely convinced that some form of ADD and ASD exist in dogs.
HFR says
Thank you for this post! Answered so many questions for me.
Bonnie Kreitler says
Wow! What timing! A few years ago we adopted a dog from Tennessee. Think scent and sight-driven hound. And anxious. And ADHD. Totally uninterested in food or toy rewards. I hate labels, so I don’t say she’s “on the spectrum.” However, I’ve been devouring autistic author Temple Grandin’s books and would recommend them to others dealing with dogs that “think different.” ANIMALS IN TRANSLATION might be a starter. I learned a great deal from THINKING IN PICTURES, too. Her basic advice is to toss the labels and meet the person/animal where THEY are (not where you want them to be or think they should be). Then go from there. Sounds like people in this thread are applying that approach. Good for you and your lucky dogs! Our current dog is the first that’s sent me searching for professional help. Interviewed three before finding one with the right attitude. Through trial and error, we’ve found what helps her focus better, trigger less, and calm herself down when she does trigger. I ghost-wrote for a horse trainer who always emphasized that you wanted to be the safest place for your horse to be. That advice really helped with our Tennessee belle, too. I’ve learned more working with this gal than any other horse or dog that has passed through my life. She’s inspired a book in the works that I hope will help others with fearful, difficult dogs. Thanks for this article, Patricia. Your books have helped us with our dogs over time, too. And have enjoyed reading others’ comments.
Trisha says
Can’t wait for the book Bonnie, keep us posted. And I love the line about ‘being the safest place for your horse to be…’ Or dog. Love it love it love it. Thanks!
Linda Lipinski says
Excellent information that provides lots of thought provoking speculation. Especially appreciated your “One last thing” comments.
Rick Slottow says
Well, meet Tiger a 3-and-a-half-year-old mix. (strafe, cattle dog, Boder collie, Bichon.) When we got him at 6 months old, he was food reactive, like a crazed bagger. Now he sits and performs before being released to eat. I am not a big walker, so we go to dog parks. He is not that social, rarely finds a dog he likes, but still loved to run and play at times barking and chasing a dog chasseing a ball. However, if a dog gets in his space he may bark and or strongly tell them to back off. He is very smart and is leaning new simple tricks all the time. He is what I refer to as a “rubber band dog” he will wonder off but always comes back to smile at me and stand by my side. Now for the reason I write here. He does not like it when we get into load discussions. He well bark and lung in the air as is to turn me away from harm. Overall, he is a happy well-adjusted puppy. Some people he likes, some dogs he will put up with.
Dan Hollis says
We have a son on the Autism spectrum and a GSD that displays a lot of the same behaviors (in his own way). We know the dog was diagnosed with ADHD.
Kelley Anne says
Enjoyed your article. The thing I’m so frustrated with is that people are finally realizing that dogs can have these disorders but yet will insist that cats can’t. Seriously?! I am so tired of reading that it’s just cats being cats. I currently have 4 cats. And I have a lot of other experience with cats. My 3 year old baby boy is 100% neurodivergent. His actions ARE NOT normal cat actions. In fact, if i described a lot of what he does and claimed he was a dog and not a cat, vets would probably agree with me. But because he’s a cat, nope. Cats can’t be neurodivergent. I’m going to start trying some of the things recommended for helping dogs, like maybe CBD. I just wish there was more research.
Trisha says
Kelley Anne, re neurodivergent cats Excellent point, keep at it. I couldn’t agree more than any and all cat behavior is often dismissed as, “Oh, you know those cats.” Dismissals are just exhaustingly common. Maybe cats are the equivalent of older women, black women, etc, etc? Maybe eventually, finally, things will improve?