Puppies are for sale everywhere. Classified ads and sites are full of the tiny babies bred often for an income. Responsible breeders tend to ensure homes are waiting long before a puppy is born. So we have to consider the first few weeks of puppy life when they are born already with nowhere to go.
If a dog breeder isn't responsible, they are not likely to be raising the puppies well either. An effect that we don't often see until the dog reaches adolescence, here, let's take a closer look at why.
How Adverse Early Experiences Affect a Developing Brain
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are traumatic events that occur before the age of 18, and their impact on human development has been the subject of numerous studies. ACEs include a range of negative experiences such as abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction.
The ACE study, which initially began in 1995, revealed that childhood trauma could have lifelong effects on an individual’s physical and mental health.
This can lead to increased risks of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, depression, and even premature death.
ACEs disrupt the normal development of a child’s brain and nervous system, especially when the child is exposed to prolonged or multiple forms of trauma. The cumulative effect of ACEs often leads to what is known as toxic stress, where the body’s stress response remains activated for extended periods, leading to physiological and emotional dysregulation.
For example, children who grow up in environments where they are constantly exposed to violence, substance abuse, or emotional neglect may develop heightened stress responses.
Their bodies produce excessive amounts of stress hormones like cortisol, which over time can damage the brain’s ability to regulate emotions and cope with stress. This dysregulation affects their ability to form healthy relationships, manage stress, and regulate emotions.
Prenatal stress in a mother can impact the development of her unborn child, affecting the child’s nervous system and stress responses even before birth.
AEEs in Dogs
Much like ACEs in humans, adverse early experiences (AEEs) in dogs can lead to significant behavioural and physiological changes that persist throughout their lives.
Puppies, particularly during their critical developmental phases, are highly sensitive to their environment. Just as humans are affected by their early upbringing, dogs raised in environments that are chaotic, abusive, or neglectful will often show signs of developmental trauma.
The early weeks and months of a dog’s life are a critical window for learning social skills and developing a sense of safety and security.
For instance, puppies deprived of positive socialisation with other dogs or humans or are raised in environments where they experience frequent stress (such as overcrowded breeding facilities, poor handling, or lack of basic needs), may develop fear-based behaviours.
Dogs raised in unstable environments may grow up to be overly fearful or aggressive, displaying signs of trauma when exposed to unfamiliar situations or stimuli. These dogs often find it difficult to recover from stress, exhibiting behaviours such as hypervigilance, fear aggression, or avoidance of social interactions.
The Physiology of AEEs
The effects of AEEs on dogs are mediated through similar physiological mechanisms as in humans. Chronic stress during early development alters the dog’s hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which governs the body’s stress response.
In the case of puppies exposed to early trauma, this system becomes dysregulated, leading to a state of heightened arousal where the dog is constantly on edge.
Over time, this chronic stress impairs the dog’s ability to form healthy social bonds, learn new behaviours, and adapt to changes in their environment. Much like in children with ACEs, these early adverse experiences can result in long-term mental health challenges for the dog.
Developmental Trauma in Dogs
Dogs who experience developmental trauma may exhibit behaviours such as:
Fear-based aggression: Lashing out when they feel threatened or cornered.
Hypervigilance: Constantly scanning their environment for potential threats.
Avoidance: Reluctance to engage with unfamiliar people, dogs, or environments.
Separation anxiety: Intense distress when left alone, leading to destructive behaviours.
The Importance of Early Intervention
Addressing adverse early experiences in dogs, much like addressing ACEs in humans, requires a trauma-informed approach. It’s not just about correcting unwanted behaviours but understanding the root cause of the dog’s distress.
By recognising the signs of trauma and creating a safe, structured environment for the dog, guardians and trainers can help these dogs recover and learn to trust again.
Early intervention is critical, as it can prevent the development of more severe behavioural problems later in life.
Socialisation, positive reinforcement training, and creating a calm, predictable environment are key strategies for helping a traumatised dog heal.
Just as in human trauma care, where the goal is to reduce the activation of the stress response system and promote resilience, the same principles apply to helping dogs who have experienced early life trauma.
Join me on the 9th October to discuss strategies for healing our beautiful dogs, click here. Scentwork for Healing: Empowering Dogs Through Enrichment and Exploration
Study Reference:
Corridan CL, Dawson SE, Mullan S. Potential Benefits of a 'Trauma-Informed Care' Approach to Improve the Assessment and Management of Dogs Presented with Anxiety Disorders. Animals (Basel). 2024 Jan 31;14(3):459. doi: 10.3390/ani14030459. PMID: 38338102; PMCID: PMC10854685.
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