With ADHD in the spotlight, some dog owners are wondering if their pets could show similar symptoms. Dr Guy Sandelowsky, a practising vet, OMNI co-founder and widely known as The Dog Doctor, says that while dogs can display behaviours that mirror some ADHD traits seen in humans, owners need to think carefully before drawing firm conclusions.
Can dogs actually have ADHD?
Dr Sandelowsky explained: "Dogs can display behaviours that look remarkably similar to some of the features associated with ADHD in people, including hyperactivity, impulsivity and difficulty maintaining attention. In veterinary behavioural medicine, we would generally talk about hyperactivity, hyperkinesis or impulsivity rather than diagnosing a dog with human ADHD. That said, owners shouldn't assume that a very energetic or easily distracted dog has a medical condition."
What are the signs?
Signs owners might notice include an unusual inability to settle, constant activity, very short attention span, excessive excitability, impulsive behaviour and difficulty concentrating even in relatively calm environments.
"The key word is unusual," Dr Sandelowsky said. "A young Labrador getting wildly excited when someone comes through the door is very different from a dog that seems almost incapable of settling or regulating its behaviour throughout everyday life."
ADHD or simply a lively dog?
A lot of completely normal dog behaviour can also be mistaken for a disorder. Boredom, insufficient exercise, anxiety, frustration and lack of appropriate mental stimulation can all result in behaviours that look superficially similar. Before attaching a label to the dog, owners need to look at exercise, enrichment, sleep, training, environment and emotional state.
Age and breed can also be factors. Dr Sandelowsky added: "Puppies and adolescent dogs naturally tend to be more energetic, impulsive and distractible. That doesn't mean certain breeds 'have ADHD'. It means we have to judge behaviour in the context of what is normal for that individual dog, its age and its breed."
What should dog owners do?
Dr Sandelowsky said he would not recommend trying to diagnose a dog from a TikTok checklist. If the behaviour is persistent, extreme or affecting the dog's welfare or the owner's ability to manage them, owners should speak to their vet. One of the most useful things owners can do beforehand is take videos and keep a short behaviour diary, recording when the behaviour happens, what happened immediately beforehand, how much exercise and sleep the dog has had, and how long it takes them to settle.
