The Pain-behavior connection in Dogs
90-minute webinar
Monday, May 18, 2026 | 6:30 pM

 

The number of dogs struggling with pain is staggering, and we now know that up to 82% of behavioral issues in dogs may be caused or exacerbated by pain.

Pain is complex and a very small change in a dog's behavior can signify that they are experiencing a huge amount of pain. And many behaviors that signify potential pain are often not what we expect to see!

Unfortunately, dogs hide pain really well and often their behavior is the only sign something is wrong. By the time we see a more obvious sign of pain such as limping, the dog may have been in pain for weeks, months, or years! 

If your dog exhibits or experiences any of the following (and more!), they may be experiencing pain:

 
  • Reactivity

  • Aggression

  • Gut issues

  • Picky eating

  • Hyperactivity

  • Pulling on leash

  • Noise sensitivity

  • Sits in a "lazy" sit

  • Anal gland issues

  • Separation anxiety

  • Resource guarding

  • Touch and handling sensitivities/avoidance

  • Stopped doing something they used to do

  • Hesitance or refusal to jump on and off furniture or in and out of the car

 

Dogs in pain will still do a lot of things that can make it seem like they couldn't possibly be in pain like run, play ball for hours, and get excited to go on walks. Even puppies can already be experiencing pain at a very young age. Unfortunately, clinic stress can make it difficult for your dog's vet to see signs of pain, so it's really difficult to tell!

Please register for this webinar to learn more about this extremely important issue.