Essential Papers: reading for a dog behaviourist

1 Mills et al. (2020) — Pain and Problem Behavior in Cats and Dogs

Perhaps the single most useful paper for complex cases. Explains how pain can cause, exacerbate or change behavioural problems, including aggression, anxiety, avoidance and compulsive behaviour.

Clinical lesson: Pain doesn't have to be the original cause of a behaviour problem to become an important factor maintaining it. Read paper

2. Lopes Fagundes et al. (2018) — Noise Sensitivities in Dogs: An Exploration of Signs in Dogs with and without Musculoskeletal Pain

Compares dogs with noise sensitivity with and without identified musculoskeletal pain. Pain-associated cases tended to develop fear later and showed more environmental generalisation and avoidance of other dogs.

Clinical lesson: New or worsening noise sensitivity, environmental avoidance or fearfulness should prompt consideration of pain. Read paper

3. Kwik et al. (2025) — Detection of Maladaptive Pain in Dogs Referred for Behavioral Complaints: Challenges and Opportunities

Describes the diagnostic challenges of identifying pain when dogs initially present for behavioural problems. Particularly valuable for its use of timelines, home video, medical information and behavioural observations.

Clinical lesson: A normal examination or the absence of obvious lameness should not automatically end an investigation into possible discomfort. Read paper

4. de Assis et al. (2020) — Developing Diagnostic Frameworks in Veterinary Behavioral Medicine: Disambiguating Separation Related Problems in Dogs

Challenges the idea that separation-related problems represent one uniform condition. Identifies different patterns of behaviour, with potentially different underlying processes.

Clinical lesson: Dogs displaying distress during owner absence shouldn't all receive an identical treatment plan. The actual behaviour, emotional response and context matter. Read paper

5. Vieira de Castro et al. (2020) — Does Training Method Matter? Evidence for the Negative Impact of Aversive-Based Methods on Companion Dog Welfare

Examines behavioural, physiological and cognitive measures of welfare in dogs attending training schools using different methods.

Clinical lesson: Assess training not only by whether a behaviour stops, but also by its effects on stress, welfare and emotional state. Read paper

6. How Does Chronic Pain Impact the Lives of Dogs? (2024) — An Investigation Using the Animal Welfare Assessment Grid

Investigates the relationship between chronic musculoskeletal pain and factors such as fear, anxiety, stress recovery, social interactions and enrichment.

Clinical lesson: Changes in emotional behaviour and social engagement may accompany or even precede recognised physical signs of chronic pain. Read paper

7. Amat, Le Brech & Manteca (2024) The Relationship Between Aggression and Physical Disease in Dogs

Excellent clinical review of how musculoskeletal, neurological, dermatological, endocrine and other physical conditions may contribute to aggression.

Why read it: Helps you build a systematic medical differential for an aggressive dog, particularly when behaviour has changed suddenly. Read paper

8. Casey et al. (2014) Human Directed Aggression in Domestic Dogs: Occurrence in Different Contexts and Risk Factors

Examines aggression towards family members and unfamiliar people, both inside and outside the home.

Why read it: Different types of human-directed aggression are not interchangeable. Context matters when assessing risk, causation and treatment. Read paper

9. Factors Associated with Canine Resource Guarding Behaviour in the Presence of People (2018)

Large questionnaire study involving 3,589 dogs. Identified associations between resource guarding, fearfulness, impulsivity and particular owner practices.

Why read it: Particularly relevant to dogs guarding food, bedding, stolen objects or resting locations. It found that taking food bowls away during meals was associated with more severe or frequent guarding. Read paper

10. Mehrkam et al. (2020) Functional Analysis and Operant Treatment of Food Guarding in a Pet Dog

A fascinating single-case experimental investigation showing that resource guarding can be maintained by several different consequences.

Why read it: Challenges the assumption that all resource guarding serves the same function. Useful for developing individualised treatment plans, although its procedures aren't appropriate for owners to reproduce unsupervised in high-risk cases. Read paper

11. Farhoody et al. (2018) Aggression Toward Familiar People, Strangers, and Conspecifics in Gonadectomized and Intact Dogs

Investigates associations between neutering and several forms of aggression.

Why read it: Important when advising on castration or Suprelorin. Neutering should not be assumed to be a reliable treatment for aggression without understanding the underlying motivation. Read paper

12. Salonen et al. (2020) Prevalence, Comorbidity, and Breed Differences in Canine Anxiety in 13,700 Finnish Pet Dogs

Large epidemiological investigation of noise sensitivity, fearfulness, separation-related behaviour, aggression and compulsive behaviour.

Why read it: Demonstrates how frequently behavioural difficulties coexist. A dog presenting with aggression may also experience broader anxiety, noise sensitivity or other emotional difficulties. Read free paper

13. Puurunen et al. (2020) Inadequate Socialisation, Inactivity, and Urban Living Environment Are Associated with Social Fearfulness in Pet Dogs

Examines factors associated with fear of unfamiliar people and other dogs in approximately 6,000 dogs.

Why read it: Particularly relevant to cases where owners cannot understand why a dog raised with littermates or other dogs becomes fearful of its own species. Read free paper

14. Separation-related Problems and Their Interaction with Physical Disease (2024)

Explores how musculoskeletal, neurological, gastrointestinal and dermatological conditions can mimic or exacerbate separation-related problems.

Why read it: Particularly useful when a previously settled dog suddenly develops separation distress or stops responding to training. Read paper

15. Simpson et al. (2007) Effects of Reconcile (Fluoxetine) Chewable Tablets Plus Behavior Management for Canine Separation Anxiety

A multicentre randomised clinical trial.

Why read it: Foundational evidence for the use of fluoxetine alongside behaviour modification in separation anxiety. Read paper

16. King et al. (2000) Treatment of Separation Anxiety in Dogs with Clomipramine: Results from a Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

One of the foundational controlled studies of clomipramine treatment.

Why read it: Helps you understand the evidence underpinning veterinary prescribing decisions and the role of medication alongside behavioural intervention. Read paper

17. Dantas & Ogata (2024) Veterinary Psychopharmacology. A clinical review of psychotropic medication in veterinary behavioural medicine.

Why read it: Useful for understanding medication classes, mechanisms and how to communicate with prescribing vets about treatment options, side effects and response. Read paper

18. Korpivaara et al. (2017) Dexmedetomidine Oromucosal Gel for Noise-Associated Acute Anxiety and Fear in Dogs

Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving 182 dogs.

Why read it: Important evidence supporting pharmacological management of acute noise-related fear. Helps distinguish longer-term anxiolytic treatment from medication for predictable acute events. Read paper

19. Karagiannis, Burman & Mills (2015) Dogs with Separation-Related Problems Show a “Less Pessimistic” Cognitive Bias During Treatment with Fluoxetine and a Behaviour Modification Plan

Examines changes in cognitive judgement bias during treatment.

Why read it: One of the more interesting studies linking behavioural treatment with changes in underlying affective state, rather than simply measuring whether unwanted behaviours stop. Read free paper

20. China, Mills & Cooper (2020) Efficacy of Dog Training With and Without Remote Electronic Collars vs. a Focus on Positive Reinforcement

Compares three training approaches in dogs with off-lead behavioural problems.

Why read it: Particularly useful when discussing claims about e-collar effectiveness. The study found no evidence that remote electronic collars were necessary for the training task investigated. Read free paper

21. Ziv (2017) The Effects of Using Aversive Training Methods in Dogs—A Review

Reviews 17 studies of training methods, behavioural outcomes and welfare.

Why read it: A foundational review for understanding the welfare consequences of aversive methods and critically evaluating claims about punishment-based training. Read paper

22. Root et al. (2018) Canine Pseudopregnancy: An Evaluation of Prevalence and Current Treatment Protocols in the UK

Examines veterinary recognition and management of pseudopregnancy, including behavioural symptoms.

Why read it: Very useful for understanding anxiety, aggression and behavioural changes associated with pseudopregnancy, including presentations without obvious physical signs. Read free paper

23. Dogs with Chronic Enteropathy and Low Disease Activity Show Signs Consistent with Compromised Emotional Health Compared to Matched Healthy Control Dogs (2026)

A case-control study comparing 50 dogs with chronic enteropathy against matched healthy dogs.

Why read it: Especially relevant to cases involving unexplained anxiety, appetite changes or gastrointestinal disease. The findings support an association between gastrointestinal illness and poorer emotional health, although causality remains uncertain. Read paper

24. Tananaeva & Udell (2026) Stress, Needs, and Behaviour: Understanding Chronic Stress in Pet Domestic Dogs from the Prism of Needs

Recent review of chronic stress, unmet needs, agency, sensory overstimulation and human dependence.

Why read it: Offers a broader welfare-based perspective on dogs experiencing chronic anxiety or environmental stress. Useful when exploring why behavioural treatment may be insufficient without changes to the dog's living conditions. Read paper

25. Hsu & Serpell (2003) Development and Validation of a Questionnaire for Measuring Behavior and Temperament Traits in Pet Dogs

Introduces the validated C-BARQ questionnaire.

Why read it: Essential for appreciating the value and limitations of structured behavioural histories, standardised measurement and tracking outcomes over time.Read paper