12/23/2025
We don't know who first created this meme, but we just had to share!
If your dog is struggling with a behavior issue, particularly if their behavior has recently changed, please talk to your vet!
A LOT of behavior problems can be caused by underlying medical issues: which means that training typically isn't going to work until we fix that problem.
Finding underlying causes can be tricky. Many dogs don't obviously show that they're not feeling well- so we might only notice them getting grumpy at the cat or a slight change in how they run. But once we do a thorough investigation (whether that's hands-on evaluation, xrays, or something else), sometimes our clients find out that there was something majorly wrong.
Most of us aren't at our best when we're hurting, or itchy, or uncomfortable- and dogs are much the same. So before we spend a ton of time trying to train our dogs through reactivity, aggression, or any other behavior challenge: we want to make sure they're feeling physically ok!
A quick note: many dogs often "hide" underlying pain well and may get scared and shut down at the vet. So it's a great idea to take videos of your dog walking (or sitting, or running, or whatever else they normally do!) so your vet can see what their gait and movement looks like normally. Sometimes a vet is able to catch something they wouldn't have seen by just looking at your dog in the exam room!
