10/03/2026
Amazing resource! Iโve preached to my clients over the years how it is rarely โjustโ behavior. Dogs cannot speak to us verbally when they are in pain or discomfort so we must learn the ways they do speak and push for further diagnostics as needed. Excited to go through this resource myself!
I wish I had known years ago that recognizing and treating my dogโs pain, as a guardian, isnโt necessarily an exercise in tallying specific signs.
There are few behaviours specific to pain, and the ones that do usually point to discomfort donโt always signal a specific kind.
A dog chewing the base of tail could be experiencing itch, GI inflammation, paraesthesias, or gland pathology.
A dog licking their belly might have urinary tract discomfort, digestive upset, allergies, or a skin infection.
A dog with a hunched posture and an unusual gait might have joint pain, nerve issues, or a tummy ache.
One dog might experience all of these at the same time. They might have another condition entirely. We cannot tell by looking.
If you try to explain the sign before you look at the whole dog, you might miss important clues that could make a big difference in their welfare and overall response to care, even โ or maybe especially! โ if you guessed part of it right.
If youโre ready to learn about pain patterns and how they can show up in dog behaviour, or if you just need a free resource to share with someone whoโs lost without it, I can help. I made a simple, sustainable activity and behaviour tracking sheet for guardians, with an 8-part mini-course to go along. All for $0.
Check out the link in my bio for my new, free mini course:
Pain Made Simple.
[Image: Rory the terrier sniffs a tree root while wearing a long-sleeved rain jacket. The text says, โI wish Iโd known this years ago: Pain is in the patterns, not just the behaviours. These get clearer over time.โ]
