Does my dog have ADHD?

You wouldn't believe how often we get asked this question!

For the record, the answer is always "No".

So why do so many people think that this might be the case? ADHD is often associated with hyperactivity, but is a much more complex condition in humans that affects many things, including executive functioning.

Dogs don't suffer from ADHD, but many behaviours can leave owners wondering, such as:

🟥 Frantic behaviour

🟩 Jumping up

🟦 Biting and mouthing

🟨 Lack of attention

🟧 Struggling to settle

Albert is excited to play

All of these are characteristic of two common problems with dogs, particularly working and high drive breeds.

The first is overwhelm, or overstimulation. Often found in:

🐾 Dogs exposed to more than they can currently cope with, such as busy, unfamiliar or overly exciting environments.

🐾 Dogs who suffer from anxiety and worry.

🐾 Dogs who don't have clear rules and expectations showing signs of frustration. 🐾 Dogs who regularly have adrenaline spikes from tense or scary experiences, or from highly stimulating games such as ball-throwing.

The second is lack of mental stimulation. Often found in:

🐾 Dogs who have been bred for a specific task but are not given any opportunities to use these natural instincts

🐾 Hunting dogs or dogs with high prey drive who don't get chance to practise these types of behaviours in a safe way

🐾 High energy dogs with high stamina who can't be 'tired out' through walking

🐾 Dogs who do a lot of walks on short leads without enough opportunities for 'dog behaviours' like sniffing and exploring

A lot of this boils down to unmet needs. Some of a dog's needs are obvious - food, water, safe place to sleep, social interaction. Some are less obvious, such as the need to hunt, work and play in appropriate ways. Making them use their brains more is the way forward.

✅ Enrichment activities can help with things like this, but there are so many options, which should you choose?

Enrichment can be anything from food puzzles and toys, to regular training classes for a sport such as rally, agility etc. What is important is to look at what your dog is physically able to do, and what they enjoy and use that for enrichment. Dogs that sniff a lot would enjoy scentwork or searching for hidden toys or food. Dogs that like to chase would enjoy a flirt pole or moving toys. Some breeds can give clues as well.

Agility is a great way to give physical exercise and mental stimulation at the same time.

For example: Border collies love to herd, so try dribbling a ball between your feet or give them a giant ball to push around. Spaniels love to hunt in the undergrowth for prey scents so hide scented toys for them to sniff out. Terriers love to chase and catch small things, so give them something squeaky on a flirt pole to run down. Dachshunds love to dig so set up a sand pit and bury some toys or treats.

Sherlock uses his nose and his brain to find a hidden scent

If you're not sure what your dog's breed is, or what their breed was bred for, a quick search online will give you some clues. Or you can simply watch your dog playing (or being naughty) and think about what they were trying to get out of it.

A few more tips for you:

🧩 Licking, chewing and sniffing can all help dogs relax.

🧩 Heavy sniffing, where you can see their ribs moving and hear the sniffs, will actually lower their heart rate!

🧩 Dogs that love to shred can help with the recycling by ripping up boxes and card to fit better in the bin. You can even hide a bit of food inside small boxes inside a big box for snuffling fun.

🧩 Keep an eye on the page for some easy, low cost enrichment games that we love coming soon