Understanding High Sensitivity in Pets: How to Help Your Highly Sensitive Dog Thrive
By Shannon Cutts.
High sensitivity in pets is not fear, anxiety or shyness. It is not a trauma response or a breed-specific temperament type. What is it? Simply put, high sensitivity – also known as Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) – is a genetic trait that impacts up to 20 percent of a given species population.
Homo sapiens (that is, human beings) have it. Birds have it. Fish, fruit flies and chimpanzees have it. So do at least 100 other species and counting.
Dogs have it too.
In dogs, the trait is called canine Sensory Processing Sensitivity (cSPS). In this article, you will learn what makes dogs with cSPS different from dogs who do have this trait. You will also learn how to help your highly sensitive dog thrive in an overstimulating world.
Does Your Dog Have the Highly Sensitive Trait?
Medical issues, past history of trauma and certain breed-specific temperament traits can mimic the high sensitivity response in dogs. There is no blood test that can detect cSPS.
At present, researchers evaluate for high sensitivity by studying a dog’s response to different types of sensory stimuli. Low or no response means the trait is likely absent. Elevated or extreme response not attributed to other known underlying causes means the trait is likely present.
For example, otherwise healthy dogs with the cSPS trait often exhibit aggressive or avoidant responses in response to common sensory stimuli such as bright lights, loud sounds, strong smells or flavors, temperature changes, scratchy or rough textures, changes to daily routine, strange people or pets, crowded areas and/or negative training protocols, just to name a few.
At the end of this article, you will be invited to complete a short quiz to see where your dog may fall on the high sensitivity spectrum.
Pay Attention to How You Describe Your Dog to Others
In my animal communication practice, I often hear new pet parent clients describe their highly sensitive dogs as follows: “he’s always just been a little different,” “she just seems shy or anxious, “he gets aggressive when we go out in public,” “she gets her feelings hurt so easily” and other similar statements.
But often these pet parents don’t know their pup is highly sensitive. So, when they first come to me for help, they may be deeply worried their dog is sick, traumatized, misbehaving or even untrainable.
What a relief it is to identify the real culprit – canine Sensory Processing Sensitivity.
Here’s something else I find quite intriguing. In the process of learning more about their dog’s high sensitivity, more than a few of my human clients discover they may have the trait for high sensitivity too. In the intuitive world I live in, such synchronicities are never accidental!
6 Practical Tools to Help Your Highly Sensitive Pup
What you need to know going into the management phase of cSPS is that you can’t turn your dog’s inner preset down or off. Your dog was quite literally “born this way” and will need lifelong help managing their sensitivity.
But here is the good news. Once you understand this, there are plenty of inexpensive and easy options to help your sensitive dog cope.
- Sensory buffers.
Sensory buffers really can help lower the volume on incoming sensory stimuli. Consider options such as goggles, booties, ear plugs or hoodies, warm clothing for cold seasons, soft fabric textures for bedding and blankets, light dimmers, use of seasonal temperature controls (such as a programmable or zoned thermostat), bland diet and treats and even sound/sensory proofing an area where your dog can retreat to rest and reset.
- Predictable schedule.
Nothing says “I love you” to a highly sensitive dog like a predictable daily routine. In fact, your cSPS dog’s entire nervous system revolves around it.
- Avoidance.
Good old-fashioned avoidance of sensory overstimulation will never be underrated in a highly sensitive dog’s world.
- Animal communication.
You could guess what your highly sensitive dog wants and needs to feel seen, supported and safe in an overstimulating world. Or you could ask them directly! I have lost count of how many highly sensitive pets I have spoken with who have expressed profound relief at finally being heard and understood for who they are and how they are wired.
- Self-awareness.
When I work with pets, they tell me again and again that the very word “pet” stands for Partner. Empathic friend. Teacher. Suffice it to say – your dog is very aware of your inner state and very keen to help you feel your best. This doesn’t mean you should try to mask or dissociate from your own difficult feelings. But it is an invitation to add new coping skills to your self-care toolkit. What can you do to make life’s challenges easier on you both?
- My free highly sensitive pet help guide.
Take the free quiz to evaluate your pup for the cSPS trait. Enjoy a short informational video series and other rich resources to help you understand and support your highly sensitive dog. Request your free guide using the link below.
Shannon Cutts is a professional animal sensitive and intuitive, Reiki Master and animal communication teacher with Animal Love Languages. Shannon’s global client base seeks her out for help with pet anxiety, highly sensitive pets, pet transition, pet reincarnation, interspecies family dynamics and more. Request Shannon’s free Highly Sensitive Pet Help Guide here: https://www.animallovelanguages.com/HSPetoptin
