Stage of development (in this case, adolescence), physiologic and medical issues, and insufficient training and exercise can contribute to behavior problems.
Adolescence can be one of the most difficult canine developmental stages for owners to endure; however, aggression is not a trait of adolescence. Stevie’s aggression manifested at an early age and persisted into adolescence. His aggression was unrelated to dominance or hierarchy issues with his owners. Although mounting is often considered a dominant behavior, it can also be a sign of sexual arousal, stress, play, or excitement.
The owners performed extensive research before choosing to adopt a goldendoodle, and they received ongoing coaching from skilled trainers. Stevie was provided adequate exercise for his age and breed and was stimulated by training daily and given the opportunity to engage with enrichment toys.
Based on Stevie’s history, physiologic and medical issues are likely the most significant contributors to his behavior. Stevie clearly showed marked global anxiety and aggression despite the input of educated owners, skilled dog trainers, and knowledgeable veterinarians. The difficulty in this case lay in Stevie’s physiology (ie, his medical issues and potential food allergy). Stevie’s natural anxiety1 was observed from a young age, was compounded by dermatologic and GI disease, and persisted across various contexts rather than being a reaction to a specific event or situation.