Through a New Lens: The Art of Interpreting Canine Behavior

Is your dog more punk than classical? photo: AdobeStock

Is your dog’s body language more like a living sculpture or a jazz improvisation? According to Dr. Alison Gerken, board-certified veterinary behaviorist, understanding canine communication is much like interpreting a work of art - though with higher stakes if we get it wrong. 

When two canine behavior nerds (that would be Dr. Gerken and myself) sat down recently to chat, our conversation ran the gamut from the fascinating science behind canine learning to surprising connections between a dog’s gut health and behavior. Whether you’re curious about why some dogs eat non-food items or wondering about the myth of dominance, Dr. Gerken’s insights may change the way you see your four-legged companion’s unique behavior. 

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Sara: As someone who’s always been fascinated by animal behavior, I’d love to hear how you found your way to this specialty. Can you share a little about what drew you to study canine behavior and what your current role looks like?

Dr. Gerken: My path into veterinary behavior definitely wasn’t linear! I actually came to veterinary medicine a little later in life after exploring a few different careers and quite a bit of travel. But no matter what else I tried, I always found myself coming back to working with animals. So eventually I decided to go for it. I took all the science classes I’d originally avoided in undergrad - while working full time to gain veterinary experience - and after three tough years, I got into UC Davis. I was so grateful just to be there that I truly loved every block and every rotation. At one point, I wanted to be an internist… then a neurologist… then an oncologist. But throughout it all, behavior kept pulling me in. I became co-president of the Behavior Medicine and Welfare Club, and I started spending more and more time with Dr. Melissa Bain and Dr. Liz Stelow of the college’s  Behavior Service. They became incredible mentors to me.

After graduation, I did a rotating internship at a multi-specialty hospital, then worked as an emergency vet at several Bay Area hospitals. It was an incredible experience, but what struck me was that while we were treating physical illnesses with such top tier Gold Standard care, behavioral disorders were being largely overlooked. Pets were going home medically stabilized but still deeply emotionally unwell. That didn’t sit right with me. I realized I wanted to focus on the well-being of the whole pet - and just as importantly, the people who love them.

I went on to do a clinical behavior residency with Dr. Lisa Radosta at Florida Veterinary Behavior Service and became board certified in 2024. I’ve been working at the SF SPCA for about two and a half years now as a veterinary behaviorist, seeing public patients through the specialty service. My role is all about supporting families through what is often one of the most emotionally challenging experiences of pet ownership. Behavioral disorders are tough for the animal but also for the people who care for them. I’m really passionate about building long-term relationships, guiding families through the process, and helping them feel seen, supported, and empowered to improve life for their pets.

Sara: What a fascinating journey you’ve had! I love how you recognized that emotional wellbeing is just as important as physical health. Since our theme this month touches on dogs in art, I’m curious. If dog behavior was an art form, what would it be: poetry, jazz, sculpture? And why?

Dr. Gerken: If dog behavior were a form of art, I think it would be sculpture. A dog’s body language is similar to a sculpture in that each posture and movement is intentional and communicates something about how they’re feeling or what they need in that moment. Just as an artist creates a sculpture with a message in mind, dogs are constantly sending signals with their bodies that have specific meanings.

But interpretation of a sculpture can vary. One person might see joy, another might see sadness - and neither might reflect what the artist actually intended. The same happens with dogs. Humans often project their own assumptions onto a dog’s behavior. They think a dog is being ‘stubborn’ or ‘guilty’ or ‘dominant,’ when really that dog might be overwhelmed, confused, or scared.

The difference is, with sculpture, misinterpretation might spark an interesting conversation. But with dogs, misunderstanding their behavior can have serious consequences. It can lead to fear, a sense of not being safe, breakdowns in trust, and even the development of behavior problems. So I think of my role as helping people become better interpreters in a way - teaching them to really see what their dog is expressing.

Sara: That’s such a beautiful analogy! I especially like how you described your role as helping people become better interpreters of these living sculptures. Speaking of interpretations, what’s a myth about dog behavior you wish would finally die out?

Dr. Gerken: Well, there are some major ones I wish we could finally put to rest. The idea that dogs are trying to be alpha or dominate their family is a big one. And so is the concept that punishment-based tools like shock or prong collars aren’t painful or harmful. Honestly, there’s such an overwhelming amount of science, expert consensus, and lived experience refuting those approaches that it’s baffling to me that we still have to debunk them. Every day I see dogs and families who’ve been emotionally - and sometimes physically - broken by those outdated ideas.

But one myth I really wish we could stop believing is this: that dogs with behavior issues have ‘bad’ owners. I work with pet parents all day, every day, and they are some of the most dedicated people I’ve ever met. They leave no stone unturned. They put in time, energy, emotion, physical effort, and financial resources to help their dogs.

Behavior problems in dogs are not a reflection of a lack of love or effort. They’re often rooted in neurochemical imbalances, genetics, early life experiences - just like mental health issues in people. Yes, environment plays a role, but it’s rarely the sole cause. And blaming the owner isn’t just incorrect - it’s harmful. It places judgment and guilt onto someone who may already be exhausted and overwhelmed, which becomes a barrier to progress. People don’t need blame - they need support.

And on top of that, we - meaning humans - often provoke dogs without realizing it. We approach, reach for, and touch without asking for consent or reading their body language and then we wonder why the dog acted out. So I think we need to reframe the conversation. Let’s assume people (and dogs) are doing the best they can. A little kindness and grace go a long way.

Sara: I couldn’t agree more about the harm in blaming owners. That kind of judgment can really prevent people from seeking help when they need it most. Has there been a particular piece of behavior science that completely changed how you approach behavioral cases?

Dr. Gerken: Something that really shifted how I approach cases is rooted in the Yerkes-Dodson Law. It’s this principle in behavioral science that says performance and learning improves with arousal but only up to a point. So if there’s too little arousal, the animal might be disengaged or unmotivated, but if there’s too much - like fear, panic, or high stress - learning shuts down. There’s a sweet spot in the middle where learning is actually most effective.

I think sometimes in our field, especially with desensitization and counterconditioning, there’s this well-intentioned urge to avoid any and all stress - to keep the animal so far below threshold that they’re never even slightly aroused. And I understand why - it comes from a place of compassion. But I’ve found that when we aim for zero stress, we might actually end up in a zone where the animal isn’t engaged enough to learn or succeed.

So I started reframing things. Instead of avoiding all arousal, I aim for that just-right level where the animal notices the stimulus, maybe shows a mild reaction, but still feels safe and able to process and engage. It’s helped me to be more flexible, and more personalized in adjusting recommendations based on what that particular animal can tolerate and learn from in the moment.

Sara: The Yerkes-Dodson Law makes so much sense when you explain it that way. It’s like finding that sweet spot where learning can actually happen. I’ve also been reading about connections between behavior and physical health. Are there any recent studies in this area that have caught your interest?

Dr. Gerken: One fascinating area is the connection between behavioral disorders and gastrointestinal disease, which we see as comorbidities regularly. This isn’t surprising given what we’re learning about the gut-brain axis. There’s research connecting oral-related behaviors, like excessive licking of surfaces, to underlying gastrointestinal disease.

A recent study in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior examined the link between foreign body ingestion and behavioral disorders in dogs. They compared 42 dogs who had ingested foreign objects to 42 control dogs and found that in about 88% of those cases, the foreign body ingestion was likely behaviorally driven rather than medical.

This hasn’t changed my approach in terms of still recommending diagnostics, but it has changed how I frame those conversations. I’m more proactive now in helping pet parents understand that even if GI testing comes back negative, behavioral treatments, including psychotropic medications, may be indicated. It reminds us that behavior and physical health are incredibly intertwined, and we need to approach cases from both angles.

Sara: I imagine explaining complex treatments to pet parents can be challenging. Do you have a favorite metaphor or explanation you use when describing medications or treatment plans to clients?

Dr. Gerken: One of my favorite metaphors for behavior meds is actually from my own life. I have a pretty intense fear of flying, but I also have an adventure bug and a huge love of travel, which makes for a tricky combo. When I was younger, I tried everything to overcome my fear. I read books, took a fear of flying course, even worked with a professional. But the second the plane hit turbulence, I was over threshold and panic would take over. For years, I just stopped flying altogether. It was heartbreaking. I missed family events on the East Coast, weddings, and places I longed to visit.

Eventually, my physician suggested trying anti-anxiety medication. At first, I was hesitant. Before vet school, I didn’t know much about how these meds worked, and I was nervous about anything that could alter how I felt or thought (I’m a worrier by nature!). But once I combined medication with the tools I had learned - like box breathing and grounding exercises - the whole experience changed. The flights weren’t perfect, but they became manageable. And because of that, I’ve now solo-traveled to over 75 countries. I’ve fulfilled so many of my dreams:  trekking for tigers in India, working with primates in Africa, swimming with sharks in the Galapagos, coming face-to-face with a jaguar on a jungle trek in Belize - all things that would’ve been impossible without that extra bit of support.

I share my story with clients because I know how scary medication can feel at first. But just like me with flying, when behavior meds are used thoughtfully, they don’t erase who a dog is and all the things we love about them. They just help bring their nervous system to a place where learning and growth are actually possible. The goal is never to sedate them or change their personality. It’s to help them live the amazing, adventurous life they deserve.

Sara: It sounds like you’re constantly exploring new frontiers in the field. What’s something in canine behavior science you’re still curious about or actively learning more about?

Dr. Gerken: One area I’m actively exploring is the role of enrichment and the science behind determining what is actually enriching to an individual dog. We all agree that enrichment is important, but I think the word has become a bit of a catch-all. Pet parents often assume that putting down a snuffle mat or food toy is enough, but what’s enriching to one dog may be boring or even frustrating to another.

I’m really interested in research that helps us move beyond generic enrichment toward something more personalized and impactful. That includes looking at breed-specific traits that may influence what a dog finds rewarding or engaging. For example, dogs who are selectively bred for olfactory-driven tasks - such as scent detection or tracking - may find scent-based enrichment significantly more fulfilling than toys that emphasize visual engagement.

Ultimately, tailoring enrichment to the individual dog - just as we do with treatment plans - has the potential to enhance their well-being and welfare.

Sara: That makes so much sense - one size definitely doesn’t fit all when it comes to engaging different dogs. On another note, from your perspective, what do you think is one of the most overlooked welfare issues for pet dogs today?

Dr. Gerken: I think that would have to be the underutilization of professional services - or, just as critically, not knowing which type of professional to turn to for help. I see so many dogs whose quality of life is deeply affected by fear, stress, or behavioral challenges that could be addressed with the right combination of training, medical diagnostics, or even behavior medication. But far too often, families either don’t seek support early enough or unknowingly turn to the wrong kind of help.

This lack of guidance can be harmful. Dog training is an unregulated industry, which means anyone can label themselves a trainer. Without oversight or minimum standards, well-meaning pet parents may end up working with someone who uses punitive methods or aversive tools like prong collars or shock collars despite a growing body of research showing that these tools can actually  increase stress and aggression and damage the human-animal bond.

I see dogs every day whose behavior has worsened, or who have developed entirely new problems, as a direct result of the training methodologies they endured. I also see cases where behavior concerns went unaddressed for years - sometimes because families didn’t realize that veterinary behaviorists or certified and force-free trainers existed or that the behavior they were seeing might have a medical component.

For me, improving dogs’ welfare means increasing access to and awareness of credentialed professionals, fostering collaboration between trainers and veterinarians, and empowering pet parents to make informed decisions based on science and compassion.

Sara: That’s such an important issue that doesn’t get enough attention. Access to qualified professionals can truly be life-changing for both dogs and their families. To wrap up on a lighter note, what’s something joyful or surprising you’ve learned through your work with dogs?

Dr. Gerken: I count my lucky stars every night that I get to work with dogs. They are a constant source of joy and surprise, always keeping me laughing and humble.

One of the things that brings me the most joy is witnessing just how deeply loved my canine patients are. Without getting political, I think we can all agree that we’re living in a time marked by a lot of worry, turmoil, and unpredictability. Many of us are leaning on our communities - including our beloved pets - for comfort and connection.

And in the midst of a world that sometimes feels divided, what I see every day in my exam room is unwavering love and devotion to this amazing species. It’s incredibly moving. That bond, that commitment to understanding and helping a dog feel safe and happy - it gives me hope.

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Throughout my conversation with Dr. Gerken, I was struck by the parallels between the artistic process and her work as a veterinary behaviorist. Both require careful observation, interpretation, and a willingness to look beyond the surface. Like an artist who sees the potential in a block of marble, Dr. Gerken sees the potential in each dog to live a fuller, less fearful life. Her approach - blending science with compassion - reminds us that understanding our dogs is both an art and a science, one that requires patience, creativity, and an open mind.