Can a dog have mental retardation? Can dogs really be retarded or mentally challenged? Yes. The brain is an organ, and it is susceptible to abnormalities. Everything that has a brain can deal with mental challenges and disorders, including dogs.
How can you tell if a dog is mentally disabled?
- Avoiding eye contact.
- Excessively licking their lips or sniffing the air.
- Moving away from people who approach them.
- Yawning when they’re not tired.
- Pacing back and forth or in circles.
- Trembling.
- Whimpering or whining.
- Yawning when they’re not sleepy.
Are there mentally handicapped animals? If you’ve ever suspected your dog is depressed or your cat has a touch of obsessive compulsive disorder, you could be right. Most veterinarians and animal psychologists agree that animals can indeed suffer from various mental disorders, though not in quite the same ways as humans.
How do you train a mentally challenged dog? Food puzzles – things like frozen Kong’s, Kong Wobblers, and treat balls or toys can all be great ways to teach your dog to work for his/her food – and get some mental stimulation too. Think food + fun! Playing hiding seek inside with your dog is a great way to have fun and work on the ever important Come! command!