Behavioural Rehabilitation of a White Swiss Shepherd Dog with Sensory Deprivation Syndrome: A Non-Pharmacological Case Report

Abstract

Fear-related behavioural disorders are among the leading causes of management difficulties in domestic dogs and may manifest as avoidance, hypervigilance, aggressive responses, and impaired emotional regulation. This paper describes the behavioural rehabilitation of a dog presenting with a complex clinical picture characterised by generalized fear, reactivity toward both conspecifics and unfamiliar people, and anxiety-related responses to environmental stimuli.

This article presents the case of Boo, an intact one-year-old male White Swiss Shepherd Dog raised in a household environment from two months of age, who exhibited intraspecific leash-directed aggression, fear-based aggression toward unfamiliar people, fear of children, noise-related fear, and behavioural signs consistent with Sensory Deprivation Syndrome.

In accordance with the owner's preference, the intervention did not include pharmacological treatment and relied exclusively on behavioural modification techniques. The rehabilitation programme incorporated structured daily routines, environmental management, systematic desensitization and counterconditioning, leash management, increased behavioural freedom and autonomy, problem-solving activities, and carefully controlled socialization. The intervention emphasized predictable routines, respect for the dog's individual tolerance thresholds, and gradual, controlled exposure to triggering stimuli. This approach resulted in clinically significant improvement through a structured behavioural modification programme without pharmacological support.