Greer's been itchy lately, and she's also shown more anxious behaviors. I knew something was up, and the things I considered weren't anywhere close to the real problem.

Fleas.

We had a flea explosion at home and because Greer's on flea control I didn't think it could be that. Sigh. I make mistakes.

Anyway, it reminded me of the influence of itchiness when it comes to behavior and how that's something that is often overlooked. Behaviors humans don't like are labeled as problematic and in need of modification, and sometimes it's a quality of life issue regarding physical discomfort.

This episode talks more about our experience as well as a study that compared the behavior of itchy and non-itchy dogs. If you like science, this is a good one for you.