I’ve said the sentence “my dog is so ADHD” and “my parrot is autistic” more times than I’ve said “hi” to my neighbours. And look, I live in Perth. I have to say hi to my neighbours a lot. But lately, scientists seem to be legitimately suggesting something many of us neurodivergent pet owners have known all along: some animals might also experience neurodiversity in ways that feel very familiar to us.
This isn’t about slapping human diagnoses onto our pets or calling your kelpie “autistic” because he vibes better with the lawnmower than with guests. It’s about recognising that variation in brain structure and behaviour exists across species, and that some of our furry companions might be wired in ways that rhyme with autism or ADHD traits.
This is a mix of research, careful hypothesis, and a smidge of “animals are complicated little weirdos”. And we love that.
The science so far
Neurodiversity in humans is tied to brain structure, chemistry, and how we process sensory information. Diagnosing animals with human conditions isn’t straightforward because they can’t tell us what they’re feeling. They also can’t fill in a pre-assessment questionnaire or cry in the car before their appointment. (Or maybe they can. Dogs do cry for many reasons.)
But animal behaviour researchers have found genetic and behavioural patterns that look a lot like neurodivergence.
What the research actually shows
From work by Dr Jacqueline Boyd, Senior Lecturer in Animal Science at Nottingham Trent University:
- Structural differences in genes linked to hypersocial behaviour have been found in dogs.
- Impulsivity in dogs is tied to serotonin and dopamine, just like ADHD in humans.
- Selective breeding for human companionship might have accidentally prioritised traits that parallel neurodivergent human behaviour.
Her research also cites evidence that many species, from dogs to rodents to non-human primates, show variations in brain functioning that align with neurodivergence.
A good example comes from certain beagles that have a variation in the Shank3 gene, the same gene linked to autism in people. These pups tend to:
- Show reduced desire to interact with people
- Have less neurological coupling with humans
- Display differences in regions linked to attention
Neural coupling is when brain activity between two beings syncs up during interaction. Humans do it. Neurotypical dogs do it. Dogs with the Shank3 mutation don’t as much.
A reminder that autism is not simply “not bonding”. It is a fundamentally different neurological rhythm, and this research shows something intriguingly similar might occur in some dogs.
Yes, even LSD turned up in the research
This part surprised me, too.
In a controlled study (not something you do at home, obviously), a single dose of LSD given to Shank3-mutant beagles increased attention and improved neural coupling for several days. This lines up with similar results observed in mice and even humans.
Legal and ethical issues here are enormous. No one is suggesting “psychedelic dog training” (if anyone tries to sell that, run). But it highlights that studying neurodivergent traits in animals can meaningfully inform human research.
Dogs with behavioural quirks: neurodivergence or normal dog chaos?
A huge 2024 owner-reported study of over 43,000 dogs found that more than 99 per cent displayed at least one behavioural issue. That’s… basically every dog ever. But certain patterns, such as:
- Obsessive behaviours
- Extreme fear or anxiety
- Hypervigilance
- Impulsivity
- Difficulty with social interaction
- Problems with focus
All mirror traits found in autistic or ADHD humans.
Again, this doesn’t mean your dog is “autistic” in the clinical sense. It means behaviour exists on a spectrum, and some animals sit in spots that feel very familiar to neurodivergent people.
As Dr Boyd put it (via the Daily Mail, and we’re absolutely noting our scepticism here…):
“Some dogs might be very much like the neurotypical human, whereas other dogs might be more neurodivergent and be more like someone with autism or ADHD.”
“Giving a human diagnosis to an animal that can’t speak in the same way that we do is a really difficult thing. But what we can say is that they will sometimes exhibit behaviour tendencies that in a human would meet diagnostic criteria for a neurodivergent condition.”
What this means for us as pet parents
If animals can experience the world in different neurological ways, then:
- Training might need to be more flexible
- High-energy or sensitive animals may require enriched environments
- “Difficult” behaviour might be misunderstood communication
- Rehoming or euthanasia due to behavioural issues might be preventable
- We can celebrate neurodiversity in our pets just as we do in our communities
Neurodivergent people often thrive when environments adapt to their sensory and cognitive needs. It isn’t a stretch to imagine the same for dogs who get overwhelmed, distracted, or struggle socially.
Why this research matters
It opens up more humane, more nuanced approaches to animal care. It also challenges the idea that neurodivergence is purely a human quirk.
Nature is far more diverse than that. Our pets aren’t malfunctioning humans. They’re their own weird, wonderful, biologically complex selves.
It also gives neurodivergent owners another reason to feel connected to their animals. Many of us already recognise the vibe.
And that’s the heart of it: understanding our animals better makes us better companions to them.
TL;DR
- Research suggests some dogs show genetic and behavioural traits that parallel autism or ADHD in humans.
- Beagles with the Shank3 mutation behave in ways similar to autistic humans in social and attentional contexts.
- Impulsivity in dogs is tied to dopamine and serotonin imbalances, similar to ADHD.
- Neural coupling (brainwave syncing) doesn’t happen the same way in some dogs with neurodivergent-like traits.
- A massive 2024 study found behavioural differences in virtually all dogs, but some patterns align closely with human neurodivergence.
- Better understanding this can improve training, reduce misdiagnosis of behavioural problems, and strengthen our relationships with pets.
- Quotes from the Daily Mail version of this story are included for accuracy, but their science reporting should be approached cautiously.
- Original scientific commentary sourced from Dr Jacqueline Boyd (Nottingham Trent University).
Stay unruly.
