An IL-31 dog pruritus model is provided. This model comprises administering canine IL-31 to dogs to produce a pruritic response; quantitatively measuring pruritic responses in the dogs which were administered canine IL-31; administering a candidate dog IL-31 inhibitor; and assessing the effectiveness of the candidate dog IL-31 inhibitor in reducing prurtic behavior in the treated dogs by challenging the dogs with canine IL-31 following the administration of the candidate dog IL-31 inhibitor.