This blog post explores the concept of classical conditioning and how it influences dog behavior. Classical conditioning, first studied by Ivan Pavlov, explains how dogs (and all animals) can learn to associate neutral stimuli, like sounds or objects, with meaningful outcomes, such as rewards or discomfort…

This blog post explores how emotional arousal, commonly referred to as "reactivity," in dogs can often be linked to underlying pain or discomfort. Emotional arousal is characterized by heightened responses to stimuli, such as excessive barking, lunging, or hypervigilance, which can interfere with a dog’s ability to calm down…

This blog post explores the concept of the "October Slide" and its impact on dogs with chronic pain conditions. The "October Slide" refers to the worsening of chronic pain symptoms during colder months, often starting in October, due to environmental factors such as cooler temperatures, damp weather, and reduced daylight. These changes can lead to increased pain sensitivity, decreased activity levels, and behavioral shifts like irritability or avoidance.

This blog post encourages dog owners to shift their mindset from “fixing” their dog’s behavior to focusing on gradual progress through achievable goals. Addressing behavior issues, especially complex ones like aggression or reactivity, requires patience and realistic expectations. Attempting to resolve long-term behaviors quickly can lead to frustration and setbacks, as deep-rooted habits can take months or even years to change…

We explore how a dog’s discomfort during car rides may not just be anxiety but a sign of physical pain or discomfort. Dogs experiencing stress during car travel often undergo subtle strain from the vehicle’s movement, needing to make constant balancing adjustments that can exacerbate any underlying pain, particularly in dogs with joint or muscular issues…

The case study of A, a 2.5-year-old Feist mix, illustrates how persistent behavior issues often have deeper, underlying causes. Despite extensive training, A continued to struggle with aggression, pulling on walks, and inconsistent eating. A key observation of A's unusual hind-leg skipping led to further investigation. This was when a Dynamic Dog Assessment, an approach that considers the whole dog's physical health, behavior, and environment, revealed subtle discomfort signals that changed A’s life.