Blog — emotional capacity

The word enrichment has become increasingly popular in the dog world, but it is also one of the most misunderstood. Food puzzles, snuffle mats, lick mats, flirt poles, hiking, agility, swimming, and scent work are all commonly described as enrichment, even though they are not all the same thing. While these activities may all improve a dog's quality of life, they fulfill different biological and psychological needs. Understanding the distinction between enrichment, breed fulfillment, and biological fulfillment helps us make more intentional choices about how we care for our dogs. Rather than viewing them as interchangeable, it is more helpful...

When someone reaches out to me about their dog's behavior, they are usually looking for a training solution. They want to know how to stop the barking, the reactivity, the jumping, the pulling, or the anxiety. They are understandably focused on the behavior they can see because that is what is affecting their daily lives. However, behavior is rarely the first thing I look at. A dog's behavior is the outward expression of everything happening beneath the surface. It is influenced by their physical health, their nervous system, their emotional experiences, their daily lifestyle, and whether their biological needs are...

One of the hardest parts of living with a behaviorally challenged dog is how slowly change happens. We live in a culture that expects quick results. We are told that if we use the right techniques, practice consistently, and remain dedicated, our dog's behavior should improve within weeks. But nervous systems don't work that way. True behavioral change usually unfolds gradually, almost imperceptibly at times. It's often two steps forward, one step back. There may be plateaus, regressions, and periods where it feels like absolutely nothing is happening. This is normal, but certainly frustrating.  A dog's behavior is the outward...

Recently, I was caring for a very sensitive and anxious dog staying in my home. He was struggling to settle and seemed to be carrying a great deal of tension in his body. Rather than asking anything of him or trying to interrupt the behavior, I decided to focus on slowing myself down first. I became quiet and still, softened my posture, slowed my breathing, and began using slow blinks and soft eyes in his direction. Within a few moments, his body language changed noticeably. His expression softened, he turned away peacefully, and then chose to go lay down on...

There is a profound difference between a dog who is regulated and a dog who is chemically restrained. If we do not understand that distinction clearly, it becomes very easy to mistake nervous system suppression for healing. One of the things I see often in behavior work is dogs being described as “doing better” on medication because they appear quieter, slower, less reactive, or less outwardly expressive. From the outside, it can look like progress. But sometimes, underneath that quieter presentation, the nervous system is actually carrying more distress, not less. This conversation becomes especially important when multiple sedating or...