BCDog Listener Dog Training

11/09/2025

10/12/2025

Canine behaviour isn’t random—it’s a response to internal states, environmental triggers, and past experiences.

Before we label a dog as “naughty” or “stubborn,” let’s ask: What are they trying to tell us?

Let’s shift the narrative from correction to connection.

10/08/2025

I’m just gunna leave this here for now…

10/08/2025

🚨Rage Syndrome in Dogs
Clearing Up the Confusion

One of the most misunderstood topics I hear about in the dog world is something called “Rage Syndrome.”

People will often use this label when their dog shows sudden aggression, but here’s the truth:
📍True Rage Syndrome is extremely rare.

It is believed to be a neurological condition, sometimes linked to seizure activity, most commonly seen in certain lines of English Springer Spaniels and Cocker Spaniels.
When it occurs, the aggression is explosive, happens without warning, and the dog appears to be in an altered state — glazed eyes, unresponsive, almost like they “aren’t there.” Afterward, the dog often seems disoriented or completely normal, as if nothing happened.

Most of the time, though, what gets mistaken for Rage Syndrome is actually:
• Fear-based aggression (dog feels threatened)
• Resource guarding (protecting food, toys, or space)
• Pain-related aggression (something hurts!)
• Ignored warning signs (growls, stiffening, side-eye that humans miss or dismiss)

Here’s the difference:
✔️ A dog with common behavior issues shows triggers and patterns.
✔️ A dog with Rage Syndrome does not.

So, if your dog lashes out, don’t panic and assume the worst. Chances are, your dog is communicating discomfort in the only way they know how. Instead of labeling it as “rage,” we should look deeper: What is the dog trying to tell us?

Education is key. The more we learn to recognize and respect our dogs’ signals, the fewer problems we’ll see.

Remember: Most dogs don’t “lose it” out of nowhere, they’ve been whispering long before they shout.

Deb Nabb, The Mutt Master 🐾