16/07/2024
Today I wanted to touch on dopamine addiction!
I meet LOTS of dogs who are clearly suffering as a result of this - Maverick, whom I met very recently, is a great example (and he’s got the most gorgeous face so you’re welcome for the pic! 💙)
Dopamine is a type of neurotransmitter and hormone - it contributes to many bodily functions, including movement, memory, motivation and pleasurable reward
However, too much or too little, can also contribute to anxiety, low mood, depression, lethargy, schizophrenia and euphoric psychosis
As humans, we can witness or experience addiction by forms such as drugs, alcohol, food, smoking, gaming, over-working etc…
So what can this look like in dogs?
Excessive EVERYTHING! - barking, pacing, fence running, drinking, stealing food, toys, bin raiding, digging, jumping, chewing, reactivity (yes! Internally rewarding and dopamine releasing) pulling at clothing and in Mavericks case BALLS 🎾
Maverick is a complete dopamine ju**ie and it has been manifested through his obsession with balls!
If we go back decades, we didn’t have to ‘micromanage’ dogs! They had independence of owners, to some extent - life happened ‘around’ them!
That’s not to say that I disagree with being responsible as a dog owner (we should all demonstrate this) However, the over talking, baby talking, carrying dogs around in handbags, fashion statement clothing, countless amounts of licki mats, brain games, pandering to their incessant and demanding behaviour - STIMULATION
Over stimulation is stifling a dogs ability to self regulate and relax. Your dog should have a purpose, a guided purpose - structure, deliberate periods of play, exercise, feeding, interaction, downtime - but also…… doing nothing and being comfortable doing nothing should absolutely be a part of your dogs day!
Anyway, for the first time in a very long time, Maverick shared his owners space last night, in the lounge, doing ‘nothing’ and it was far more pleasant than the previously demanding behaviour to which he used to exhibit 🙌🏼
I look forward to our next session, when we will re-introduce and re-invent Mavericks association with the infamous balls 🎾✌🏼