24/09/2025
Could not have said it better myself😍
Give Your Fearful Dog a Base Camp and Awaken Their Inner Explorer 🤓
Did you know if you lure a nervous dog toward something scary, you set up a brain tug-of-war:
🧠 the CURIOSITY-SEEKING system (dopamine signalling in the striatum flips the prefrontal cortex to a GREEN light) chases the food
vs.
🧠 the FEAR circuit (the amygdala fires and the HPA-axis floods the body with stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, flashing a RED light to the prefrontal cortex) yelling “stranger danger!”
That conflict is stressful, hijacks learning, and can even make the scary thing, or even the food feel worse for your dog.
💡Every emotional encounter leads to your dog learning something.
So instead of dragging them out, feed them back into a safe spot.
Sounds crazy?
It isn’t. Here’s why.
Scared dog.
Snug bed under a chair.
Some tasty treats.
💡Keep asking yourself, What is my dog learning now?
If quadrant logic ruled the world, that dog would glue itself to the bed forever because that’s where the food jackpot is happening.
But what actually happens?
They grab a snack, then eventually trot off to investigate the room...
…and every so often they bounce back to the safe space for a quick pit stop to recharge.
That isn’t a reinforcement fail.
It’s the brain doing what it’s wired to do:
🧠 Step 1: Safe space chills the amygdala and dials down the fight-flight sirens.
🧠 Step 2: Parasympathetic system kicks in, hello, low-threat body vibes.
🧠 Step 3: The ancient SEEKING network lights up like a Christmas tree: “The world looks safe so let's go explore!”
And your dog's “base camp” doesn’t have to be a bed.
Sometimes you are the base camp: your lap in puppy class, a knee to tuck under, a calm presence to bounce back to for a quick emotional top-up before venturing out again.
The treats just prime the system.
That powerful feeling of safety whether it’s a cosy den or your steady arm flips the switch from “hide” to “let’s do this, I'm ready to adventure.”
The real engine of exploration is a 200 million year old bit of mammal brain saying:
“You’ve got a base camp. Time to go see what’s out there.”
AND REMEMBER: Always Keep asking yourself, “What is my dog learning now?”
Jane Ardern BSc Hons Dip CABT KCAI (WG)
