Beyond Behavior, LLC - Alyssa Giles, BSci

12/04/2025

I'm now on NextDoor! If you're there, too, I'd love if we could connect and, if you know me and my services, I'd love a recommendation!

12/03/2025

Obedience often disrupts our connection with our pets, resulting in behavior problems that can't seem to be fixed, or that need increasing motivation (punishers or rewards) to get compliance.

So, what do you really want, obedience & compliance or a better relationship & connection?

12/02/2025

Pet welfare CANNOT be separated from human welfare. What happens to people affects pets. Support pet caretakers. If they're struggling, offer help rather than judgment.

Most people are not trying to be poor caretakers, they just may not be doing well physically or mentally themselves. CARE stretches across communities and species. 💜

This is in no way justifying purposeful abuse and neglect. But it's important that we look for ways to support people before we jump to conclusions about "bad owners." So often it's a situation of lack of knowledge or extreme stress. We are all victims of a society that takes advantage of the many to support the few.

12/01/2025

Obedience training doesn't support your dog's emotional welfare. You do: your presence, your touch, your voice. Regulate WITH your dog and see how their behavior improves 💜

11/15/2025

🤣🤣 Is this your dog?

11/06/2025

Did you know that, when you touch your dog, calming & confidence-building neurochemicals are released in your dog's brain?

This is why your dog seeks your presence and touch. Not because they're "Attention- Seeking," but because they're "Connection-Seeking." It means they're feeling a little lonely and they're reaching out: a "bid for connection," as they say in the relationship world.

Did this change how you view your dog's requests for attention?

10/30/2025

Thanks Mountain West Veterinary Specialists for helping people look out for their furry buddies!

If your four-legged friend struggles with strangers, spooky decorations, or nighttime surprises, please reach out! I'd love to help you help them! 💜

Halloween is coming up and our wonderful friend Alyssa at Beyond Behavior put together this list of tips to help your pet if Halloween is not their favorite time of year.

Is your pet Spooked by Spooky Season?

Whether they're cowering and hiding or attacking strange people (or decorations!), what your pet needs is to feel Safe and Social! To help them get there, here are some tips:

1) Notice & Respond: Keep an eye on your pet and watch for signs that they're feeling hesitant, worried, or upset. Respond with empathy and offer slow, deep, comforting touch and presence. This releases chemicals in the brain that calm the nervous system and help them feel safe and lets then know they can turn to you for help instead of being anti-social.

2) Protect Their Space: If there are situations you know your pet will have a "big" response to, help them keep their space safe. Stand up for them, or take them with you to a safer area and calm them.

3) It's ok that you have big feelings, too, but make sure you're still "safe." Your pet can't help being upset, and they need to know you'll be calm and safe amid the chaos. However, if you're feeling big feelings, find a playful way to release your tension that won't add to your pet's stress.

4) Stay close to your pet: As tempting as it is to just put your dog or cat away in another room, a crate, or outside, this leaves them alone with their big feelings. Temporary barriers for safety are great, but do everything you can to keep your pet close and respond to their big feelings quickly. This helps them feel secure rather than abandoned.

5) Play the Stress Away! After a stressful event, your pet may start acting obnoxious or hyper. This is because they're full of tension they need to release. Follow their lead and goof off for a minute or two, with the plan to wind them DOWN, not UP!

In the end, it's about being present and responsive to your pet, as if they were your best friend - because you're definitely theirs!

Alyssa Giles, BSci
Beyond Behavior, LLC

10/30/2025

You want a well-behaved dog who's like a member of the family so you can enjoy their company without stress and take peaceful walks together like old friends.

You want to not only love your dog, but to actually look forward to being around them.

But how you get there matters to you, too, because your dog's mental and emotional wellness are also important to you.

My mental-health-based approach looks at what's going on inside your pet's brain, and the emotions fueling their behavior.

I coach pet parents on how to recognize and respond to their pet's big feelings in ways that promote safety, calm, and confidence.

The results are pets that do better because they feel better, naturally!