Behav-N-Dogs

07/29/2024

"ResPet was dreamt up in 2017 by animal welfare advocate and therapist Amanda Lomena. ResPet was born when she worked on the Colorado Crisis Line and Lifeline, a su***de prevention line. During this time she noticed that for many individuals who called in, the only thing keeping them from the completion of a su***de was a beloved pet. Their pets gave them a reason to live despite the hopelessness they lived with every day. Further, because of this immense devotion to their pets, many would not seek the mental health assistance, drug treatment, or domestic violence services they desperately needed for fear of their pet being alone, their pet being hurt or killed by their abuser, not having anyone to help, and bringing their pet to a shelter was not an option. ResPet aims to remedy this challenge by addressing the needs of the animal as well as the owner."

https://www.respetcolorado.org/?fbclid=IwY2xjawEU_vRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHQ0tqLbabwqbE67Dkj8cyL-F6V-px53kDsoqkqRo0vq73MJtYG0ZRowU7Q_aem_qM8D5q2FhGJEc1InkctD6g

pet crisis services, foster care for animals, helping pets while seeking care, Respet Colorado, Metro Denver area

07/22/2024

Thank you Poet

07/13/2024

Be and speak kindly, always.

07/12/2024

Here is an awesome video demonstration on how to help your reactive dog learn to relax.

The Engage / Disengage game is a reactive dog training exercise that encourages the dog to look at a trigger (aka engage with the trigger) and then disengage...

05/30/2024

Engagement vs. Attention. What’s the difference? In the old days we wanted “attention”. Basically, we wanted the dogs to look at us. The dogs “paid attention” because they were taught not to look away. But quite often the dog was conflicted. It WANTED to look at something else but knew it shouldn’t. The dog’s focus was split. Which means their response to the cue was affected. The dog didn’t respond, or their response was slow, or they didn’t meet criteria.

Over time I realized I don’t want the dog to just “look” at me. We all know that doesn’t mean the dog is mentally there. We’ve all experienced talking to someone that is looking at us but NOT paying attention! We’ve also been in a situation where the dog is looking at us, we give a cue, but the dog doesn’t respond at all. Or performs the wrong behavior, or the behavior doesn’t meet criteria. Looking does not mean mentally focused.

When a dog OFFERS engagement (i.e. it’s THEIR idea), the dog is fully committed. The environment ceases to exist. The dog is aware of distractions, but they feel good about ignoring them. They know their job! You can’t fool them!! The dog is confident and empowered. Is this easy to achieve? No! Why?? Well, let’s be realistic. A dog has different motivations than we do. Much as we love them…and they love us…. that’s often not enough. When they see something that reminds them of prey, that may be more valuable to them. For some dogs, nothing is more meaningful than food. Some dogs are enamored of the environment. Others love people or dogs. Some dogs are nervous and insecure. All dogs instinctively orient to smell, motion and sound. It’s just how they are wired. We are asking them to ignore everything that makes them feel safe, that’s natural for them…and perform random, meaningless behaviors on cue. It’s not impossible, it’s just challenging. We need to be empathetic and understand what we are asking. If we do, we will be better trainers.

It's our job to make the work SO REINFORCING that the dog WILLINGLY chooses the work over the environment. Part of that is clarity. Clear, consistent information is highly reinforcing. Part of that is success. Personally, I think making mistakes is an important part of learning. BUT if the mistakes outweigh the successes…well, you wouldn’t find that fun either. Success is reinforcing. Success builds confidence. It’s VERY important to keep track of the error/success ratio. Many people are not good at this. If your dog makes two errors in a row, it’s a red flag. The dog doesn’t understand what you are trying to communicate. Rather than continue, change something!! Not sure what to do? Abort…get help, think about it… Doing the same thing over and over expecting to get a different result is the definition of insanity  I remind myself of that often!!

Part of teaching engagement is not overfacing the dog. I.e. don’t ask the dog to do something that’s to challenging for their current skill level. Humans make assumptions. All the time. THEY think the dog SHOULD be able to do “x” work in “y” environment. That’s great. But just because YOU think it, doesn’t mean the dog can. Just because the dog can do it at home, doesn’t mean the dog can do it at a show n go, or at the park, or at a new training building.

If you are struggling with engagement, it’s not because you are a failure, you’re not interesting enough, you’re not trying hard enough, or your dog doesn’t love you. It’s because your dog doesn’t understand. Let’s be clear. Engagement is a TAUGHT skill. We must teach it piece by piece, step by step. We must teach it in environments that have little to no distraction. And slowly over time build on that until the dog can work in busy, challenging environments. Sustained engagement is a skill. We must build it like a muscle. At first the dog can maintain engagement for only a few minutes. Little by little we build mental endurance. Until the dog can maintain active engagement for long periods of time.

As with all taught behaviors, initially we use a very high reinforcement rate. We help the dog. A lot. But as we progress, we need to fade our help. And we need to reduce the amount of reinforcement. Not in every training session. But often enough so the dog can comfortably work without the reinforcer on you.
When I watch dogs at trials, I can tell that most of them understand the exercises. What they are missing is engagement. I can see the frustration and disappointment on the handler’s faces. And I empathize with them. Because getting and maintaining engagement is easily the hardest aspect of dog training.

If your dog is struggling, there is a hole in your training. Your dog doesn’t understand what you want. Maybe you did a great job teaching engagement and your dog has trialed successfully for a while. But suddenly things are falling apart. Why?? Engagement requires constant maintenance. I go back and review fundamentals a lot!! Throughout my dog’s entire career. Just because I taught it, doesn’t mean I’m finished.

Personally, I find nothing as exciting, satisfying and rewarding as working a fully engaged dog. It’s an amazing feeling. We are deeply connected; the dog responds quickly and eagerly to subtle cues. The dog can work comfortably and with full focus in very distracting environments. So exciting! And incredibly rewarding. Achieving this requires patience and, quite literally, years of hard work. Remember, engagement is a skill. It must be taught, just like an exercise. It must be nurtured and fostered and maintained. If we don’t have it, we didn’t teach it.

Written by Petra Ford

05/02/2024

IT IS OKAY TO VALIDATE YOUR DOG'S FEELINGS. Any feelings. Their happy ones, sad ones, and yes, their angry ones, fearful ones, anxious ones, or worried ones. And growling can happen in all of those situations, too.

If your dog growls, THEY ARE TELLING YOU SOMETHING: "That thing is scary," "I don't want to be touched right now," "I need space," "I hurt," "I am worried," "That startled me."

https://www.facebook.com/share/XFdvwyMaVUV6S9VT/?mibextid=oFDknk

I'm not sure when growling became so vilified.

When did we decide that dogs weren't allowed to have an opinion unless it aligned with our own?

That they weren't allowed to express their displeasure, their fear, or their anger? That they just always had to agree with what we were asking of them?

When did our expectations become "put on a happy face?" And "grin and bear it, dog?"

Let me tell you this, IT IS FINE IF A DOG GROWLS. Growling is just a form of communication. Communication is ALWAYS a good thing. It's when communication stops that we are all in trouble. (And if we know they are feeling a particular way, we are better positioned to help them).

IT IS OKAY TO VALIDATE YOUR DOG'S FEELINGS. Any feelings. Their happy ones, sad ones, and yes, their angry ones, fearful ones, anxious ones, or worried ones. And growling can happen in all of those situations, too.

If your dog growls, THEY ARE TELLING YOU SOMETHING: "That thing is scary," "I don't want to be touched right now," "I need space," "I hurt," "I am worried," "That startled me."

And while you might say, "my old dog never growled at me," know that some dogs use growling to communicate more than others. They are not bad dogs, they are good communicators!

04/21/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/6sQDoZ5Z4wxvqKs6/?mibextid=YA1HMP

04/12/2024

"If we want our adolescents to look to us for direction, observe our various rules and edicts, and take what we say to heart, we have to make sure we are holding up our end of the relationship. We have to meet their burgeoning needs for fresh air, nutritious food, appropriate things to chew, and (especially) age-appropriate exercise. If we don’t want them to tune us out when they are off leash and have tempting options in front of them, we have to make sure we are not tuning them out with our electronic devices and busyness. During this phase, we may have to work a little to make sure that we remain relevant, interesting, and enjoyable to them. And most of all, we have to be encouraging and forgiving."

https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/behavior/how-to-ace-dog-adolescence/?sc=WIR20240412-CanineEnrichment&st=email&MailingID=2980&utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=How+to+Ace+Dog+Adolescence&utm_campaign=WIR20240412-CanineEnrichment&fbclid=IwAR21BdHt3uuO3bV6aGnd2_uLP-rkTaiShGmZ9sh4zuC2TBOqnPtYfL0rmyA

Dogs like most mammals experience an awkward phase between youth and adulthood characterized by poor judgement and impulse control.

04/05/2024

"During dog adolescents (6 months - 18 months) the connectivity between the frontal cortex (responsible for decision making) and amygdala (responsible for emotional processing) decreases, resulting in less behavioral control.

So what does this mean? This could mean that your dog, who used to come when called, suddenly cannot. This could mean that your dog, who didn't jump up on guests, suddenly does. Your dog that walked nicely on leash is now pulling. Or perhaps it seems like some days your dog responds to behaviors you ask of them, and some days they don't, without any rhyme or reason."

~

https://www.facebook.com/100050494539396/posts/977149687311507/?app=fbl

Ever wondered why a puppy's behavior seems erratic during adolescence, which occurs between six months and 18 months of age?

The neurobiology of adolescence is fascinating, with some key events that alter both the structure and function of the brain.

During canine adolescence, s*x hormones are changing which effects the animals stress responses. Adolescent dogs have a decreased ability to modulate sensory processing and subsequent behavior.

The connectivity between the frontal cortex (responsible for decision making) and amygdala (responsible for emotional processing) decreases, resulting in less behavioral control.

So what does this mean? This could mean that your dog, who used to come when called, suddenly cannot. This could mean that your dog, who didn't jump up on guests, suddenly does. Your dog that walked nicely on leash is now pulling. Or perhaps it seems like some days your dog responds to behaviors you ask of them, and some days they don't, without any rhyme or reason.

We also see increased risk taking and more sensitivity to fear.

As your puppy undergoes this transition into adulthood their inner world is intense, even chaotic. Many pet owners experience an increase in undesirable behavior and find themselves becoming increasingly frustrated. In turn, frustration and impatience sometimes cause us to act unpredictably.

This adds to your puppy’s inner turmoil. When the inside and the outside are both unpredictable it can be difficult for puppies to adjust.

By understanding this we can gain greater compassion and understanding. When we approach adolescence with patience we can help create a world that is predictable and gentle so our puppies grow up to be their best selves.

04/01/2024

“PTSD service dogs are already trained to assist people during episodes of distress,” lead author Laura Kiiroja explained. “However, dogs are currently trained to respond to behavioral and physical cues. Our study showed that at least some dogs can also detect these episodes via breath.”

Canadian researchers found that dogs can detect an impending PTSD flashback by smelling specific scents in an individual’s breath.

03/26/2024

This is true for dogs training too.

03/26/2024

"Many highly anxious dogs fail to show the kind of progress in training that is typical for dogs without anxiety; that’s because anxiety, fear, and panic impair a dog’s ability to focus and learn. Anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) medications ease the symptoms of anxiety, fear, and panic, allowing your dog to absorb and learn during desensitization and behavior modification exercises. The combination of medication and behavior modification, under the direction of a force-free trainer and veterinarian or veterinary behavior specialist, is the gold standard for treating canine anxiety."

https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/care/anti-anxiety-medications/?fbclid=IwAR29CaByE25nrhogDxAcjjBYoS9xl2PM0Bez_pFQkm9CGsaTiC6B2NPcNms

Your veterinarian has a number of medication options available to help your anxious dog feel better and enhance your desensitization and behavior-modification program.

03/15/2024

Dogs behave the way they do for many reasons. They do NOT do things deliberately to be stubborn or ‘naughty’, nor do they aim to assert control. Outdated mythologies and training methods have detrimental effects on well-being and strain the relationship between a dog and their caregiver.

🧬A dog's breed and genetic makeup can play a significant role in determining certain behavioural traits. Dogs have genetic predispositions and breed-specific tendencies that contribute to their behaviour.
Some breeds are predisposed to specific behaviours, such as herding, hunting, or guarding.

The environment in which a dog is raised and lives can profoundly impact their behaviour. Early socialisation, which involves exposing a puppy to a wide range of people, animals, and environments during their critical developmental period, is crucial for building confidence and shaping a dog's social behaviour to reduce fear or aggression.

Overstimulation can cause all kinds of unwanted behaviours as it overwhelms their senses and can lead to hyperactivity or erratic responses. For example, if a dog is exposed to loud noises, multiple people, and various stimuli all at once, or on a daily basis, they might exhibit excessive excitable behaviour, poor impulse control, become agitated and exhibit behaviours like jumping, barking, or pulling on the leash, as their senses are overwhelmed by the excessive input.

Previous experiences and learning consequences can influence a dog's behaviour. Traumatic experiences, in particular, can lead to fear, anxiety, or aggression.

How a dog is trained and educated by their caregiver or handler can significantly affect their behaviour. Consistent, positive reinforcement-based training can lead to desired behaviours, while harsh or inconsistent methods can result in confusion or fear.

A dog's health, including their physical and mental well-being, can influence their behaviour. Illness, pain, or discomfort can lead to changes in behaviour.

A dog's emotional state, including fear, anxiety, and excitement, can affect their behaviour. For example, a fearful dog may display unpredictable defensive reactive behaviours or might avoid any encounters and run away trying to hide. While a confident dog may exhibit playfulness and a relaxed demeanour.

A dog can become frustrated and destructive if their mental and physical needs are not met. This dog, full of pent-up energy and boredom, may become frustrated and exhibit poor impulse control. In their frustration, they might resort to destructive behaviours, such as chewing furniture, digging up the garden, or incessant barking. This destructive behaviour is often an expression of their frustration and an attempt to alleviate their built-up energy and mental stress.

The type of diet a dog receives can significantly influence their behaviour, with high-quality nutrition promoting better energy levels, mood, and overall well-being, while poor diet choices can lead to issues like irritability, hyperactivity, or digestive problems.

As dogs age, they may experience canine cognitive decline, which can manifest as changes in memory, learning, and behaviour. This condition can lead to increased confusion, disorientation, and altered social interactions in older dogs.

It is really important to understand that each dog is unique, and their behaviour can vary widely, even within the same breed. Dogs use body language, vocalizations, and other forms of communication to express their needs, emotions, and intentions. Understanding a dog's communication cues is essential for interpreting their behaviour.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php/?id=100063781020466&story_fbid=809631541172873

Dogs behave the way they do for many reasons. They do NOT do things deliberately to be stubborn or ‘naughty’, nor do they aim to assert control. Outdated mythologies and training methods have detrimental effects on well-being and strain the relationship between a dog and their caregiver.

🧬A dog's breed and genetic makeup can play a significant role in determining certain behavioural traits. Dogs have genetic predispositions and breed-specific tendencies that contribute to their behaviour.
Some breeds are predisposed to specific behaviours, such as herding, hunting, or guarding.

The environment in which a dog is raised and lives can profoundly impact their behaviour. Early socialisation, which involves exposing a puppy to a wide range of people, animals, and environments during their critical developmental period, is crucial for building confidence and shaping a dog's social behaviour to reduce fear or aggression.

Overstimulation can cause all kinds of unwanted behaviours as it overwhelms their senses and can lead to hyperactivity or erratic responses. For example, if a dog is exposed to loud noises, multiple people, and various stimuli all at once, or on a daily basis, they might exhibit excessive excitable behaviour, poor impulse control, become agitated and exhibit behaviours like jumping, barking, or pulling on the leash, as their senses are overwhelmed by the excessive input.

Previous experiences and learning consequences can influence a dog's behaviour. Traumatic experiences, in particular, can lead to fear, anxiety, or aggression.

How a dog is trained and educated by their caregiver or handler can significantly affect their behaviour. Consistent, positive reinforcement-based training can lead to desired behaviours, while harsh or inconsistent methods can result in confusion or fear.

A dog's health, including their physical and mental well-being, can influence their behaviour. Illness, pain, or discomfort can lead to changes in behaviour.

A dog's emotional state, including fear, anxiety, and excitement, can affect their behaviour. For example, a fearful dog may display unpredictable defensive reactive behaviours or might avoid any encounters and run away trying to hide. While a confident dog may exhibit playfulness and a relaxed demeanour.

A dog can become frustrated and destructive if their mental and physical needs are not met. This dog, full of pent-up energy and boredom, may become frustrated and exhibit poor impulse control. In their frustration, they might resort to destructive behaviours, such as chewing furniture, digging up the garden, or incessant barking. This destructive behaviour is often an expression of their frustration and an attempt to alleviate their built-up energy and mental stress.

The type of diet a dog receives can significantly influence their behaviour, with high-quality nutrition promoting better energy levels, mood, and overall well-being, while poor diet choices can lead to issues like irritability, hyperactivity, or digestive problems.

As dogs age, they may experience canine cognitive decline, which can manifest as changes in memory, learning, and behaviour. This condition can lead to increased confusion, disorientation, and altered social interactions in older dogs.

It is really important to understand that each dog is unique, and their behaviour can vary widely, even within the same breed. Dogs use body language, vocalizations, and other forms of communication to express their needs, emotions, and intentions. Understanding a dog's communication cues is essential for interpreting their behaviour.

03/12/2024

03/12/2024

While it is good to train your dog to walk at your side (for a number of reasons, such as, preparation for obedience shows and bringing your dog in close when needed on an outings, etc.), however, Sniffing during walks is very important for your dogs mental well-being. So the solution could be a mix of sniffing during walks and adding in a bit of heel work for a few minutesat a time. And dogs can learn to Sniff without pulling which is what is called loose leash walking.

" . . . dogs engaged in sniff training are encouraged to move around and make their own choices; heel training requests the opposite, remaining in a specific spot and not moving around or investigating. Smell is also an incredibly important sense for dogs, so sniffing allows a dog to engage in a natural behavior while obedience heel work is more artificial, and this may have an effect on how each dog is feeling at after the training."

https://m.facebook.com/story.php/?id=100050494539396&story_fbid=963459015347241

Did you know that sniffing can make your dog’s outlook more positive? A 2019 study by Dr. Charlotte Duranton (Ethodog) and Dr. Alexandra Horowitz (Barnard College) compared dogs participating in nose work with their owners to dogs participating in heelwork. The dogs were then giving a cognitive bias test, which gauges optimism using one bowl that always contains food in one specific location, and a second that never does in another specific location. The test is what the dog does when they come across a third bowl in a new location, right between the other two. An optimistic dog would get to this new bowl more quickly, thinking it contains a snack; a pessimistic dog would get there more slowly, unsure about the snack or thinking the bowl is empty.

After two weeks of sniff- or heel-training, the nose work dogs went to the third bowl significantly faster time than they had before; the heelwork dogs showed no difference in time to reach the bowl before and after the training.

Why is this? One possibility is that dogs engaged in sniff training are encouraged to move around and make their own choices; heel training requests the opposite, remaining in a specific spot and not moving around or investigating. Smell is also an incredibly important sense for dogs, so sniffing allows a dog to engage in a natural behavior while obedience heel work is more artificial, and this may have an effect on how each dog is feeling at after the training.

02/20/2024

This is when owners (who are unaware of dog warning signs) say, "the dog snapped without any warning). Please learn dog body language. The good news in this case is the dog snapped without leaving any damage (the next time will likely be worse if he is pushed so far).

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/pAeTz9AEvMgwe3kF/?mibextid=YA1HMP

02/03/2024

Do you have a overly nippy pup? Here is a great strategy to help your pup learn not to bite your hands.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/GUGq1kFsuub2o1BK/?mibextid=Le6z7H

01/10/2024

Do you teach your dog to "wait" / "stay"?

Let me know in the comments.

I teach it four (4) ways. For example:

1. When I teach "place" I expect my dog to go to place lay down and remain there until released.

2. When I tell my dog "wait" I expect my dog to remain in whatever position he/she is in until I release him/her to come to me or to be free to do as he/she pleases.

3. When I have my dog "stay" I expect my dog to remain in that location (and lay down and fall asleep if it's a long time) until I 'return' to my dog and release my dog.

The main difference between wait and stay is that in wait the dog is released from a distance. Whereas in a stay the dog is released with the owner right at the dogs side.

4. The automatic sit/wait at the front door. I teach my dogs not to go out the front door unless I release them to do so. I allow them to sit or stand just as long as they don’t cross the threshold until released to do so. This is for safety reasons as I don't have a front fenced in yard.

01/02/2024

2024 is gonna bring your the abundance you have wished for 😇🙏

12/17/2023

11/04/2023

Dogs behave the way they do for many reasons. They do NOT do things deliberately to be stubborn or ‘naughty’, nor do they aim to assert control. Outdated mythologies and training methods have detrimental effects on well-being and strain the relationship between a dog and their caregiver.

🧬A dog's breed and genetic makeup can play a significant role in determining certain behavioural traits. Dogs have genetic predispositions and breed-specific tendencies that contribute to their behaviour.
Some breeds are predisposed to specific behaviours, such as herding, hunting, or guarding.

The environment in which a dog is raised and lives can profoundly impact their behaviour. Early socialisation, which involves exposing a puppy to a wide range of people, animals, and environments during their critical developmental period, is crucial for building confidence and shaping a dog's social behaviour to reduce fear or aggression.

Overstimulation can cause all kinds of unwanted behaviours as it overwhelms their senses and can lead to hyperactivity or erratic responses. For example, if a dog is exposed to loud noises, multiple people, and various stimuli all at once, or on a daily basis, they might exhibit excessive excitable behaviour, poor impulse control, become agitated and exhibit behaviours like jumping, barking, or pulling on the leash, as their senses are overwhelmed by the excessive input.

Previous experiences and learning consequences can influence a dog's behaviour. Traumatic experiences, in particular, can lead to fear, anxiety, or aggression.

How a dog is trained and educated by their caregiver or handler can significantly affect their behaviour. Consistent, positive reinforcement-based training can lead to desired behaviours, while harsh or inconsistent methods can result in confusion or fear.

A dog's health, including their physical and mental well-being, can influence their behaviour. Illness, pain, or discomfort can lead to changes in behaviour.

A dog's emotional state, including fear, anxiety, and excitement, can affect their behaviour. For example, a fearful dog may display unpredictable defensive reactive behaviours or might avoid any encounters and run away trying to hide. While a confident dog may exhibit playfulness and a relaxed demeanour.

A dog can become frustrated and destructive if their mental and physical needs are not met. This dog, full of pent-up energy and boredom, may become frustrated and exhibit poor impulse control. In their frustration, they might resort to destructive behaviours, such as chewing furniture, digging up the garden, or incessant barking. This destructive behaviour is often an expression of their frustration and an attempt to alleviate their built-up energy and mental stress.

It is really important to understand that each dog is unique, and their behaviour can vary widely, even within the same breed. Dogs use body language, vocalizations, and other forms of communication to express their needs, emotions, and intentions. Understanding a dog's communication cues is essential for interpreting their behaviour.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=809631541172873&id=100063781020466&mibextid=Nif5oz

Dogs behave the way they do for many reasons. They do NOT do things deliberately to be stubborn or ‘naughty’, nor do they aim to assert control. Outdated mythologies and training methods have detrimental effects on well-being and strain the relationship between a dog and their caregiver.

🧬A dog's breed and genetic makeup can play a significant role in determining certain behavioural traits. Dogs have genetic predispositions and breed-specific tendencies that contribute to their behaviour.
Some breeds are predisposed to specific behaviours, such as herding, hunting, or guarding.

The environment in which a dog is raised and lives can profoundly impact their behaviour. Early socialisation, which involves exposing a puppy to a wide range of people, animals, and environments during their critical developmental period, is crucial for building confidence and shaping a dog's social behaviour to reduce fear or aggression.

Overstimulation can cause all kinds of unwanted behaviours as it overwhelms their senses and can lead to hyperactivity or erratic responses. For example, if a dog is exposed to loud noises, multiple people, and various stimuli all at once, or on a daily basis, they might exhibit excessive excitable behaviour, poor impulse control, become agitated and exhibit behaviours like jumping, barking, or pulling on the leash, as their senses are overwhelmed by the excessive input.

Previous experiences and learning consequences can influence a dog's behaviour. Traumatic experiences, in particular, can lead to fear, anxiety, or aggression.

How a dog is trained and educated by their caregiver or handler can significantly affect their behaviour. Consistent, positive reinforcement-based training can lead to desired behaviours, while harsh or inconsistent methods can result in confusion or fear.

A dog's health, including their physical and mental well-being, can influence their behaviour. Illness, pain, or discomfort can lead to changes in behaviour.

A dog's emotional state, including fear, anxiety, and excitement, can affect their behaviour. For example, a fearful dog may display unpredictable defensive reactive behaviours or might avoid any encounters and run away trying to hide. While a confident dog may exhibit playfulness and a relaxed demeanour.

A dog can become frustrated and destructive if their mental and physical needs are not met. This dog, full of pent-up energy and boredom, may become frustrated and exhibit poor impulse control. In their frustration, they might resort to destructive behaviours, such as chewing furniture, digging up the garden, or incessant barking. This destructive behaviour is often an expression of their frustration and an attempt to alleviate their built-up energy and mental stress.

The type of diet a dog receives can significantly influence their behaviour, with high-quality nutrition promoting better energy levels, mood, and overall well-being, while poor diet choices can lead to issues like irritability, hyperactivity, or digestive problems.

As dogs age, they may experience canine cognitive decline, which can manifest as changes in memory, learning, and behaviour. This condition can lead to increased confusion, disorientation, and altered social interactions in older dogs.

It is really important to understand that each dog is unique, and their behaviour can vary widely, even within the same breed. Dogs use body language, vocalizations, and other forms of communication to express their needs, emotions, and intentions. Understanding a dog's communication cues is essential for interpreting their behaviour.