New Hope Behavior Consultants for the Guardians Inc., Springfield, OH (2026)

08/09/2026

We're excited about the show this week. Molly's going to be hosting this week and she's going to bring her two fosters on Merlin and Hopps, also joining us from Texas will be Elsa. Then all the way from Washington, Quizzel and hopefully Sheri will join us. Then if the stars align properly, Mavis will join us all the way from Maine.
We hope you can tune in and join us this week

Watch from any of these sites.
Pyrenees Great Rescue Society
www.facebook.com/rescuegreatpyrs
Great Pyrenees Rescue Society YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/
Great Pyrenees Rescue R.U.M. YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/
Great Pyrenees Rescue R.U.M.
https://gprescuerum.rescuegroups.org/
New Hope Behavior Consultants YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/

08/02/2026

We're excited to be back at Skippy Skippins Rescue & Rehab this week. Don't forget the GPRS Calendar Contest is still going on.
We hope you can tune in and join us

Watch from any of these sites.
Pyrenees Great Rescue Society
www.facebook.com/rescuegreatpyrs
Great Pyrenees Rescue Society YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/
Great Pyrenees Rescue R.U.M. YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/
Great Pyrenees Rescue R.U.M.
https://gprescuerum.rescuegroups.org/
New Hope Behavior Consultants YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/

08/02/2026

One? It tells you very little.
Two or three?
Now we’re getting somewhere.

Dog body language is confusing because every single dog has their own unique “normal".

A head turn might mean very little in one dog.
In another, that same head turn with a lip lick and a freeze?
Now you’re reading the whole sentence, not just picking out one word.

People don’t usually miss signals.
But they can easily stop at one.

Two people can watch the same dog and see two different stories. One sees a sign.
The other sees the pattern.

That's what this chart is for.
Not to tell you what one signal means, but to help you start joining the dots.

08/02/2026

LOOK AWAY

Looking away is part of a group of calming signals of body language – used by dogs in an attempt to reduce tension or conflict, communicate peaceful intent or help themselves, other animals or people to feel calmer.

Just like a hard stare or prolonged eye contact may be a precursor to a dog that’s about to react, looking away is intended to calm a situation down.

As with most body language, context is always relevant. It’s always important to look at the specific situation and what the rest of the body is doing when deciphering body language.

Dogs also look away for other reasons—they may have heard a sound, caught a scent, or something else has caught their attention.

Body language can be subtle and fleeting, but with careful observation and knowing what to look for most of us can learn to recognize and interpret what our dogs are saying

Being able to understand a dog’s emotional state helps to predict behaviour, prevent potential problems before they happen or just allows us to enjoy observing their unique way of communicating.

The look away is the wisdom of a dog that chooses to create calm over conflict.

08/02/2026

🟪BEHAVIOUR MODIFICATION PLANS🟪

🔺Behaviour modification is what we use to help dogs displaying complex behaviours, such as reactivity, aggression, resource guarding, anxiety disorders, etc.

🔺This process is as complex as the behaviours we are dealing with. No two cases are the same. There may be similarities, but essentially every dog is an individual and must be treated as such.

🔻As much as the process can vary between different dogs, and can be broken down into many, many steps, there are three fundamentally critical steps of behaviour modification. These cannot be skipped or missed.

🔻Today’s, let’s talk about the first one.

Step 1: Initial History Gathering
The Foundation of Every Behaviour Modification Plan

➖No ethical behaviour professional should, or would, jump straight into training after hearing “my dog is reactive.”

Instead, we become detectives.

〰️Every piece of information helps build a picture of the dog’s life, because behaviour is influenced by genetics, learning, health, environment, emotions and previous experiences, not just what happens on a walk.

🟢A comprehensive history gathering, which takes place during your initial consultation, may include questions about:

🐶 Early life and puppyhood

➿Where did the puppy come from?
➿Breeder, rescue or imported?
➿Was the puppy raised in an appropriate environment?
➿Age at separation from the mother and littermates.
➿Early socialisation experiences.
➿Did the puppy experience fear during critical developmental periods?
➿➿Any known traumatic events?
How confident was the puppy generally?

🧬 Breed, genetics and inherited traits

➿What breed or breed mix is the dog?
➿Are there behavioural traits commonly associated with that breed?
➿Is there any known family history of anxiety, aggression or other behavioural concerns?
➿What behaviours are likely to be instinctive rather than “disobedient”?

🏥 Health history

▪️Previous illnesses or injuries.
▪️Orthopaedic problems.
▪️Gastrointestinal issues.
▪️Skin disease or allergies.
▪️Ear infections.
▪️Dental pain.
▪️Vision or hearing concerns.
▪️Current medication.
▪️Previous medication.
▪️Surgical history.
▪️Changes that coincided with behaviour changes.

🥩 Diet and nutrition

🔹What does the dog eat?
🔹How much is your dog eating?
🔹Nutritional value of the food.
🔹Meal frequency.
🔹Feeding methods.
🔹Treat intake.
🔹Food sensitivities.
🔹Weight changes.
🔹Does the dog appear constantly hungry or uncomfortable after eating?

😴 Sleep and recovery

One of the most overlooked areas.

*Adult dogs generally require 12–16 hours of sleep every 24 hours, while puppies often need 18–20 hours.

We explore:

🔳Total hours slept.
🔳How much of that sleep is truly uninterrupted.
🔳Does the dog constantly wake at noises?
🔳Can the dog settle independently?
🔳Is the household too busy for proper rest?
🔳Is overtiredness contributing to behaviour? An exhausted dog is rarely able to make good behavioural decisions.

🏡 Daily routine.

What does an average weekday actually look like? What about weekends?

🌀Wake-up time.
🌀Walk schedule.
🌀Feeding.
🌀Visitors.
🌀Children.
🌀Time left alone.
🌀Rest periods.
🌀Evening routine.
🌀Weekends versus weekdays.

Dogs thrive on predictability, so routine often matters more than people realise.

🌿 Enrichment and mental stimulation.

Not simply “Does your dog have toys?”

Instead:

✳️Sniffing opportunities.
✳️Foraging.
✳️Chewing.
✳️Problem-solving.
✳️Species-appropriate enrichment.
✳️Choice and control.
✳️Independent activities.
✳️Does enrichment excite the dog or genuinely help them relax?

🏃 Physical exercise.

More exercise isn’t always better.

We ask:

🧩Type of exercise.
🧩Duration.
🧩Frequency.
🧩Off-lead opportunities.
🧩Ball chasing.
🧩Frisbee.
🧩High-adrenaline activities.
🧩Structured walks versus decompression walks.

Sometimes excessive physical exercise actually contributes to chronic arousal rather than reducing it.

🎓 Training history

🔶Puppy classes?
🔶Previous trainers?
🔶Methods used?
🔶Positive reinforcement?
🔶Punishment?
🔶Slip leads?
🔶Prong collars?
🔶E-collars?
🔶Corrections?
🔶Flooding?
🔶Has the dog learned to suppress behaviour rather than feel differently?

Training history tells us as much about emotional wellbeing as it does about learned behaviours.

❤️ Previous experiences.

We look for significant learning events.

Positive:

🔺Successful social experiences.
🔺Confidence-building opportunities.

Negative:

🔻Dog attacks.
🔻Veterinary trauma.
🔻Grooming experiences.
🔻Fireworks.
🔻Visitors.
🔻Children.
🔻Moving house.
🔻Boarding kennels.
🔻Bereavement.
🔻Major life changes.

Dogs learn from every experience 👉 good and bad.

⚠️ The behaviour itself.
Not simply “What does your dog do?”

We ask:

▶️Exactly what happens?
▶️When did it start?
▶️When did it occur last?
▶️What does the behaviour look like?
▶️First signs of discomfort.
▶️Distance to triggers.
▶️Intensity.
▶️Duration.
▶️Recovery time.
▶️Frequency.
▶️Predictability.
▶️Escalation pattern.
▶️Bite history.
▶️Does the behaviour change depending on location or context?
▶️How does the owner currently handle the behaviour?

Often the smallest details reveal the biggest clues.

💥 Stress and trigger stacking.

Perhaps one of the most important areas.

Behaviour today is rarely caused by today’s trigger alone.

We investigate:

❇️Sleep quality.
❇️Noise exposure.
❇️Visitors.
❇️Multiple walks.
❇️Busy environments.
❇️Pain.
❇️Grooming.
❇️Vet visits.
❇️Household changes.
❇️Frustration.
❇️Lack of control.

Each stressor fills the dog’s “stress bucket,” making reactions more likely.

🏠 Management - indoors and outdoors
How is the dog currently being set up for success?

💢Baby gates.
💢Crates.
💢Window management.
💢Garden access.
💢Walking routes.
💢Lead equipment.
💢Distance from triggers.
💢Visitor management.
💢Household routines.
💢Multi-dog dynamics.

Management doesn’t solve behaviour, but without good management, behaviour modification mostly fails.

👤 The owner’s understanding.

Finally, we learn about the humans.

🔅What do they think is causing the behaviour?
🔅What have they already tried?
🔅What advice have they received?
🔅What are their concerns?
🔅What are they able to implement realistically?
🔅What support do they need?
🔅What is their ideal goal vs what they could live with?

Behaviour modification succeeds when both the dog and the owner are understood.

⚠️The questions may seem endless.

But every answer is another piece of the puzzle.🧩

Because when we understand the whole dog, not just the unwanted behaviour, we stop guessing, and we start helping.

This level of history-taking is often 90 minutes or more, and it’s one of the reasons a thorough behaviour consultation can uncover factors that have been missed for months or even years.

🟨In person consultations, if possible & safe, are also a great opportunity for visual investigation:

• What’s the dog’s body language?

• How does they move around?

• How do they interact with their guardian ?

• what do they look like physically?

🤔Can you see how and why this step 1 of behaviour modification is SO important and can be SO insightful?

Step 2 & 3 of the behaviour medication will be posted separately, so make sure you follow for the next part.

08/02/2026

Myth Buster: The “Alpha” Theory

❌ Myth: “Dogs are constantly trying to become the alpha and dominate their owners.”

✅ Fact: This theory is based on research that has long since been challenged, and was rejected by the very scientist who helped popularise it.

🤔Where did the “alpha” theory come from?

In the 1970s, researchers studying unrelated packs of captive wolves, observed frequent conflict over resources. One of the most influential scientists was David Mech, whose early work described dominant “alpha” wolves leading the pack through force and competition.

Because these wolves were unrelated, the animals were forced to live together in captivity, aggression and conflict were common.

🫥 Unfortunately, these findings were widely applied to domestic dogs, leading to the belief that dogs were constantly trying to “take over the household” and that owners needed to establish themselves as the “alpha.”

This idea became incredibly popular and influenced dog training for decades.🫤

🙄 What changed?

As David Mech continued studying wild wolves over many years, he discovered something very different.

Wild wolf packs are typically families. They consist of a breeding pair (the parents) and their offspring from different years. Rather than constantly fighting for dominance, these wolves happily cooperate to hunt, raise pups and survive together.

In fact, Mech himself later stated that referring to wolves as “alpha” is misleading because the breeding pair are simply the parents. Yes - he admitted that his original theory was incorrect. He even requested that his original book no longer be reprinted because it no longer reflected the scientific evidence.

🙄 But what about dogs?

Dogs are not wolves, and thousands of years of domestication have made them behaviourally very different.

Most behaviours that have historically been labelled as “dominance” are far better explained by:

➿Fear or anxiety
➿Frustration
➿Pain or underlying medical conditions
➿Learned behaviour
➿Resource guarding
➿Reinforcement history
➿Lack of appropriate education and communication

When we understand the function of a behaviour, instead of assuming a dog is trying to be “alpha,” we can address the real cause in a humane, effective and welfare-friendly way.

🥼Science evolves … and so should we!

If someone is still using the outdated “alpha” theory to explain dog behaviour, or to support their personal training approach preference based on that, it’s worth asking what their level of canine behaviour knowledge really is.

⚠️ Knowledge doesn’t stand still ⚠️

After all, people once believed the Earth was flat 🌎…

As evidence improved, science moved forward and our understanding changed. We don’t ignore modern astronomy because an old belief was once widely accepted.

🤗 Dog behaviour is no different.

The best trainers, behaviourists and professionals continually update their knowledge as new research emerges. Holding onto theories that have been superseded / disproven by better evidence doesn’t help dogs, or their owners.

🐾 Good dog training isn’t about being the boss. It’s about understanding behaviour, building trust, meeting a dog’s needs and using evidence-based methods that improve welfare for both ends of the lead.

08/02/2026

Have you ever looked at your puppy one evening and thought… “Who are you… and what have you done with my lovely puppy?” 😂

One minute they’re curled up beside you looking as though butter wouldn’t melt. The next they’re hanging off your trouser leg, grabbing the tea towel as you walk past, zooming round the living room at 100 miles an hour and trying to bite absolutely everything that moves. If you’ve ever stood in your kitchen wondering whether somebody has secretly swapped your puppy for a tiny crocodile… honestly, you’re in very good company. If you’ve had a puppy before, you’ll probably be smiling already because you’ll know exactly the stage I’m talking about.

The funny thing is, it’s very easy to think they need “burning off.” So another game comes out, the toy box gets emptied or they’re encouraged to keep going because you’re trying to help. I completely understand why… it seems to make sense at the time. But quite often, all that does is add even more excitement to a puppy whose little brain is already struggling to switch off. It’s a bit like handing a tired toddler a drum kit and wondering why bedtime has suddenly become impossible.

What you’re often looking at isn’t a naughty puppy at all. It’s an overtired puppy who’s running on fumes and doesn’t really know what to do about it. Puppies aren’t very good at recognising when they need sleep, and they’re certainly not very good at saying, “Excuse me… I think I’ll go and have a nap now.” Instead, they bite, they zoom, they bark, they grab your sleeves and they generally behave in ways that make you think they’ve got endless energy… when actually the opposite is often true. Their brains are still developing, they’re taking in huge amounts of information every single day, and all of that learning is exhausting.

This is one of the reasons I don’t panic when somebody tells me their puppy becomes “a different dog” every evening. I usually smile because I’ve heard exactly the same story hundreds of times before. The first thing I’m thinking isn’t, “How do we stop the biting?” It’s usually, “Tell me what the rest of their day has looked like.” Quite often, that’s where the answer is hiding. Not always… but surprisingly often.

If your puppy regularly turns into a tiny landshark every evening, I’d be looking at the whole day rather than just that manic half hour. Have they had enough opportunities to sleep? Has the day been full of visitors, training sessions, exciting walks or lots of new experiences? Have they had chance to simply switch off for a while? Sometimes the answer isn’t doing more… it’s actually doing a little less and helping them settle before everything suddenly becomes “biteable.”

One thing that’s worth saying as well… this doesn’t mean every puppy needs exactly the same routine. Some can cope with far more than others before they get overtired, and some need much more help switching off. That’s why I’m always looking at the puppy in front of me rather than trying to fit every dog into the same mould. The pattern might look familiar… but the solution still needs to fit the individual puppy.

And honestly… if this is your evenings at the moment, don’t worry. I’ve stood with plenty of owners who are pulling their hair out because what started off as a puppy doing a few funny zoomies round the living room has suddenly turned into hanging off trouser legs, grabbing sleeves, leaving little teeth marks on ankles and creating general mayhem. That’s usually the point where everyone stops laughing and starts wondering what on earth has happened. The good news is, once you start looking at “why” it’s happening rather than just the behaviour itself, things often become much easier to manage. It really is one of those stages that gets better as they grow up… even if it doesn’t feel like it when you’re looking down at another tiny hole in your favourite pair of trousers.

I’d love to know… what time does your puppy’s “landshark hour” normally start? It always seems to be just as you’re thinking, “Right… I’ll sit down for five minutes,” East Enders is about to start, or you’ve finally poured yourself a glass of wine… and then those tiny teeth appear! 😂💛

08/02/2026

Let’s break the 🅜🅤🅩🅩🅛🅔 stigma

🐾 Muzzle ≠ Dangerous Dog 🐾

🤔When you see a dog wearing a muzzle, what’s your first thought?

“That dog must be dangerous.”

If that’s your first assumption, think again.

▶️ More often than not, a muzzle tells you just one thing:

The owner is responsible.✅

A muzzle is simply another piece of safety equipment - just like a seatbelt in a car, a helmet on a bike or a lead on a dog. It’s a management tool designed to keep everyone safe.

Dogs wear muzzles for many reasons, including:

🐶 Preventing scavenging of harmful items such as bones, medications or toxic substances.

🏥 Veterinary examinations or emergency treatment, especially if a dog is in pain or frightened.

✂️ Grooming or nail clipping when a dog feels anxious.

❤️ Behaviour modification programmes where safety is essential while training is taking place.

🦴 Preventing ingestion of non-food items (pica).

🚶 Public transport or locations where muzzles are legally required.

🐕 Protecting other animals, people and the dog themselves while everyone works through a problem safely.

🔺Not all muzzles are the same.

One of the biggest misconceptions is that every muzzle serves the same purpose. They don’t.

🩷 Basket muzzles (the gold standard)

These are the muzzles behaviour professionals generally recommend for anything longer than a few minutes.

A well-fitted basket muzzle allows a dog to:

✅ Pant normally (essential for cooling themselves)

✅ Drink water

✅ Take treats during training

✅ Sniff and explore their environment

✅ Learn positive associations through behaviour modification

Many dogs happily go for walks, hikes and even training classes wearing basket muzzles because they can still perform most normal behaviours.

⚠️ Soft or fabric muzzles

These wrap around the dog’s mouth and hold it closed.

Because the dog cannot properly open their mouth, they cannot pant effectively, which makes these muzzles unsuitable for walks, exercise or prolonged wear.

They should ⓄⓃⓁⓎ be used:

• For very short veterinary or grooming procedures
• During brief handling when absolutely necessary
• Under professional supervision

They should never be used for exercise, training sessions, warm weather, or extended periods because preventing panting can seriously compromise a dog’s welfare and increase the risk of overheating.

★A muzzle should never be a punishment.

Like any piece of equipment, a muzzle should be introduced gradually using positive reinforcement.

If the only time a dog ever sees a muzzle is immediately before something unpleasant happens - such as an injection, nail trim or painful examination - the muzzle itself quickly becomes a predictor of fear.

Instead, teach your dog that the muzzle predicts wonderful things.

🐾 Treats.

🐾 Games.

🐾 Walks.

🐾 Fun adventures.

When introduced properly, many dogs become excited when they see their muzzle because they know something enjoyable is about to happen.

✳️The real takeaway…

A muzzle doesn’t tell you that a dog is dangerous.⚠️

➿It tells you that someone has taken the time to think ahead.

➿It tells you they are managing risk rather than ignoring it.

➿It tells you they care enough to protect their dog, other animals and the public.

➿The dog wearing the muzzle isn’t the one that should be judged.

The owner deserves credit for putting safety first. 🩷🐾

08/02/2026

You’ll see the turning point👀

Their chasing is harder, faster.
The play has more energy.
It’s even starting to look more frantic.

The intensity is starting to shift.
The fun and playful back and forth energy has gone.
This has quickly turned into something else entirely.

While excitement is one reason for conflict between dogs, it’s not the only one.

Not choosing play partners carefully can also go right at the top of the list.
And that can be us not selecting well too.

We may be drawn to dogs we want ours to meet and play with.
Those words were said.
“He’s friendly.”
It’s easy to take them at face value.

It’s also a comforting trap we can fall into too.

“Friendly” doesn’t mean “good match for my dog.”
Energy levels matter.
Play styles matter.
The ability to read each others social cues matters.

Your job isn’t to make your dog like every dog.
Your job is to protect their right to say no.

Ask yourself before the lead comes off.

Does my dog actually want to play, or am I deciding for them?
Do these two dogs have the same speed, style, and off-switch?
If this goes pear-shaped, am I prepared to step in fast?
Is the excitement already at a level when good decisions may be difficult?

Sometimes two good dogs were just a bad match, fueled by excitement we didn’t manage or even recognise.

Play is much more involved than just playing.

New Hope Behavior Consultants for the Guardians Inc.

08/09/2026

08/02/2026

08/02/2026

08/02/2026

08/02/2026

08/02/2026

08/02/2026

08/02/2026

08/02/2026

Address

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share