Leaps and Hounds Behavior

09/01/2025

Really fascinating listen here - great to learn more on the science!!! 🤓

Do you know what costs A LOT more than a bottle of CBD oil? A trip to the ER. Join the Amys and their mentor, Dr. Lisa Radosta, as they clear the smokescreen and hash out the science regarding the use of cannabis products in veterinary medicine.Th...

06/01/2025

Dobby, admiring his impressive dissection of his stuffed Karl! 😁 His family has been doing great, supporting his L.E.G.S. with enrichment, management, new patterns, and helping him learn to self-regulate those BIG FEELS.

They found their way to us in April of last year- being told that he just needed more "obedience". They had thrown nearly every training trick they could at this - but were still feeling stuck. The jumpy/mouthy/barking and frustration with his peeps was coming out in spades!

Instead of trying to fix the "behavior problems", we shifted to understanding Dobby's L.E.G.S. (needs). We found an "act first, think later!" adolescent with BIG FEELS (Self), and the "G" profile (Genetics) of a pit bull/lab mix which means tendency for ↑ arousal, mouthiness/oral fixations, destructive chewing, excitability in social settings - to name a few!

With deficits in play/social interactions during early socialization, 3-12 weeks of age, and later on in puppyhood, that impacted his capacity for learning/emotional regulation (Learning, Self). This is contrasted with his strong desire to be "in the mix". Combined with less enrichment opportunity to express natural instincts and social play (Environment), his L.E.G.S. were a bit imbalanced.

The family has been meeting Dobby where he's at from day 1! They've added management; Mr. Roger's Hack (narration); The Karl Hack, Sniffspots, sniffaris, and healthy play with other dogs for enrichment. Most recently we tweaked our pattern to help him self-regulate in social situations - a most wonderful sight to see!

Dobby's frustration/mouthiness has reduced significantly (~ 90%), and when those BIG feels do emerge he's been able to make "good" life choices. We're incredibly proud of Dobby and his family, and can't wait to see them again soon!

05/01/2025

A must read on subjectivity of pain! Also, Kudos to Katrina for sharing Malus's story and continuing to advocate for him. These two are incredible and make such a wonderful team!!

At this point in time, most folks understand the link between pain and behavior. It’s logical: you don’t feel well, you have less patience and tolerance, you lash out or shut down or otherwise are not the best version of yourself. It makes sense that the same would be true for dogs.

But how do we know there is pain with animals who cannot verbalize that pain?

The short answer: we can’t know.

The longer answer: we also can’t know there ISN’T pain.

Meet Malus.

From puppyhood, he’s been a little spicy. But he’s a terrier, so that’s normal, right? He didn’t like having his feet handled. No biggie. And as he got older, he got a little reactive to other dogs - again, see “terrier” in the dictionary. And after he got neutered at 2.5 years old, his behavior spiraled - going after his housemates, aggression directed at his owners, even less tolerance for handling, increased fence fighting. But there’s some evidence of increased aggression after neutering, so maybe he just got unlucky.

For many folks, that explanation would’ve been enough. They would’ve worked on behavior modification, or just accepted a crate and rotate household, or managed the heck out of all of his triggers… or, honestly, would’ve ended up euthanizing him for his dangerous behavior.

Luckily, Malus’s mom is Katrina, who is essentially a terrier in a human body. She dug in.

Training, a veterinary behaviorist, consulting with other behavior experts, expensive testing - and then we got our first physical explanation: low zinc.

But even with a zinc supplement, his aggressive episodes remained unpredictable. Katrina had noticed some very, very intermittent lameness, foot chewing, butt/tail biting, so off they went to the first orthopedic specialist - one who cleared him orthopedically for all activities.

So they did physical therapy, and pain meds, and kept working on training.

But the weird, mild lameness continued, and so did visits to specialists. A neurologist who recommended an MRI, then more physical therapy for a possible psoas strain, different meds, another orthopedic/rehab specialist consultation, adjustments to physical therapy, a PEMF bed for home use, adjustments to behavior meds, consults with nationally respected trainers and behavior specialists, and finally - FINALLY - a recommendation to see a pain management specialist.

“I think he may have Tethered Cord Syndrome. I’m going to try different pain meds, but there’s a specialist in Massachusetts you should get in touch with.”

With the new meds on board, his behavior improved. He was brighter, happier, had fewer episodes of lameness, self mutilation, and aggression.

Yesterday, Malus had a dynamic MRI at Tufts, where Tethered Cord Syndrome was confirmed.

Today, he had surgery to relieve the adhesions to his spinal cord that have been causing him pain.

He was never “just being a terrier.” He was not acting out for no good reason. He didn’t need harsher training methods. He wasn’t aggressing for no reason.

He was in pain.

There are no words to adequately describe how thrilled I am for Katrina and Malus to have this diagnosis and surgery in their rear view mirror - it has been a long time coming. The strain on Katrina and Kevin’s emotions, time, resources, finances, and household over the last 5 years cannot be overstated. Most folks wouldn’t - and couldn’t - go to the lengths they did.

We can’t rule out pain. We can only rule out specific issues and diagnoses. For Malus, it took finding the right vet who had heard about this rarely diagnosed issue to connect them with the vet who could help.

To my clients I encourage to work with their veterinarian to try to find any physical explanations: Katrina and Malus are the reason why I will push you more if your primary care vet shrugs you off. It’s why I will push and push and push, especially if your commitment to training and management is excellent but we still are struggling to make progress. Malus is on my shoulder (sometimes literally), poking me with his nose, screeching in my ear to look harder.

If you’ve ever heard him, you know how hard that ✨ delightful ✨ noise is to ignore.

(PS - Here’s your sign to sign up for pet insurance.)

To learn more about Tethered Cord Syndrome:
https://vet.tufts.edu/news-events/news/breakthrough-surgical-procedure-relieves-dogs-chronic-pain

01/01/2025

For all ye folks with bully dogs! Is this THE perfect mug or what! 😂☝️If this strongly resonates for you, then you inherently understand this is likely not a matter of “obedience”. Enrichment goes a long way! Let me explain…

Often what we humans describe as “behavior concerns”, is really a dog’s natural instincts or behaviors being expressed in situations we find objectionable. Many bully dogs tend to enjoy plentiful and robust chewing, rough and rowdy play, vigorous tug games, lots of sniffing, mental and physical exercise, and more— effectively behaviors that have been selected (or reinforced) over MANY generations. Although, only now, an individual dog’s environment may no longer provide opportunities for these. What does that then mean for them?

When enrichment opportunities are not provided to express those behaviors (needs), that may lead to frustration, anxiety, boredom, etc…. — some friction in that dog’s life which is expressed in their behavior. Genetics is only part of the equation though, and is not deterministic when it comes to behavior. There may be other elements at play, such as the dog’s health, developmental stage, BIG feelings, previous learning, trauma, etc... All these elements influence behavior, and how an individual is “showing up” in life. So what can we do then?

First is a health check up with the dog’s veterinarian to rule out possible medical factors. Then providing healthy patterns in the home (management) and plenty of safe indoor/outdoor enrichment. It may take some time to find the right preferences. What enrichment activities fill your bully dog’s cup? How do you provide those healthy outlets?

If you are challenged with finding safe enrichment for your dog, or there’s a significant behavior concern, feel free to reach out for a behavior consult. We’re always happy to help: leapsandhoundsbehavior.com/behavior-consulting

31/12/2024

Hello friends! Brian here with a few musings on my dog Yoda’s L.E.G.S. (LEARNING, ENVIRONMENT, GENETICS, SELF) 🎓🌎🧬🐕

He’s approaching his 13th birthday in February. Wow, how time flies! As a senior he has more “old man” pains (SELF), and is more hesitant to climb up on comfy areas like the couch ❤ We’ve also had BIG changes around the home with a recent remodel, which has limited his access to the kitchen, and then with people coming and going it’s brought unpredictability to his routines (ENVIRONMENT & LEARNING ).

Behaviorally he’s appeared a bit more restless throughout the day (whining and searching behaviors), and a bit more rambunctious and “huffy” in greetings. So I’ve been asking, how can I support his L.E.G.S. (needs)?

We have had him on pain meds for a while, prescribed by his vet to give him more relief with his arthritis; and shorter blanket lined laundry baskets for easy access. I’ve been expanding our Mr. Roger’s Hack, narrating specific workers, all the various noises, and new pathways outside. And then today I found he just LOVES these extra fluffy “microfiber” rugs with a non slip backing, great for multiple resting spots. They also double as muddy paw wipers, and are easy to clean!! 🐾 Now that the new sink is in, we’re going back to FROZEN food Toppls for all meals ☝️

How do you support your dog’s unique L.E.G.S. with new situations or on the daily?

23/12/2024

Happy Holidays Friends!!

18/12/2024

We're excited to be attending, virtually, the L.E.G.S. in Motion Conference May 16-18 2025 in Concord, NH! In-person and virtual tickets are still available! This will be an inspiring event, exploring the role of "E" (environment) in the L.E.G.S. approach to support dog welfare. Such a fantastic line-up of speakers - you don't want to miss this!!

L.E.G.S. in Motion Conference 2025. Join us live May 16th-18th 2025 in Concord NH

11/12/2024

This is an excellent interview from Marc Bekoff; and caught my attention as I prepare for a trip to India in February to observe street dogs.

Here Dr. Marco Adda discusses various complex aspects surrounding the welfare of free ranging dogs - and potential complications of systematically removing them from their natural habitat:
"A one-size-fits-all approach fails to acknowledge the individuality of these animals, leading to practices that ignore their natural behaviors and cultural, social, and ecological roles."

Marco Adda questions whether removing free-ranging dogs from human environs is truly better for the dogs and stresses the importance of their individual personalities.

05/12/2024

Our pal Archie is 💯 prepared for Winter - thanks to his wonderful human!! Isn't he adorable with his fancy snow boots 😉

In addition to boosted enrichment, Archie's human has been working on an 'Off duty'/Mr. Roger's herder pattern to help him learn to emotionally self regulate with visitors, and to rely on her for guidance/communication. Shout out to the wonderful Carrie Davis, fellow Licensed FDM-er, for sharing her creativity with us!! This is a mighty and effective combination of FDM hacks which supports ALL the needs of the individual dog - the complex interplay of elements influencing their behavior.

We can't express how proud we are of Team Archie, and all their progress! L.E.G.S. and Family Dog Mediation has been the missing link for them and so many other families ❤ We're grateful to be along for the ride!

04/12/2024

THIS!!! 💯 our mantra at Leaps and Hounds 👇

It's about the dog's L.E.G.S. (Learning, Environment, Genetics, Self) 🎓🌎🧬🐕

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/12EtwE7Rr8C/

Did you know? 🧬 The domestication and breeding of animals isn’t just about their physical traits; it profoundly affects their behavior too. Early humans began selecting animals that were less scared of & more cooperative with humans as well as those exhibiting valuable skills like hunting, and over generations these selections were amplififed and diversified.This process, though beneficial to people and to dogs in certain ways throughout history, has also led to certain behavioral traits being amplified, sometimes causing challenges in our pets today.

In the LEGS approach, understanding these genetic influences is crucial for understanding & managing behaviors. It's not just about how you raise a dog, but also about truly understanding their inherited tendencies as central to who they are. Recognizing these factors helps us approach behavior modification more holistically.

Have you noticed any inherited traits in your dog that influence their behavior?

28/11/2024

Happy Thanksgiving!

25/11/2024

18/11/2024

The Dog’s Truth premiere is LIVE!
Learn all about L.E.G.S. 🎓🌎🧬🐕

Less than 5 minutes to the premier of The Dog’s Truth!

Link is in the comments.

17/11/2024

Premieres this evening @ 6pm CST!! Tune in 😁

15/11/2024

Send a message to learn more

14/11/2024

Are you having difficulty selecting the right dog behavior or training pro? Not sure how to navigate this? What to ask - or who to select? Here's a few quick but effective tips to help you find the right professional for you and your dog :-)

Find a certified dog trainer or behavior professional