Koven Moodley - Smart Pet Behaviour

05/10/2025

FOOD GUARDING - WILLIAM

William the spaniel, all the way from Namibia, used to guard his food bowl and show threat behaviours towards his siblings. He was anxious, stressed and not enjoying eating time. See video 1 below where his siblings are fearful of him and are barking nervously. Notice William's body language - stiff posture, high tail, staring, and tense jaw.

The dynamic changed after a few weeks after working with William to improve his overall mood state - scatter feeding was one of the strategies used during feeding times and this helped with less guarding, anxiety and threats to his siblings. He is more relaxed and enjoying his meal times. See video 2 where a more relaxed body language is evident.

Note - scatter feeding is not a silver bullet to resolve food guarding issues in multi dog homes. It depends on the dogs in THAT home. In William's case, there was a fair bit of counter-conditioning and positive reinforcement work applied to see his siblings as less of a threat before scatter feeding was used as a tool. A holistic plan was implemented to improve his core emotional issues and scatter feeding was just one part of the plan.

If your dogs are stressed or get aggressive during eating times, please feed separately until they are assessed by a qualified behaviourist who understands emotions and who can recommend a plan based on the unique requirements of your dogs. In William's case, previous balanced training made his anxieties worse and hence he was more reactive. His guardian had to work really hard to build his confidence and trust in her and the other dogs and as a result, he is less reactive to dogs and people.

04/10/2025

03/10/2025

Nina Ottosson Spin N' Eat now in stock.
RRP R635
Smart Pet Behaviour price R580

WhatsApp 071 893 3199

03/10/2025

I visited 4 month old Cody over the weekend to help his guardian understand some of his behaviours like mouthing, attention barking, possible separation anxiety and lead pulling. The puppy orientation session covered a wide variety of topics which will help him mum be proactive. We also did some loose lead walking and recall training. The highlight of the session was getting lots of puppy kisses from this very confident and friendly pup❤️

A new puppy is hard work. Book a puppy orientation with a qualified behaviourist as soon as a new puppy joins your family. As behaviour is contextual, you will need individualised guidance on how to approach the challenges of raising a new pup.

I love guardians who are open to learning about their dog's behaviour as opposed to adopting a one size fits all approach based on their previous experiences of guardianship. Each animal is an individual and deserves a customized approach to understanding and training them.

📷 Cody

02/10/2025

KITTEN ORIENTATION - MILO, MOJO AND FERDI

New puppies tend to get a lot of attention and investment from their families - they go to puppy school, they get loads of toys or they go to parks to meet other playmates. Kittens and cats tend to come out 2nd best and new guardians assume that all a cat needs is food, a litter box and some love. By the time, a cat behaviourist is called out to assist, it is usually when the cat is older and struggling with anxiety, fear, aggression or litter box issues. Many of these issues can be avoided if guardians take the time to invest in a session with a cat behaviourist at the start of their journey. Cats, like dogs, are complex emotional beings and if their species and individualised needs are not met, they can become stressed with can lead to behavioural issues.

Recently, I visited 7 week old brothers Milo, Mojo and Ferdi. Their guardian wanted to understand their personalities, development phases and needs better to ensure that she was prepared for the journey ahead.

The session covered, amongst other aspects:
Development phases
Diet
Litter boxes
Enrichment - internal and external
Individual needs
Sterilization
Motor pattern fulfillment
Grooming
Handling to prep for vet visits
Socialization requirements
Cat proofing
Catification
Vaccinations
Relationship building activities
Codependency prevention
Plant safety
Personality profiling
Confidence building

Their guardian immediately jumped into action and started to execute on all the recommendations in line with individual needs. She is committed, patient and putting in the effort to cater for ALL their needs 🙌

I want to encourage all new cat guardians to invest in an orientation session to get a comprehensive overview of your individual cat's needs. It can be a game changer in avoiding future behaviour issues.









📷 Milo, Mojo and Ferdi

02/10/2025

Thank you for your legacy...⚘️

With great sadness, the Jane Goodall Institute confirmed this morning the passing of the organization’s founder, Dr. Jane Goodall, age 91 who died peacefully in her sleep while in Los Angeles, CA for her speaking tour in the United States.

Dr. Goodall’s life and work not only made an indelible mark on our understanding of chimpanzees and other species, but also of humankind and the environments we all share. She inspired curiosity, hope and compassion in countless people around the world, and paved the way for many others — particularly young people who gave her hope for the future.

In 1960 Dr. Goodall established the longest running wild chimpanzee study in Gombe National Park, Tanzania which continues to this day. She pioneered and sustained the Jane Goodall Institute’s community-centered conservation initiatives across the chimpanzee range for over four decades. Her legacy includes the creation of JGI’s international environmental and humanitarian youth program Roots & Shoots, which is actively driving change in 75 countries and counting around the world.

The Jane Goodall Institute is incredibly grateful to all our supporters, partners, and friends, especially during this difficult time. To add a personal remembrance of Dr. Goodall and continue her legacy for future generations, please visit JaneGoodall.org/RememberingJane

💚

Photo credit: Marko Zlousic

29/09/2025

During last night's hectic thunderstorm in Johannesburg, I am sure many dogs were afraid, hiding away or trembling with anxiety. Here are some tips that I use to help my dogs cope better:

1. I monitor the weather apps so I can prep if possible - being proactive works.
2. Before the storm, I close all curtains to block out visual cues.
3. I play music on LOUD or put up the tv volume.
4. I give high value chews or high value Kongs at the start of the storm.
5. I continue with enrichment for as long as the storm continues.
6. Consult your vet for medication to assist if the fear is acute or use homeopathic calming meds.

They are still aware the storm but they cope much better 🙏

28/09/2025

Mature dogs are likened to 2-3 year old toddlers. Cats have even more immature brains. Studies show that children who are punished see the world with a negative lens and hence see threats in their environment which may not exist - high cognitive bias. As adults, they may struggle with anxiety, depression, low confidence, low self-esteem and other emotional problems resulting in behaviourial issues.

It is interesting to consider the impacts of emotional and physical punishment on the brain of cats and dogs and the concommitant behaviours since they share similar brain structures and systems to those of toddlers...

Corporal punishment may detrimentally harm brain development, a new study reports. Previous studies have revealed links between spanking and psychological problems, including depression and anxiety. The new study found children who experienced spanking as a form of punishment demonstrated greater ac...

26/09/2025

Good post on the difference between a trainer and a behaviourist

In the UK, the terms "dog trainer" and "dog behaviourist" are often used interchangeably, but there's a significant difference between the two roles.

A Dog Trainer works on general obedience and teaching certain skills. They teach dogs things like sit, stay, and loose-lead walking. They might teach some dog sports, such as agility, hoopers, or things like mantrailing and scent work. They can often help with common issues like jumping up.

A Dog Behaviourist, on the other hand, works with more serious and complex behavioural issues. This includes things like aggression/reactivity, severe fear or anxiety (including separation anxiety), over stimulation, resource guarding, and phobias. A behaviourist looks at the root causes of the behaviour and works in conjunction with vets to rule out any underlying medical causes.

A good dog trainer knows when a case is beyond their scope and will refer you to a qualified behaviourist. This isn't a sign of failure; it’s a sign of a professional who prioritises your dog's welfare above all else.

When you welcome a new dog into your life, or a challenging behaviour pops up, it’s completely natural to seek help. But with an unregulated industry, knowing who to trust with your dog's welfare can feel overwhelming.

In the UK, anyone can call themselves a "dog trainer" or a "behaviourist" without any formal qualifications or experience. This is a huge risk because unqualified individuals may use outdated or even harmful methods that can cause more harm than good to your dog, physically and mentally. They can also completely miss the causes for behaviour, which in turn can make things worse. Behaviourists also possess the skillset of trainers and may do this sort of work if they wish, or they will refer on to trusted trainers.

A qualified behaviour professional has spent years studying the science of animal learning, behaviour, health, nutrition, neuroscience, and welfare. They stay up-to-date with ethical, modern, and effective methods that prioritise your dog's wellbeing above all else.

Some questions you should ask professionals you are considering working with, or look for answers on their website:
🐾 What qualifications do they hold?
🐾 Are they affiliated with a professional body?
🐾 Do they use fear free, modern, and ethical methods?
🐾 Do they have experience working with the behavioural issue you need help with, and if not, will they signpost you to somebody who does?

Choosing the right person to help you is the most important step on your journey to a better life with your dog.

I am taking new behavioural clients for November & December 2025.
www.knowyourdogdevon.com

26/09/2025

DOG REACTIVITY - BENTLEY

This is Bentley, a Pitbull X, and he used to be afraid of the garbage truck so garbage days were filled with barking and other fear behaviours. His guardian has worked hard for about 6 weeks now to counter-condition him to the truck and its horrid noises. I received an update on Bentley's progress this morning:

"Dustbin truck just next door and we are looking but no barking. I'm in tears."

Working with a scared dog is not easy and it takes patience and time to build resilience. Bentley was scared of unfamiliar people, dogs and loud noises - he has shown improvement in all these areas since the assessment 6 weeks ago. There are no quick fixes and punishment is useless (this was tried unsuccessfully with Bentley previously). Thankfully, Bentley's guardian recognized his ongoing stress and reactivity to various triggers and found him the help he and her needed.

The key to success is always the guardian willingness to make routine changes and diligently implement the recommendations given. There are no magic solutions for cases like this - only the guardian can make a difference with the appropriate behaviour coaching.

Video - Bentley is calm despite hearing the approaching garbage truck.

23/09/2025

Professionals - you are welcome to contact me if you have any questions 😊
WhatsApp 071 893 3199

Assessing animal emotionality using the MHERA App makes this process remarkably user-friendly. With intuitive design and straightforward features, it empowers animal professionals to evaluate emotional states with ease. Imagine turning assessments into an effortless task, allowing you to focus on what truly matters: the wellbeing of the animals in your care. Embrace innovation and enhance your practice!

22/09/2025

Cat Enrichment idea 💡