Equinine Behavioural Practice

21/10/2025

BRAIN UNDER CONSTRUCTION
The challenges of the teenage dog.

There’s a saying that most parents of teenagers can relate to - "Parents of teenagers understand why some animals eat their young!"

The changes that happen in the brain of a teenage dog are not that different to a human teenager.

The brain undergoes a period of "pruning" and "re-wiring". This process can cause some parts not to work, work sporadically or work too much.

To describe it in the simplest of terms -the prefrontal cortex of a teenage brain is at the “back of the queue” in this process. It’s still “under construction” and still developing. This area of the brain is responsible for making “logical” decisions, controlling impulses, learning, remembering, problem solving and social interaction.

Because the prefrontal cortex is being reconstructed, the brain relies more on a part called the amygdala to make choices and react.
The amygdala is involved in the “big feelings” we may see - emotional responses like fight or flight, anxiety, excitement, reactivity, impulse control and instinctive behaviour.

Being aware of the physical changes the teenage brain is going through in the process of maturing, helps us to be more understanding and accepting.

Statistics show that many dogs are surrendered or re homed during the teenage stage as their owners no longer “like” the way their dog behaves, can’t handle them or just give up on them.

Please don’t give up on your teenage dog. We need to manage our expectations and frustrations during this phase.

Understand and acknowledge what is happening in their brain. Help them through this stage with patience, consistency, love and acceptance.

20/10/2025

🐾 𝗘𝗹𝗯𝗼𝘄 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗮 𝗶𝗻 𝗚𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀🐾

Elbow dysplasia is a multifactorial condition influenced by genetics, injury, and developmental factors—responsible breeders consider all of these when making pairing decisions.

Elbow dysplasia (ED) is a complex orthopedic condition affecting the elbow joint, commonly seen in medium to large dog breeds. It encompasses several developmental abnormalities, including fragmented medial coronoid process (FCP), osteochondritis dissecans (OCD), and ununited anconeal process (UAP), which can lead to pain, lameness, and long-term osteoarthritis.

🧬 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀: 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗣𝗶𝗲𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝘂𝘇𝘇𝗹𝗲
- Genetic predisposition plays a role in ED, but heritability varies significantly across breeds—from as low as 0.01 to as high as 0.36.
- Studies show that both sire and dam contribute equally to elbow health outcomes, but the risk increases when one or both parents are affected.
- Importantly, genetic correlation between left and right elbows is high, suggesting symmetrical disease is more likely to be inherited, while unilateral cases may be less genetically driven.

🐾 𝗜𝗻𝗷𝘂𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀
- Not all elbow abnormalities are inherited. Trauma, overexertion during growth, or poor nutrition can contribute to joint damage.
- Unilateral elbow dysplasia, especially when not mirrored in the opposite limb, may indicate an injury-related cause rather than a genetic one.
- This nuance is critical when interpreting elbow grading results—especially in dogs with active lifestyles or those exposed to uneven physical stress.

🧠 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀
Reputable breeders do not rely solely on elbow scores. They assess:
--- Line history: patterns of joint health across generations.
--- Pedigree depth: looking beyond parents to siblings, offspring, and extended relatives.
--- Pairing strategy: avoiding doubling up on risk factors and balancing strengths and weaknesses.
--- Contextual grading interpretation: considering whether a mild or unilateral grade could stem from injury rather than inherited disease.

✅ 𝗘𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀
- Breeders committed to long-term health use phenotypic screening, estimated breeding values (EBVs), and breed-specific data to guide decisions.
- They also educate puppy buyers about joint care, appropriate exercise, and nutrition, which can significantly influence outcomes even in genetically sound dogs.

20/10/2025

👀Often the first sign.
This subtle "no" is easy to miss but important to understand.
Reading the "small stuff" helps us all.

Looking away is part of a dogs language and it can be a polite way to diffuse tension or show they mean no harm. It’s part of how they may communicate peace and avoid conflict.

Some common reasons they do this include

They’re uncomfortable or unsure about a situation or another dog.

They’re trying to calm themselves or the other dog down.

They want to avoid confrontation or pressure.

They’re overstimulated and need a moment to process.

They may need more time to assess.

This "tiny" gaze shift needs respected.
If it's not, then that's when they may feel they have to escalate.
If you notice this around you, try to give them more space and perhaps avert your eyes too.
Let them process what they need to while you do the same.

15/10/2025

15/10/2025

02/10/2025

02/10/2025

Wish your dog came back?
Watching those dogs at the park immediately stop and run back to their family ?
That's recall in action, but it doesn't come naturally to many.
These 4 steps are the basics, but there are a few areas that need a closer look.

High value doesn't always mean food, or it can mean just the best most tastiest morsel when they come to you.
One time it's a small piece of chicken
Another time maybe a piece of cooked or raw meat.
The next time you practice this, grab that favourite squeaky toy you had in your back pocket and play!
Does your dog like tug?
Get stuck into a game of tug when they return.

Make this the best and most exciting game ever!
That's how you help a dog recall.
They just don't know what fantastic reward they will get next.
That is the point!

You have to be exciting.
You just do.
It adds more fun to recall and they need that history of reinforcement and excitement from you, and when they get there.

Don't go too far too soon.
This needs proofed.
You need to build up a solid history starting in your house (one room) a few times a day.
Run backwards, make your self exciting and then the unpredictable thrill of the reward appears, then you can slowly expand.
Slowly.

There's a big ole world out there and you need to be seen as "the bee's knees" every single time you say your recall word (which shouldn't be their name).

There’s a post on that topic further back on the page

Names cause problems for recall.

02/10/2025

Distemper outbreak in Gauteng! 🐕
Please ensure your pet's vaccinations are up to date! 💉

Please read the poster below for more information. The outbreak is currently in the Pretoria area but this virus spreads fast.🩺

Hondesiekte uitbraak in Gauteng!🐕
Maak asseblief seker u troeteldiere se inentings is op datum! 💉

Lees asb die prent hieronder vir meer inligting of kontak ons. Die uitbraak is op die oomblik hoofsaaklik in die Pretoria omgewing, maar versprei vinnig.🩺

Photo credit: AACL JHB