The S. A. Mentor

22/10/2025

Just like us, our dogs have their besties! Thank you to Love your Paws for this reminder that our canine companions have social needs. With 2 dogs in my family that have big feelings around unfamiliar dogs and humans, the close relationship between all 3 dogs in our family is an important factor in their wellbeing. 😍

🐾🧡 THE VALUE OF FRIENDSHIPS BETWEEN FAMILIAR DOGS 🧡🐾

Dogs, just like people, have favourite friends.

They thrive on familiarity. Those trusted companions they can read easily, relax around, and share space with.

Watching dogs form friendships reminds us that social confidence isn’t about meeting everyone; it’s about finding comfort in someone. These bonds help build emotional security and teach dogs how to communicate more calmly with others.

So next time you notice your dog light up around a familiar friend, that’s a connection at work: quiet, steady, and full of meaning. 🐾

02/10/2025

“We are the most intellectual species to walk the planet, but we’re not intelligent. If you’re intelligent you don’t destroy your only home.” ❤️ RIP Dr Jane Goodall DBE. Thanks for all you gave to the world and all you taught us.

18/09/2025

Oh, yes - sniffing is definitely a welfare need.... ❤️

Scientists at Cornell University have just discovered something extraordinary about dogs' brains, something that's never been found in any other species, including humans.

Dogs have a direct neural motorway connecting their sense of smell to their visual processing centre. They literally "see" with their noses.

Dr Pip Johnson was mapping neural pathways in dogs' brains when she found it. Using advanced MRI scans on 23 dogs, she expected to find the usual smell-to-memory connections that most mammals have.

Instead, she found massive information superhighways she'd never seen before.

"I just kept finding these huge pathways," she says. "They seem like information freeways running from the nose back into the brain."

Sniffing is a dog welfare need. 🥰

22/07/2025

You're doing amazing work with your dog, even when it feels like a tangled mess! 💖 It's incredibly common for dogs with separation anxiety to also have other struggles like noise sensitivities, confinement distress, or generalized anxiety. Your dog isn't "difficult," they're just layered, and that's perfectly normal.

Think of your dog's behavior like a layer cake 🎂—separation anxiety might be the bottom, with other challenges stacked on top. We can't just remove one layer; we need to address the whole, intricate picture with kindness and consistency.

It's okay to feel overwhelmed. Start by prioritizing safety and what feels most manageable for you and your pup right now. Progress isn't always a straight line, but every step towards more comfort and less distress is a huge win worth celebrating! You're not alone in this; reach out for professional support to build a customized plan for your unique, wonderful dog. You're showing up for them, and that's something to be truly proud of.💛

https://malenademartini.com/when-separation-anxiety-isnt-the-only-struggle-navigating-co-occurring-challenges/

22/07/2025

The latest wisdom from the incredible Malena DeMartini Price. So proud to be one of the CSAT gang worldwide! 😍

You're doing amazing work with your dog, even when it feels like a tangled mess! 💖 It's incredibly common for dogs with separation anxiety to also have other struggles like noise sensitivities, confinement distress, or generalized anxiety. Your dog isn't "difficult," they're just layered, and that's perfectly normal.

Think of your dog's behavior like a layer cake 🎂—separation anxiety might be the bottom, with other challenges stacked on top. We can't just remove one layer; we need to address the whole, intricate picture with kindness and consistency.

It's okay to feel overwhelmed. Start by prioritizing safety and what feels most manageable for you and your pup right now. Progress isn't always a straight line, but every step towards more comfort and less distress is a huge win worth celebrating! You're not alone in this; reach out for professional support to build a customized plan for your unique, wonderful dog. You're showing up for them, and that's something to be truly proud of.💛

https://malenademartini.com/when-separation-anxiety-isnt-the-only-struggle-navigating-co-occurring-challenges/