Best Friends Dog Academy

05/28/2026

I can. But I’m not going to.

I don’t want your dog to shrink away while I insist on ruffling their hair up.
They don’t need me to touch them to prove “I’m safe”.

What they actually need is for me to keep my hands in my pocket and wait for some signals of consent.

We have a tactile “obsession” when it comes to dogs.

Maybe it starts when they’re puppies and their squidginess draws our hands in.
100% their fur and wee fat rolls combined are irresistible.
From there though, it can become a habit.

We see a person up the street we haven’t seen for a while, stop for a chat and our hand goes down to pat while we say “Aww whose this wee girl”.
That’s how easy these habits grow.

They’re ingrained.

How about we start to normalise not touching?
And start normalising watching for consent.

05/27/2026

Very cool podcast alert!

What does it actually mean for a dog to live a “good life”?

In this episode of the Research Bites Podcast, I sit down with philosopher and dog trainer Dr. Katie Holman to explore questions about play, flourishing, agency, relationship, ethics, and what we owe the animals we live with.

We talk about:
• Why philosophy matters for animal behavior professionals
• The difference between pleasure and flourishing
• Whether dogs can experience meaning and purpose
• Why play may be fundamentally relational
• How training, agency, and vulnerability intersect
• What ethical thinking looks like beyond simple rules

This conversation is thoughtful, exploratory, and full of the kinds of questions that don’t have simple answers — but deeply shape how we live and work with animals.

If you enjoy conversations about science, uncertainty, welfare, and the complexity of relationships with dogs, I think you’ll really enjoy this one.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts or at https://www.buzzsprout.com/1892109/episodes/19249088

05/24/2026

These dogs can “give in” instead of growl.
And because of that, there’s no obvious conflict, but there can be discomfort.
“They’re OK together.”
“Let them work it out.”
“They’ll get used to each other.”

Tolerating something happening is not always the same as feeling safe with it.

Some dogs become very good at avoiding conflict instead of resolving it or escalating.
Some will just simply endure social pressure.

Being aloof can work for them too.

A quieter dog, that doesn’t move too much or isn’t vocal around others has sometimes worked out how to “fly under the radar”
Now there really isn’t anything wrong with that, but we need to be mindful.
Some freeze as a dog approaches.
Some repeatedly roll over and just stay there until the other dog loses interest.

But sometimes they can escalate only after ‘tolerating’ things for too long.

Unfortunately, these quieter dogs are often the ones people can miss completely.
They can also be put into social situations they don’t want to be in at all.

That quietness is mistaken for calmness, acceptance.

Not every struggling dog is loud.

05/23/2026

We’re here to challenge the age old saying ‘a tired dog is a good dog’. If your dog seems or unable to settle, they may not need more activity — they actually might just need a nap 😴

Dogs aren’t designed to stay awake all day like humans are. Healthy adult dogs typically sleep 11 –1 4 hours every 24 hours, with sleep spread across both overnight rest and daytime naps.

As a general guide, most dogs benefit from:
✨ 3 - 6 hours of daytime napping
✨ Around 8 hours of dedicated overnight sleep

Sleep needs are separate from the quiet downtime and restful moments that make up another large portion of a dog’s day. Seniors and giant breeds often need even more sleep, and puppies typically need anywhere from 18 - 20 hours per day!

Rest is a biological need that supports learning, emotional regulation, recovery, and overall wellbeing 🐾

05/21/2026

Yeah, it’s an actual post from me!

You probably noticed I share a lot of content from my amazing colleagues.

I just don’t have time to do the full stop social media thing. I’m prioritizing helping my clients. 😊🐾

But, I stopped at my favorite locally owned small business today Leash on Life and couldn’t resist posting these cool new slow feeder/licki tray things they have.

Stop serving kibble-in-a-bowl and create some fun by serving up meals in these brilliant and easy to clean vessels!

05/20/2026

05/17/2026

Very wise words from Science Matters Academy of Animal Behavior LLC

05/13/2026

Got Enrichment?

What’s your dog’s “thing”?
Because it might not be the $70 enrichment toy sitting untouched in the corner.

Enrichment has become a massive buzz word lately.
Every second product promises mental stimulation, calmness and fulfilment.

But real enrichment?
It’s much simpler .

Some dogs would choose shredding cardboard over a puzzle toy every single time.
Some want to sniff every blade of grass.
Some thrive on running, jumping and movement.
Some love chewing and licking.
Some enjoy solving problems.
Some just want to quietly watch the world go by.

That’s the bit we can miss.

We start choosing enrichment based on trends, marketing or what other dogs enjoy instead of observing our own dogs and what brings them joy.

A dog walking away from a puzzle toy is not “failing enrichment”.
They may simply be telling you
“This isn’t my thing.”

So what is?💭

05/08/2026

Excellent resource!

If you struggle with your own emotions because of your pet, we see you. If you feel isolated with no one who gets it, we are here for you. We are proud to offer Human Support Services to support all pet owners around the world with support groups and 1:1 sessions. All Human Support Services are lead by Valerie Bogie, MSSW, Veterinary Social Worker, who is our Director of Human Support Services and also one of our Behavior Consultants.
☝Sign up up top in our bio! ☝