Best Friends Dog Academy

09/09/2025

We want dogs to work through challenges—but how do we know when it’s too much?

Here’s what overload can look like in a frustrated learner:
– Barking, lunging, biting, or frantic mouthing
– Shutting down or disengaging from the task
– Repeating failed behaviors with increasing intensity
– Flattened affect or fleeing the learning space
– Behavior patterns that spiral instead of resolve

Frustration stacking—where small triggers pile up—can quietly erode learning, confidence, and overall welfare.

The line between “productive challenge” and “emotional flooding” is thinner than we think.
And the longer it’s crossed, the harder it becomes to repair.

This is why frustration tolerance must be built intentionally—with appropriate support, breaks, and reinforcement.

Our job isn’t to eliminate stress—but to prevent it from becoming distress.

09/08/2025

Calm, happy client dog, Winston.

Winston gets anxious when visitors come to his home. Thanks to the time and effort his guardian Emily put in, this was his body language with me (in his home) after a package of sessions during which Emily learned how to meet his needs (in this context and more).
What I strive for with every client/dog- for the client to understand that their dog’s behavior is driven by emotions and needs.

09/06/2025

Really good case study on pain related anxiety/fear behavior.

A 6-year-old, male, entire Jack Russell terrier was referred for noise fear and subsequently diagnosed with underlying musculoskeletal discomfort. Significant improvements in the signs were reported ...

09/04/2025

Welcome to BFDA Princess! Although the “side eye” looks a bit grumpy, Princess is a happy girl and very lucky to have been adopted into a wonderful home.
*couldn’t resist taking a pic of those cute pudgy little crossed back legs! 🐾💕

09/04/2025

Heal the Dog says it perfectly again!
100 % This 👇

09/01/2025

What Does Welfare Look Like?

If welfare is cumulative, then it shows itself in patterns of behavior over time.

A dog’s ability to freely express a variety of natural behaviors is one of the clearest ways we can begin to understand their welfare state. Behavioral diversity is a promising new metric that animal welfare scientists are increasingly using (Miller, 2020) as an objective,observable lens into an animal’s quality of life. It’s the most practical tool we have ever had to assess canine welfare, giving us real data and feedback about the effects of the things we are doing (and not doing) for the dogs in our lives as welfare-conscious dog pros working to deliver the Good Life.

What, really, is “good behavior” for our dogs’ welfare?

🟢 A dog following their nose to explore a new environment with curiosity
🟢 Chasing, ambushing, wrestling, or play-stalking with bonded friends
🟢 Caching a bone in the pillows or parading a toy proudly through the house
🟢 Rolling in the grass or napping in the sun with the cat
🟢 Confidently navigating logs and rocks in pursuit of a fresh critter trail

Poor welfare can sometimes look deceptively “good”, as natural behavior becomes diminished:

🟡 A dog lying quietly for most of the day, taking little initiative to engage with their environment and social members
🟡 A dog who walks calmly on leash without sniffing or investigating
🟡 A dog with narrow patterns of behavior like dropping a ball at your feet repeatedly

Welfare is about the range of behaviors, the emotional valance behind them, and the overall life experience that shapes them. This is why observing the breadth of natural behavior, especially over a period of time, can give us a more comprehensive picture of a dog’s Good Life.

08/30/2025

Ah, yes,a true body relaxation settle, from the inside out is priceless

08/27/2025

✅Saying this one loud and clear.
Newly adopted, anxious, struggling in social environments or reactive?
It is absolutely fine to separate them to a less stressful area of the home when your house is crazy busy.
Believe me...they know the home is still chaotic, but the world feels quieter and safer when they’re not thrust into it.

This is not about segregating them and not letting them experience life.
It's about recognising that these socially struggling dogs can't handle this right now.
They need us to place limits on exposure for them.

"But I have a busy household already!"
You probably do, especially if you have children....but right now your dog isn't coping.
We can't just expect them to "get over it" when we don't provide opportunities to reset their nervous system.

If we don't....we really can let our dogs down when they need us the most.

08/27/2025

This is so important. And so common.
I’ve worked with several cases where “behavior problems” were ultimately linked to discomfort and pain. All ages, including puppies and adolescents. Once the dog’s condition was treated, and the memory of pain was addressed, those problems disappeared.
This year so far I’ve taken on behavior cases involving one or more of the following: Joint pain, gastrointestinal pain, parasites, hip dysplasia, foot pain due to overgrown toe nails, ear infections, mouth pain from infection, urinary infection, thyroid disease, cancer, and one dog that wasn’t given proper time to heal after her spay surgery.

Please talk to your dog’s veterinarian. Be prepared to pay for diagnostics. Because paying a behavior consultant or dog trainer to help your dog with a condition that requires medical intervention is like seeing a therapist to treat an infection.

We all wish our dogs could tell us if they are hurting. Maybe they are.

Unwanted Behaviour or Unseen Pain?

Pain is one of the most overlooked causes of unwanted behaviour. Before we label, or train, we must ask: Could this be pain?

Dogs rarely vocalise pain directly. Instead, they show subtle shifts in behaviour—like withdrawal, irritability, or reactivity—that may be misinterpreted as training issues or simply unwanted behaviour.

Studies from Glasgow University and the development of the Glasgow Pain Scale highlight that behavioural signs are often the primary indicators of pain.

Pain is a major contributor to behavioural issues Professor Daniel Mills (University of Lincoln) and others have shown that pain is either the direct cause or a significant exacerbating factor in many cases of unwanted behaviour. In clinical reviews, pain was implicated in 28% to 82% of behaviour cases depending on the population studied.

Behavioural changes are often the first sign of pain. Dogs may not show obvious physical symptoms, but subtle behavioural shifts—such as increased reactivity, avoidance, or changes in social engagement—can be early indicators of discomfort.

Common pain-related behaviours include:

• Sudden aggression or reactivity (growling, snapping)
• Reluctance to be touched or approached
• Sudden aggression or reactivity
• Restlessness, pacing, or excessive licking
• Withdrawal or reduced social engagement
• Changes in appetite, sleep, or toileting
• Avoidance of walks or equipment
• Hyperarousal, excessive mouthing or vocalisation
• Repetitive behaviours like pacing, guarding, or licking surfaces
• Changes in sleep, toileting, or eating patterns

Musculoskeletal pain is a frequent culprit: A 2012 study found that 75% of aggressive dogs had underlying musculoskeletal pain, often from hip dysplasia or elbow osteoarthritis.

Unwanted behaviour isn’t always a training issue—it’s often a welfare one. Pain changes behaviour, and recognising that is the first step toward helping, not correcting.

08/25/2025

Going wild at the window?
Frantic when the mail arrives?
"My dog loves it though !"
It may look like fun and yup for some it is.... but it is one stressful game they are "playing".
Is it a healthy game?
Do they rest and sleep or sit there and scan for hours?
Obsession is obsession....whether it is fun or not.

Stress hormones are still released whether this is from fun or fear....they don't just disappear either. They can compound and cause issues in other ways.
They change a dogs behaviour.

If you are struggling with reactivity outside of the home.
Stop the "game'.
It fuels reactivity.

Running from window to window to follow that person or dog seems ok to some people....but how is it truly affecting this dog?

08/23/2025

Client dog Storie. 💕

08/21/2025

Excellent advice!

If you don’t physically exhaust them… they just won’t stop.
Whoa there.
Let’s look at the bigger picture.... not just a quick “fix” for today.

I get it, I really do.
Running them longer..... throwing the frisbee for another 10 minutes, chucking that ball again and again, because if you don’t, they’ll pace, whine and struggle to settle.

Here’s the tough question.
Is it helping your dog… or just creating a cycle where they crave more and more?

Their stamina climbs higher.
Their demands increase.
Their adrenaline is off the charts.

Then "suddenly" the amount of exercise you need to give them is unsustainable .
There just aren’t enough hours in the day to “satisfy” them.

What's the solution?
Do less… but carefully.
Reduce that high energy exercise, while adding enrichment in its place.

Low arousal activities that tire them in a different way:

Scatter feeding
Scent walks
Enrichment games
Puzzle toys

Still not convinced?
Try it.... really try it , for a few weeks.

You’ll never look at “tiring them out” the same way again.