Good Boy Olly

05/02/2026

🐾 New research is reshaping how we think about behaviour cases, and it’s big.
Many families feel stuck choosing between “wait and see” or committing to surgical castration when behaviour concerns arise. A new study offers another path: chemical castration as a reversible, low‑risk trial run.

I’ve broken down what the research actually shows, how it can guide decision‑making, and why this option may help vets and families better understand what’s driving a dog’s behaviour.

If you’re navigating behaviour challenges or supporting clients through them, this one’s worth a read.

👉 https://kalmpets.com.au/chemical-castration-as-a-trial-run-what-a-new-study-means-for-behaviour-cases/

03/01/2026

(CAT) Constructional Aggression Treatment, for dogs with reactivity issues.

Developed by Dr Jesus Rosales-Ruiz and Kellie Snider. Offers a unique approach distinct from traditional desensitisation and counter-conditioning techniques.

CAT is based on a straightforward principle: “behaviour that is reinforced will increase.” By removing the functional reward, such as ending the interaction when your dog reacts aggressively, you effectively reinforce the aggressive responses.
Instead, CAT involves rewarding a dog’s positive behaviours, such as calming signals or turning its head, by prompting the trigger to leave when these occur.

CAT empowers the learner, giving them a sense of control and reducing fear.

Learn more. https://www.goodboyolly.com.au/cat/

18/12/2025

Recent MRI studies show that when dogs smell or hear their owners, the region of the brain linked to reward and affection lights up more strongly than it does for food. This neural response reveals a level of emotional attachment that goes beyond simple conditioning.

Scientists say this loyalty is rooted in dogs’ long history of domestication, during which they evolved to form deep social bonds with humans. Their brains are wired to seek connection, comfort, and security from their owners.

This research also explains why dogs display protective behavior, separation anxiety, and intense excitement during reunions — their emotional bond is biologically reinforced.

29/11/2025

22/11/2025

To help our dogs to listen, we must learn to watch.

Dogs will try low-level signals first to convey how they feel. If this goes unnoticed, they will escalate to shouting, screaming or getting physical. This usually gets attention, and we remove the dog from the situation.

If this happens often, they learn that we only understand when they are shouting, screaming, or getting physical, and stop using the low-level signals that don’t work or escalate from them much more quickly.

Learn more, check out the free resources at https://www.goodboyolly.com.au/resources/

25/10/2025

Scent is a dog's primary sense.