Beyond Behavior, LLC - Alyssa Giles, BSci

08/22/2026

Why do they do this?? 😆

Often, our dogs are so worked up emotionally - such as overstimulation or anxiety - that the need to move and get themselves feeling emotionally calm or safe is the priority over physical needs.

To help your dog potty more quickly and reliably outside, focus on meeting that need. They will likely need a minute or so to pace and move around, but this only helps if it's followed up with calming touch. Otherwise, the stress will just build up again, resulting in more play or activity instead of a squat.

Calmly engage with your dog as they goof off, being a participant without increasing the excitement. Then sit and offer cuddles. Body contact and slow, deep pets release calming neurochemicals that also increase feelings of safety. Ultimately, this is what your dog's brain is seeking: regulation and homeostasis.

It can also help, if your dog isn't urgent, to calm them before letting them out. They often get worked up at the idea of going outside, then spend all their time outside trying to regulate and come back down from that excitement. If you get ahead of it by keeping outside visits calm, and helping them regulate before opening the door, you may get a dog who potties faster and returns for more of your connection.

If you're still struggling, consider if maybe your dog is only wanting to go outside because they're trying to spend quality time with you :)

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08/08/2026

Huge shout out and thank you to The Monarch for an awesome event with their Summer Dog Days tonight! I had an absolute blast chatting with pet parents, petting dogs, dancing to some kick butt music, and making friends with some cool vendors :) I'm excited to return for more events there! Julio and Micah, you were incredibly helpful, thank you for all your hard work (and anyone else who was involved that I may not have met 😅).

07/26/2026

I recently came across a post about an aggressive cat someone was trying to find a new home for.

The post itself was sad, but what bothered me more was the number of comments from people saying they also have aggressive cats. It sounded like people had just given up, assuming this is just how their cat would always be.

Yes, I work with cats! You don't have to just deal with your cat's behavior, and the last thing I want is for you to eventually get so burned out by that behavior that you feel the need to give your cat up.

What life changes would cause you to give up on your cat, due to their behavior? A new pet? partner moving in? A new baby?

What would be the last straw for you, and how close are you to it?

Don't let things slide until that "last straw" drops. Let me help you feel safe with and enjoy your cat again, or even for the first time!

Try one session and see what you can learn and accomplish, without adding a ton of extra work or a giant bill to your already busy and stressful life 💜 No need to pay for a huge, expensive package of you can't afford to. But let's get you all to a place where everyone feels connected and safe!

07/26/2026

Are you considering training your own service dog? Service Paws is a nonprofit that offers low cost courses to teach you how to do this without the high costs of hiring a private trainer or buying a pre-trained dog, and with the advantage of getting to come with your service dog from day one!

Not every dog in public is a service dog. When pets enter non-pet-friendly spaces, they can distract or endanger working service dogs—putting the independence, safety, and health of people with disabilities at risk. Please leave pets at home and help keep public spaces accessible for those who truly depend on their service dogs.

07/21/2026

Is your dog a total SPAZ?

We love our dogs, but sometimes they can really push our buttons! (Can I get a "howl" yeah??)

At it's core, the dog brain is much like the human emotional brain: stress (both positive and negative) releases stress chemicals like adrenaline and cortisol, and connection releases endogenous opioids that calm the nervous system.

Knowing this, when your dog is acting excited, it's a sign that their nervous system is trying to regulate itself. Generally, this isn't a sign that the dog wants MORE excitement, it's their body acting out in ways that help it to return to homeostasis.

So the next time your dog seems extra wiggly, let them wiggle while you offer deep, long, slow pets along their body. As they use up those stress chemicals through movement, you'll see them calm down and relax into your touch.

If they've already made it to SuperSpaz mode, you may have to goof off a little to help them wind down. This helps them redirect their over-the-top behavior to something more appropriate, and wind them down more quickly than just leaving them to their own devices, or trying to punish or distract them. Usually a minute or so of dog-led, unstructured social play will do it. Just be sure that you're keeping yourself calm and regulated, lowering the energy level of the play rather than creating more excitement.

If you'd like more support with your dog, and you're intrigued by an approach that's dog-centered, focuses on the nervous system, and respects the needs of both you and your dog, please reach out! I love pets AND their people 💜

Also, if you're struggling with leash behavior, ask about my current Summer Leashwalking Special!

I look forward to connecting 💜

07/20/2026

If you would like to be a sponsor, donate raffle items, or be a vendor at GOATchella, please reach out to Correy Rasmuson with Haven Ranch Sanctuary !

This is going to be such a fun event, I'm excited to be there! Come say hi on October 3rd :)

07/13/2026

Please remember that temperatures in your vehicle, even in the shade, with windows open, are much hotter, and dogs overheat more easily than humans.

07/08/2026

Join me on Doghood! Not only can you connect with other dog owners near you and set up your own play dates, get local recommendations for pet professionals, and ask local questions, but there may be a professional near you who offers free monthly meetups! I'm hosting free meetups every month in the Salt Lake area!

/PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- DogHood, a community app built exclusively for dog parents, has organically grown to more than 18,000 registered dog parents across 400+...