Best Friends Dog Academy

08/29/2026

Such an important message. I’ve helped many people navigate this decision in my long career.
Sometimes prioritizing the dog’s needs means rehoming is the best thing, for the dog.
Yes it’s painful for the human to say goodbye. And it can still be the right decision.

“Walk a mile” in the dog’s feet and in the human’s shoes. Don’t judge.

There can be an extraordinary amount of judgement when somebody rehomes a dog.
“They should have thought about that before they got one.”
“I'd never give up on mine.”
“A dog is for life.”

Sometimes people can be incredibly cruel about a decision they know almost nothing about.
All because we see a rehoming post.

What we don't see is the life behind that decision.

Maybe they're elderly and their dog they once managed easily has simply become too much for them physically.
Is that not ok?

Maybe they're facing an illness that has turned their entire life upside down.

Maybe they've lost their home.
Their relationship.
Their income. And we all know this year has been incredibly hard on people.

Maybe this dog needs far, far more than this person ever imagined when they brought them home.
They might have spent months or years trying.
But now they need to work longer hours and all those well meanijng “let me know if you want someone to walk” people are no where to be found.

Sometimes somebody is simply at the point where they just can't do it anymore.

Emotionally, for whatever reason, right now they can’t cope and they know it’s incredibly unfair to keep denying this amazing dog what they really need.

Isn’t that a good enough reason?

Because sometimes isn’t rehoming a better option than not?

When someone has genuinely got to a point in their life that they are unable to care, cope or provide the basics for a dog, would we rather they still kept that dog?

We’ve got to have some compassion for that too, surely?

People have limits.
Yet we think those limits are equal no matter who or what the circumstances.

“If I can cope, so can you”

But when does that coping turn to neglect?
Is that still a wise choice to keep that dog in that home?
Because it’s a “home”?

Sometimes another home is genuinely the better home.

And sometimes keeping a dog at absolutely any cost isn't necessarily the kindest outcome for someone or their dog.

Of course we want people to think carefully before bringing a dog home.
Of course we want commitment. Dogs deserve that.
And rehoming shouldn't be the answer to every difficult week or even walk!

But this crazy life ride, doesn't always follow the plan we had when we brought that dog through the front door and into our home.

People get sick.
People get older.
Families change.
Finances collapse.

And circumstances that were manageable three years ago may be completely different today.

So perhaps when we see that post asking for help finding a loved dog somewhere new, we don't immediately need to decide what sort of person has written it.

We can just remember that we're seeing one tiny little part of their story.
Because handing over that lead for the last time may already hurt far, far more than any stranger on Facebook could possibly know.

Compassion costs nothing.
Judgement hurts.
It keeps people from making the best decisions they should.

Whether deep down we agree with that decision or not.

08/29/2026

JOLLY JUMPERS
Dogs jumping up is a common, normal behaviour, but it’s one that’s relatively easy to change as long as our reaction is consistent and everyone that interacts with the dog, follows the same approach.

When dogs have been jumping up for a long time, probably since pups, it takes time to teach an alternative behaviour and doesn’t happen overnight.

Allowing your dog to jump up when you wearing an old pair of jeans because it really doesn’t matter, but getting annoyed when you’re wearing smart clothes, causes confusion.

As with all behaviour we want to change, consistency is really important.
Dogs will continue to do what they find rewarding and we often inadvertently encourage and reward this behaviour by our reactions.

Pushing our dog away, shouting, scolding or interacting with our dogs when they jump up is still providing attention, even though it might be “negative” attention.

We need to show our dogs that jumping up results in no attention, but having 4 paws on the floor, searching for a treat that is thrown, retrieving a favourite toy, or a hand or chin touch is far more rewarding.

Dogs will soon realise that - “I don't have to jump up to get what I need. I can do something else that works much better.”

08/28/2026

The best choices? They last about two seconds.
Blink and they're over.
Worse still we miss them or dismiss them as "nothing".

They were going to rush through the door.
But paused.

They were watching something across the road.
Then looked back at you.

They were pacing around the house.
Then stopped, lay down and settled.

They were excited and jumping out of their skin to greet someone.
But those four paws stayed exactly where they were, on the ground.

Nothing dramatic happened. Except it did!
It really did.

There was no asking for it.
No big training moment.
Nobody necessarily even noticed.
But your dog just made a choice.
And a brilliant one at that.

And those tiny choices they make can be incredibly telling, especially if you've been working on some behaviour that isn't wanted.
Well guess what?
They just gave you the behaviour you’ve been looking for.
And it’s so easy to miss.

That spontaneous glance back at you?
Absolutely worth noticing.
The pause before rushing forward?
Worth noticing.
Choosing to settle when they could have carried on?
Yup, just look at what they did!

Oh that's some rewardable stuff right there, in action.

When something great happens naturally and we reinforce it, we can make that behaviour more likely to happen again, and again, and again.

And eventually those little tiny, easily missed choices can become choices your dog makes more often.
Not because you told them what to do.

And THAT is the "secret sauce" in action right there.

Have you started to see the secret sauce yet? What brilliant little choices has your dog started making?

08/11/2026

Thanks to the AVSAB for this printable and shareable resource for veterinarians, clinic staff, groomers, welfare organizations, and everyone who needs to know! 👏👏

08/06/2026

This one has got to go.

Every time I think this has finally disappeared, another video pops up.
Another trainer demonstrating it.
Another person telling dog owners this is a “clever way” to stop pulling.

Some dog training classes are teaching it too.

That should concern each and every person who cares about dogs.

We've become so obsessed with finding shortcuts that we're forgetting to ask a much more important question.

What is this actually doing to the dog?

A lead wrapped and knotted tightly around a dog's abdomen isn't just "another training method".

It twists the skin and abdomen in one of the least protected parts of their body. That is how it “works”.

No ribs on that belly either.
No bony protection.

That’s a lot of twisting of soft tissues and vital organs.

“That’s not how it’s meant to be used”

So how else is it meant to be used when it’s designed to stop pulling by physically hurting them because it twists around their belly and catches their skin?

What makes this even harder to accept is that companies are now manufacturing products specifically designed to make this “easier” to do.
You don’t even have to make that knot yourself now.

When products are sold and videos attract hundreds of thousands of views, people naturally assume it must be safe.

Popularity of a video is not evidence.

Views and likes can be easy when those videos are slick.
And "it worked for my dog" is certainly not evidence that it is safe.

If your training method carries that level of risk when there are safer, kinder and equally effective alternatives available, then it isn't a technique worth defending.

It isn't innovative.
It isn't clever.

Can I say it’s lazy “training”?
Oops, just did, because where is the method to actually show them?

Just because it can be tried, never means it should be tried.

Dogs deserves better.

07/26/2026

Must read. 😊

"Overall, these findings offer insights into the role the gut microbiome plays in our four-legged companions, with potential implications for veterinary medicine and translational aging research."

📑Read the full publication: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-73193-y

07/25/2026

Not just for kiddos!
Love this Veterinary Behaviorist’s page, give her a follow for great advise and insights. 🙌😊

07/22/2026

Excellent advice about enrichment. It’s a great idea to toggle back and forth between more arousing and then more calming activities as well. Think about “notching down” arousal levels.
🧘🐾

Not all enrichment has the same effect.

Some activities naturally increase excitement and arousal, while others encourage relaxation and decompression. Neither is better than the other. They simply serve different purposes.

That's why some dogs are still bouncing off the walls after an "enrichment activity."

Enrichment isn't defined by the activity itself. It's defined by how your individual dog experiences it.

So it's not that enrichment "doesn't work" to calm your dog. Different forms of enrichment produce different effects.

Some activities are more stimulating, while others promote rest and relaxation. Most activities involve both. The difference is how much arousal they create and how quickly your dog returns to baseline.

If your goal is to help your dog settle, you don't necessarily need to avoid exciting activities. Instead, pay attention to how each activity influences your dog's arousal, recovery, and overall well-being. That information is far more valuable than whether an activity is labeled as "calming" or "exciting."

It's also important to remember that your dog's needs change from day to day. An activity that helps them unwind one week may be highly stimulating the next, and vice versa. Factors like age, health, stress, environment, and previous experiences all influence how a dog responds.

The lists on the chart are grouped by their *primary* effect, but they aren't strict categories. Use them as a guide, then observe the dog in front of you.

Ultimately, the best enrichment is the enrichment that meets your individual dog's needs in that moment.

If you'd like to learn more about enrichment, be sure to check out:
✅ "Canine Enrichment For The Real World" book and workbook, available on Amazon, Dogwise, and Audible.
✅ "Enrichment For The Real World Podcast" available on Apple, Spotify, Youtube, or wherever you podcast!
✅ If you’re a pet professional, check out our PETPro program (https://petharmonytraining.com/petpro/)

07/15/2026

Yes, the hot weather affects us, and them. Adjust expectations accordingly.
Also, remember to drink water!

Studies on dogs, primates, and rodents show that even mild hyperthermia affects the prefrontal cortex — the part of the brain responsible for impulse control, decision‑making, and behavioural inhibition.

When body temperature rises by 1–2°C, the brain:

🔘processes information more slowly

🔘becomes more reactive to movement

🔘loses fine motor control

🔘struggles with inhibition

Heat alters the nervous system’s ability to regulate arousal

References:
Hall, E. J., Carter, A. J., & Bradshaw, J. W. S. (1999).
Effects of mild hyperthermia on working dogs.
Journal of Comparative Physiology B.

Bruchim, Y., et al. (2017).
Heat stress and the canine nervous system.
Frontiers in Veterinary Science.

Kiyatkin, E. A. (2019).
Brain hyperthermia and behavioural inhibition.

07/10/2026

LOOK AWAY

Looking away is part of a group of calming signals of body language – used by dogs in an attempt to reduce tension or conflict, communicate peaceful intent or help themselves, other animals or people to feel calmer.

Just like a hard stare or prolonged eye contact may be a precursor to a dog that’s about to react, looking away is intended to calm a situation down.

As with most body language, context is always relevant. It’s always important to look at the specific situation and what the rest of the body is doing when deciphering body language.

Dogs also look away for other reasons—they may have heard a sound, caught a scent, or something else has caught their attention.

Body language can be subtle and fleeting, but with careful observation and knowing what to look for most of us can learn to recognize and interpret what our dogs are saying

Being able to understand a dog’s emotional state helps to predict behaviour, prevent potential problems before they happen or just allows us to enjoy observing their unique way of communicating.

The look away is the wisdom of a dog that chooses to create calm over conflict.