#75: Why Your Dog Steals Weird Things for Attention

Plus: nervous system regulation, watermelon popsicles, and the bear video we cannot stop watching.

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🧠 Training Tip of the Week: The “Decompress + Reconnect” Walk Pattern

This week we came across a video from dog trainer Amelia (@ameliathedogtrainer) demonstrating an exercise she does on nearly every walk.

In the video, Ameilia says that dogs pull on the leash because they are “overstimulated” and that this game helps dogs regulate their nervous systems. While this isn’t the language I tend to use (I’d rather talk about observable behavior and conditions since that is what we have to look at to make inferences about their nervous system anyway), I do think this pattern can be really helpful. Dogs pull for a great number of reasons, and having little moments to slow down and reconnect on a walk can be helpful to break up that pulling and rehearse some desired behavior (puts some recent reinforcement history behind the behaviors you want to see more of too). And these slower behaviors often come with “calmer” feelings, which can be helpful for a lot of dogs.

She calls the pattern “decompress reconnect.” First, she scatters treats on the ground for the dog to sniff out and forage. Then, once the dog finishes snuffling, she waits for them to voluntarily offer attention before tossing another treat and repeating the up down pattern game a few times before continuing the walk.

I also do this sometimes on trail walks if I think the dog I am with tends to get hyperfocused on the environment. It’s just a little moment to slow down and reconnect.

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📺 TOC’s Take: Why Dogs Steal the Weirdest Things for Attention

Have you seen the viral video of Skye the golden retriever, who apparently starts every morning by grabbing something she “knows she can’t have” to get her humans out of bed?

I love stuff like this because dogs are so good at “telling on us” about what we do with their own behavior. It’s far less about “knowing what she can’t have” and more about knowing which items will reliably lead to her humans getting out of bed.

Jess’s dog Stanley prefers stealing tiny Tonie characters from her daughter’s collection whenever the humans are deep in conversation and he decides it’s time for dinner or a walk.

These behaviors are often seen as “naughty” but they’re really just brilliant communication!

And admittedly… sometimes it’s also hilarious

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🐶 Community Corner: The Parenting Advice That Also Applies to Dogs

This week we came across a post from the parenting account @biglittlefeelings entitled “Hills I’ll Die On as a Therapist,” and we were struck by how many of the ideas parallel how we approach living with dogs.

One slide reads: “Fear might stop behavior in the moment, but it kills learning long-term.” Another says: “The goal isn’t obedience. It’s raising a human who can think, feel, and regulate.”

That could easily be a philosophy statement for modern dog training too.

Whether we’re raising children or living with dogs, so much of the process comes down to honoring the life in front of us, meeting learners where they are, giving them as much autonomy as possible, and reinforcing small successes instead of demanding perfection. Our behavior around our learners has such a huge impact on their life – human or canine.

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🎨 DIY This for Your Dog: Watermelon Popsicles

As temperatures climb, we are fully entering “make frozen treats for the dog” season.

These watermelon popsicles are adorable, ridiculously simple, and honestly look good enough for humans too. The little carrot-stick handles absolutely make the presentation.

If you try making them, tag us — we’d genuinely love to see your dogs enjoying them.

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🌍 One More Thing: A Bear Break-In in Gatlinburg

Sometimes the internet gives you serious educational content. Other times it gives you a bear casually rummaging through the trunk of a car in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

We have so many questions.

Did the bear open the trunk itself, or was it already open? What was the person walking past the camera thinking? Is this just a completely normal Tuesday in Gatlinburg?

Either way, the bear seems extremely committed to the search.

Enjoy the show.

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