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🧠 Behaviour Makes Sense: The Amygdala Have you ever wondered why your dog sometimes seems to react before they’ve had a chance to think? One reason may be a small, almond-shaped structure in the brain called the amygdala. The amygdala is often described as the brain’s alarm system. Its role isn’t to make your dog obedient or disobedient. Its primary job is to detect potential danger and prepare the body to respond. When the amygdala perceives something as threatening—whether

Healing isn’t always the moment you discover something new. Sometimes it’s the moment you realise something you’ve always believed wasn’t true. In this episode of The Feral Behaviourist, I talk about leaving a two-hour counselling session and the emotional weight of understanding my childhood, my late autism diagnosis, neuroplasticity, and why those experiences have profoundly shaped the way I work with both people and dogs. TW; talk of child abuse. One thought stayed with me

🧠 Behaviour Makes Sense: Activity-Dependent Synaptogenesis It might sound like a bit of a tongue twister, but activity-dependent synaptogenesis describes something wonderfully simple. The brain builds and strengthens connections based on what it repeatedly does. Every time your dog experiences something, billions of nerve cells (neurons) communicate with one another. When those same neurons are activated repeatedly, the connections between them become stronger and more effic

🌿 Tiny Toxins: Paws Off Plants 🐾 (A little series combining my love of plants and pets 🌿🐶) Today’s tiny check: English Ivy Those trailing green vines? Lovely for walls and hanging baskets. Snack? Not so much 😅 English ivy contains naturally occurring saponins, which can irritate the mouth and digestive system if chewed. For some dogs, this may mean: 🐾 Drooling 🐾 Vomiting 🐾 Diarrhoea 🐾 Mouth irritation Before anyone worries — plenty of dogs ignore ivy completely. But

🌿 Tiny Toxins: Paws Off Plants 🐾 (A little series combining my love of plants and pets 🌿🐶) Today’s tiny check: Snake Plant Those tall, architectural leaves? Beautiful. Snack? Not so much 😅 Snake plants contain naturally occurring compounds called saponins, which can cause tummy upset if chewed. For some dogs, this may mean: 🐾 Drooling 🐾 Vomiting 🐾 Diarrhoea 🐾 Reduced appetite Before anyone panics — many dogs live happily alongside snake plants and never pay them any

Morning Isn’t Always Safe ☀️ Heat Without Shame “Walk early” isn’t always enough. If the overnight temperature stayed high, your dog may already be starting the day warm. Look at: ☀️ Temperature ☀️ Humidity ☀️ Your individual dog Not just the clock. Some dogs struggle far more than others. Older dogs. Brachycephalic dogs. Giant breeds. Double-coated breeds. Dogs with medical conditions. The safest walk time for one dog may not be safe for another. #dogs #heatwithoutshame #dog

Zombie was on hand to supervise the unboxing of my ThreeBestRated award today (quality control is a very important job!). Receiving recognition like this is incredibly meaningful, but awards are never about one person. They’re about every guardian who has trusted me with their dog, every dog who has taught me something new, and every opportunity I’ve had to help strengthen the relationship between people and their canine companions. Thank you to everyone who has supported Mut

A lot of behaviour information can be found simply by watching where our dogs choose to spend their time. Do they seek sunshine? A quiet corner? A high vantage point? The room where you are? Favourite resting places often tell us where dogs feel safest, most comfortable, and most able to relax. Today, spend a few minutes observing rather than directing. Your dog may tell you something important without saying a word. Where is your dog’s favourite place to relax?

🌿 Every voice matters. 🌿 I’ve just written to my local MP about the Nature’s Rights Bill. Whether you support the Bill or simply care about protecting the natural world, it’s worth remembering that our MPs work for us. One thoughtful email from a constituent may not change everything overnight, but lots of individual voices together can help shape the conversations happening in Parliament. Nature gives us so much—clean air, healthy ecosystems, wildlife, beautiful landscapes

🧠 Behaviour Makes Sense: Neuroplasticity Neuroplasticity might sound like a complicated scientific word, but the idea behind it is beautifully hopeful. It simply means the brain can change. Every experience your dog has helps shape the pathways inside their brain. The more often a behaviour is practised, the stronger those pathways can become—whether that’s barking at the window, chasing squirrels, or calmly watching the world go by. This isn’t about blame. It’s about unders

🌱 Tiny Toxins: Paws Off Plants The ZZ Plant is loved because it thrives on neglect. Unfortunately, it can still cause problems if chewed by dogs due to the calcium oxalate crystals contained within the plant. Knowledge doesn’t need to create fear—it simply helps us make informed choices. #dogs #dogsafety #tinytoxins #plants #dogtraining

It’s easy to compare your dog to the dog you hoped for. The dog you imagined. The dog you see online. Today, try something different. Compare your dog to who they were six months ago. Compare them to where they started. Growth becomes much easier to see when we stop measuring ourselves against perfection. #dogs #dogeducation #dogpsychology #dogbehaviour #dogtraining #cookiepushersunited #gentlereminder

Shade Doesn’t Mean Cool Shade helps. But shade is not air conditioning. If it’s 28°C outside, it may still be 28°C in the shade. Watch your dog. Not just the weather app. We often hear: “But we stayed in the shade.” Shade can reduce direct sun exposure, but it doesn’t remove heat and humidity. Watch for: 🐾 Excessive panting 🐾 Slowing down 🐾 Seeking water 🐾 Lying down frequently 🐾 Refusing to continue Your dog may be telling you they’re too hot long before heatstroke occu

Not every day needs to be a training day. Some days are survival days. Some days are recovery days. Some days are simply “we got through it” days. If your dog is struggling today, consider lowering the bar. Maybe success looks like: • one calm choice • one successful recall • one settled nap • one trigger managed well Progress isn’t only measured by what your dog achieves. Sometimes it’s measured by what they no longer need to cope with. Small wins are still wins.

A Feral Behaviourist series exploring nervous systems, hope, and the human–dog bond Sometimes it can feel as though the world is closing in. The political climate feels relentless. Heatwaves are becoming more frequent, the weather feels increasingly unpredictable, and for many guardians, fireworks are already on the horizon. If you share your life with a reactive dog, even your usual routines may no longer feel like the refuge they once were. During hot weather, everyone head

🌿 Tiny Toxins: Paws Off Plants Snake Plants are one of the most common houseplants in the UK. While they are generally considered only mildly toxic, they can still cause vomiting, diarrhoea, and drooling if eaten. Sometimes keeping our dogs safe is simply about knowing what’s in our homes. #dogs #dogsafety #tinytoxins #plants #dogtraining

Your dog does not need a perfect guardian. They do not need flawless training plans. They do not need endless patience every single day. They need someone who keeps showing up. Someone who tries. Someone who cares. And if you’re reading this post, chances are you’re already doing far better than you think. #dogs #dogeducation #dogpsychology #dogbehaviour #dogtraining #cookiepushersunited #gentlereminder

☀️ Heat Without Shame A missed walk is not neglect. Dogs need: 🐾 Sleep 🐾 Recovery 🐾 Enrichment 🐾 Food 🐾 Water 🐾 Safety One hot day indoors won’t undo your training. Many guardians worry that skipping a walk means they’re failing their dog. You’re not. A day of scent games, enrichment, scatter feeding, chew items, training games, and naps can be exactly what your dog needs. Safety isn’t laziness. It’s care. #dogs #heatwithoutshame #dogsafety #dogwelfare #dogtraining

We spend a lot of time teaching dogs to pay attention to us. Sometimes it’s equally important to let them pay attention to their world. Today, try giving your dog one uninterrupted minute to investigate a scent. No cues. No rushing. No agenda. Just a minute to gather information in the way dogs do best. Sniffing can help dogs decompress, process their environment, and engage their brains in ways that many traditional exercises cannot. One minute isn’t much. But sometimes one

Aloe Vera 🌵 Tiny Toxins: Paws Off Plants Aloe Vera is often associated with healing, but it’s worth remembering that not everything safe for humans is safe for dogs. The yellow latex layer beneath the leaf skin can cause digestive upset if consumed. Many dogs never show any interest in plants, but for puppies, adolescents, and curious explorers, prevention is always easier than treatment. #dogs #dogsafety #tinytoxins #plants #dogtraining