@dogsbypaula: Did you know your dog’s behaviour is driven by habit loops in the brain? 🧠 Every time your dog repeats a behaviour, neural pathways are activated. With repetition + reinforcement, these pathways strengthen through neuroplasticity — meaning behaviour becomes automatic, not a decision. This is why training isn’t about “telling your dog what to do”… It’s about building default responses. Think about: • Waiting calmly for food 🍽️ • Ignoring dropped food 🚫 • Stopping at the roadside 🚗 • Staying in the car when the door opens 🚪 These aren’t just trained behaviours… They’re conditioned neural patterns. And this matters even more in behaviour cases. Reactivity isn’t “naughty behaviour” ❌ It’s an emotional response driven by the limbic system (fear, frustration, over-arousal). Through counter-conditioning, we change the association: Trigger → fear → reaction ⚠️ ⬇️ Trigger → positive association → calm response ✨ With repetition, this becomes the new automatic pathway. Small, consistent repetitions → strengthen neural circuits → create lasting behavioural change 🔁 If you want reliable behaviour… don’t just train harder. Train consistently, at the right threshold, and with the right diagnosis. 📍 Follow @DogsbyPaula for science-based training #dogbehaviourist #dogbehaviour #dogbehavior #DogTraining #dogtrainer

Paula O’Sullivan

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Region: GB

Thursday 14 May 2026 16:27:02 GMT