Behavioral Influencers.

Behavior Influencers.

"Behavior" is highly contextual and heavily layered with multiple variables at play.

We break "behavior" into 2 categories: "classroom behavior" and "real world/ functional behavior". One speaks to the mental body ("brain training" such as teaching "obedience" commands and tricks), while the other speaks to the emotional body (e.g. relationship, associations, state of mind, impulse control, manners, etc.).

We broke the major influencers of behavior down in this graphic...

: need fulfillment- whether or not their need for structure and order, rules and boundaries, trusted guidance and leadership, freedom to be a dog, emotional/mental/physical needs, etc. are being met and provided for

: drives- the 3 major drives include: pack, prey, and defense (fight, flight, freezing up, hoodwinking, and avoidance); the level of drive in every dog will vary

: energy- soft energy vs. strong energy (speaks to the mental body); low energy vs. high energy (speaks to the physical body)

: education- training and guidance; subscribing meaning to verbal cues and commands ("obedience training"), and also rules and boundaries, discipline, teaching the difference between appropriate vs. inappropriate, etc.; behavior shaping according to context (conditioning and developing the mental and emotional bodies); imparting knowledge and teaching manners and "contextual conduct"

: genetics- what the dog brings to the table as far as characteristics goes and as a genetic expression of his or her parents/ lineage; is the dog highly sensitive (we usually find that the most behaviorally challenged dogs, aside from these ingredients being represented to a certain degree... or not... are the most sensitive dogs)?

: environment- inclusion vs. exclusion; type of environment the dog finds him or herself in consistently (is there a lot of stress, yelling, and tension between family members, or is the living environment relatively calm? lots of activity?)

: breed / mix of breeds- certain breeds are bred to fulfill specific purposes. Ex. Labradors retrieve. Terriers dig into the ground to capture prey. Hounds assist in hunting. Border Collies herd. Many pure breed dogs end up in "pet" homes without an active outlet to express what's innate in them, resulting in frustration, anxiety, boredom (can manifest in destructiveness), etc. Even mixed breeds of dogs that carry certain characteristics need an outlet to exercise and employ this aspect of themselves.

: human ingredient- we are our dogs' primary source of information in this world. They *should* be looking to us for their cues, guidance, information, and how to feel in every situation we enter them into. Everything's a conversation, and we're always in dialogue with our dogs... especially when we're not speaking at all. How we show up, whether or not we're following through, the type of energy we bring into every pace, what we address vs. not address (allow), etc. matters.

Deficiencies and lack in any of these will impact individual dogs in different ways, but can, do, and will create imbalance in some manner, as well as feed: frustration, boredom, insecurity, anxiety, lack of trust, etc. While providing for these things will foster and nurture calm, confidence, security, comfort, trust, respect, and balance.