This week, Jess shared her mom's beautiful essay about the loss of their family dog, Humphrey. It's a deeply honest reflection on one of the hardest parts of loving a dog: knowing when quality of life matters more than holding on, and finding the courage to make that decision with compassion.
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Jess here 👋. I read this post from veterinary behaviorist Dr. Julie Ashton (@lifeonfourlegsvet) and immediately wished I’d seen it years ago during my own journey with Stanley.
For a long time, I carried the belief that putting a dog on behavioral medication meant I had somehow failed him. This post is a powerful reminder that medication isn’t a shortcut. In many cases, it’s what allows learning and healing to happen in the first place.
Dr. Ashton shares five situations where medication should be part of the conversation:
Your dog’s welfare is suffering.
You don’t have a workable starting point for training.
Triggers can’t realistically be avoided.
Your dog’s reaction is significantly out of proportion to the trigger.
Progress has stalled despite consistent effort.
As she writes:
“Medication doesn’t replace behavior modification. It can make behavior modification possible.”
Veterinary behaviorists aren’t trying to suppress behavior. They’re working to improve welfare and help dogs develop new emotional responses to the world around them.
That’s a message more dog guardians need to hear.
Imagine stopping during a bike ride to admire a gorgeous sunset and suddenly hearing heavy footsteps approaching.
That’s exactly what happened to cyclist Brendan Brady in Canada when a bear decided the quickest route across the river was a pedestrian suspension bridge. The result? A bridge-shaking crossing that looked like something straight out of a movie.
Animals are constantly evaluating their environment and finding the path of least resistance. That bridge is likely a lot easier to travel than the water (or walking to whatever land crossing might be farther up or downstream).
We also have to give Brendan credit. While most of us would probably be focused on finding an exit strategy, he somehow had the composure and physical ability to hold a phone steady to record the moment. His reaction at the end is worth the watch alone.
Christie here 👋. I am literally obsessed with this simple exercise shared by @flow.and.createtherapy. As someone who has a history of anxiety and racing thoughts, I’m no stranger to breathing exercises. But what I love about this one is the incredible feedback. I haven’t tried this, but I imagine that seeing the lines on the paper would be a strong reinforcer for me and might even lead my breathing behavior to slow. The surprising part? Watching someone else do the exercise feels calming too.
If you’re feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or just looking for a creative mindfulness practice, give it a try. And if you do, tag us—we’d love to see your version.
Sometimes the best enrichment ideas are also the simplest.
This viral game uses inexpensive soccer training cones* to create an easy scent and problem-solving activity for your dog. Hide treats beneath a few cones and let your dog investigate, search, and figure out where the rewards are hiding.
We love that it’s:
Affordable
Easy to set up
Simple to store
Adaptable for dogs of all ages
It’s also a great indoor activity for those sweltering summer days when it’s simply too hot for extended outdoor play.
If you give it a try, tag us—we’d love to see your dog’s spin on it.
Every once in a while, the internet introduces you to an animal you didn’t know you needed.
Meet Eleanor.
Eleanor isn’t just affectionate—she appears genuinely offended by the idea of being anywhere other than in Alissa Gore’s arms. Watching the two together sent us down a delightful rabbit hole of videos documenting their relationship.
According to Alissa, Eleanor began climbing onto her shoulder as a duckling and never really outgrew the habit. Not to ruin a cute moment, but you can also see the function of Eleanor’s behavior so clearly. When Alissa goes to put her down, if Eleanor flaps her wings, then Alissa brings her back against her body. This behavior may not result in this consequence every single time (my hunch is that sometimes Alissa does indeed need to do things without a duck attached to her), but it works often enough that the behavior persists under these conditions. When I think of snuggly animals, I’ll admit that ducks aren’t at the top of the list, but maybe they should be. 🦆❤️
They’re actually more about bonding with your dog and finding joy through learning than achieving perfection. Join us.
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— TOC
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