Inside the Bark 3/4

Dog training infographic showing a black and tan dog with the headline “From Fired Up to Focused” and subheading “Help your dog pause, not pounce,” promoting calm behaviour and disengagement training for reactive dogs.

What If Your Dog Could Disengage From Triggers Without a Fuss?

We all know the feeling. You’re out on a walk, it’s going well, and then a jogger appears. Or a barking dog behind a gate. Or maybe it’s...

Paws Academy

Aug 86 min read

Dog training infographic showing a clicker and a focused dog during a training session. Text reads “Learning Shapes Every Training Result” with subtext “How dogs learn shapes everything they do.” Highlights the role of learning in predicting dog training outcomes using consistent training techniques and positive reinforcement. Ideal visual for dog behaviour, learning theory and training success content.

How Learning Predicts Dog Training Success: What Really Shapes Behaviour

You don’t have to be a behaviourist or dog trainer to understand how learning works. In fact, you’ve probably already noticed it in...

Paws Academy

Aug 76 min read

Infographic showing a sleeping beagle with the text “Dog dreams can cause real-life wiggles” and “Twitching in sleep is usually just a dream in motion”, illustrating why dogs twitch in their sleep with a focus on canine REM sleep and dreaming behaviour.

Why Does My Dog Twitch in Their Sleep and Should I Be Worried?

You’re on the sofa or already tucked in for the night, and you notice your dog start to twitch. Tiny leg kicks, a little tail flick,...

Paws Academy

Aug 65 min read

Golden retriever resting head on owner’s laptop while she works, illustrating emotional contagion in dogs and how human stress affects dog behaviour

What Is Emotional Contagion in Dogs and Why It Matters

If you’ve ever come home from a long, stressful day and noticed your dog acting unsettled or unusually clingy, you might be experiencing...

Paws Academy

Jul 316 min read

Dog rolling on grass with title “What’s That Smell” highlighting why dogs roll in poo, a common dog behaviour explained with practical insights.

Why Dogs Roll in Poo and What You Can Do About It

Let’s be honest. Nothing makes your stomach turn quite like seeing your dog gleefully launch their shoulder into something unspeakably...

Paws Academy

Jul 286 min read

Man gently comforting his dog with text overlay reading How SSRIs Work For Dogs. Visual support for blog post explaining SSRIs in dog behaviour, how they work, and when they’re used. Includes keywords dog anxiety, SSRI in dogs, dog behaviour support.

What Are SSRIs in Dog Behaviour and How Do These Work?

When a dog is struggling with fear, anxiety or chronic stress, training alone sometimes isn’t enough. That’s where SSRIs can step in....

Paws Academy

Jul 255 min read

Reactive dog lying down calmly, promoting decompression, stress relief and rest. Infographic text reads Stress Down Progress Up, highlighting the importance of decompression for reactive dogs

Why Decompression Matters for Reactive Dogs: Understanding the Power of Rest

If you live with a reactive dog, chances are you have heard about decompression. But what does that really mean? Is it just another...

Paws Academy

Jul 146 min read

Dog lying on toy with relaxed expression, illustrating why dogs roll on toys as part of natural scent and comfort behaviour

Why Does My Dog Roll on Toys and What It Really Means

You have probably seen it before. Your dog picks up a toy, sniffs it for a second, then flops right onto it like it is their favourite...

Paws Academy

Jul 126 min read

Infographic showing how to use the U turn technique to help reactive dogs stay calm and avoid triggers during walks

The Power of the U-Turn for Reactive Dogs

How and why to use it before things escalate There is a moment many dog owners know all too well. You spot a trigger up ahead. Your dog...

Paws Academy

Jul 76 min read

Golden retriever in cardboard boxes with bold text that reads Anticipation Powers Learning and a subheading Understanding the Dopamine Box in Dog Training. Infographic from Paws Academy promoting science based dog training, positive reinforcement, and dopamine driven behaviour learning.

What Is the Dopamine Box in Dog Training and Why It’s a Game-Changer

Dog training has changed. There is now far less focus on trying to control dogs and far more on helping them learn. It is not about who...

Paws Academy

Jul 26 min read

Infographic on dog emotional stress showing a nervous dog turning away. Text reads Not Bad Behaviour Emotional Stress. Know the signs. Support early. Part of the Inside the Bark series by Paws Academy.

Understanding Dogs’ Emotional Limits and What Their Behaviour is Telling You

We often focus on training, enrichment and structure when we talk about dogs. But something that is just as important, and often...

Paws Academy

Jun 266 min read

Does Your Dog React to Everything but You

You call your dog’s name. Nothing. A car door slams across the road and they spin around instantly. Another dog passes and yours is...

Paws Academy

Jun 205 min read

Does My Dog Understand When I Say I Love Them? What Science, Training and Daily Life Tell Us

There’s something deeply personal about locking eyes with your dog and telling them you love them. It’s a moment full of meaning for us....

Paws Academy

Jun 175 min read

Infographic showing a dog with a brain illustration on its head, highlighting brain-based dog training and how understanding canine behaviour leads to better results. Features the headline “Building Behaviours From the Brain” and promotes Paws Academy’s science-based dog training approach.

How to Grow Your Dog’s Brain, Not Control Them, for Better Behaviour and Relationship Building

When we think about dog training, we’re often taught to focus on obedience. Sit. Stay. Lie down. Don’t pull. Stop barking. For decades,...

Paws Academy

Jun 165 min read

Trust Step. The Science-Backed Approach to Helping Fearful Dogs Feel Safe

Dog training is an ever-evolving practice, rooted not only in tradition and behaviourism, but increasingly in science. One approach...

Paws Academy

Jun 125 min read

Smiling female vet holding a relaxed black and white border collie’s paw, with text reading “Fear Free Vet Visits” and a caption about helping dogs feel safe, calm and confident at the vet. Paws Academy branding is visible in the corner.

Vet Visits Without the Panic: Helping Your Dog Feel Safe and Seen

For many dogs, the word “vet” is enough to trigger shaking, panting, or trying to hide behind your legs. Whether it is a subtle tension or a full-blown panic, it is tough to watch your dog struggle with something that is essential for their wellbeing. The truth is, fear of the vet is incredibly common. The good news? There is plenty you can do to make visits far less stressful for both of you. In this post, we are diving into the why behind vet-related fear and what you can d

Paws Academy

May 175 min read

Dog looking upward with open mouth, appearing to bark or communicate, surrounded by illustrated dog faces and text that reads “Speaking your Dog’s Language” with a call to action button saying “Check it out, here” — infographic by Paws Academy promoting dog training and communication blog.

Your Dog Isn’t Stubborn, You’re Just Speaking the Wrong Language

Why Miscommunication, Not Disobedience, Is at the Root of Most Dog Training Challenges Let’s set the record straight, your dog isn’t being wilfully defiant. They aren’t “bold,” they’re not out to wreck your day, and they’re not giving you the cold shoulder just because they feel like it. More often than not, when your dog doesn’t respond the way you’d like them to, it’s because they don’t fully understand what’s being asked of them. It’s not about dominance or disobedience. I

Paws Academy

May 164 min read