Did you know that the more a dog uses his brain the more likely he is to control his emotions? This is what Anders Hallgren says in his book: “Stress, Anxiety & Aggression in Dogs”. I applied this concept to a stressful moment with my dog Simon and within 10 minutes he was relaxed and smiling. (He gets stressed easily.)
Brain tasks might include:
- Following a trail of treats
- Dissecting a bone wrapped in layers of newspaper
- Balancing on a log
- Running through a tunnel
- Licking peanut butter from a Kong that’s hanging by a rope
These activities all require focus, concentration and evaluation. In short: problem solving skills. Dogs who are problem solving are actively putting the brakes on the instinct part of their brain because the front brain and the hind brain work inversely together.
When the front brain is working, the hind brain (which controls instincts & emotions) calms down and when the hind brain take over, the front brain shuts down. So remember when your pooch is outta-control-barking: Activate her front brain and you will calm the instinct part that wants to go crazy!