JM Dog Training

Why Pain Must Be Part of Behavior Conversations

Behavior is often the first sign that something isn’t right.

Before a limp appears.
Before diagnostics show clear answers.
Before anyone thinks to ask about discomfort.

When pain goes unrecognized, training plans can stall, behavior can escalate, and dogs can be unfairly labeled as stubborn, difficult, or aggressive. No amount of skill-building can override physical discomfort, especially when that discomfort is chronic or unpredictable.

Addressing behavior without considering health limits outcomes.

Ethical behavior work doesn’t mean diagnosing medical issues, but it does mean collaborating with the professionals who can assess them. Working alongside a client’s veterinarian helps ensure behavior plans are realistic, humane, and safe for everyone involved.

Ways behavior professionals can support productive vet collaboration:
▪ Share clear, objective observations (what the dog does, when it happens, and what changes it)
▪ Note patterns related to movement, handling, arousal, or recovery
▪ Encourage clients to describe behavior changes, not just symptoms
▪ Ask if pain trials, referrals, or additional diagnostics might be appropriate
▪ Stay within scope while advocating for the dog’s welfare

When trainers, behavior professionals, and veterinarians communicate, dogs get better support and families get clearer guidance.

Behavior doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Neither should our approach to helping it.

This is wonderful!! 🥳🐾💜

🔥 OMG! Hug your nearest dog, STAT!

A long time ban (27yrs!) on Blocky headed dogs identified - or mostly misidentified! - as 'Pit Bulls' has been REPEALED in Prince George's County MD. This has been a particularly stubborn ban, but science, activism and behavior-based policies won out. A DEEP BOW to the groups who took this to the finish line, especially the PG Pet Unity Project. Rock Stars!

"Today marks a monumental step forward for our county," said Burroughs. "This legislation not only prevents the inhumane euthanasia of countless dogs who pose no threat but also makes our communities safer by strengthening protections for residents against genuinely dangerous dogs." - Council Chair Edward Burroughs III who spearheaded Council Bill 097-2025.

🚨Urgent Fosters Are Still Needed!

We're still hoping to find a couple more urgent fosters

Please consider applying to be a foster today.
🌻We cover all expenses
🌻We always make sure to carefully match our dogs with the right foster situation
🌻We support our fosters and make sure they never feel alone

To apply to become a foster, visit www.cbmrescue.org to fill out our Foster Application.

Questions about fostering with us? Send us a DM or post in the comments below.

**Lilo pictured ♥️

Open your heart and home to an animal in need. Fostering saves lives and helps pets prepare for their forever homes. Whether it's a kitten, puppy, senior pet, or an animal recovering from surgery, your temporary care makes a big difference.

✨ Sign up today to become a foster volunteer with Denver Animal Shelter! Link in bio.

Help us give them a second chance—one cuddle at a time! 💛

Why do trainers seem to have the wrong of the telescope on so many issues? Let's take the once again issue being raised of how bad it is for dogs to play fetch, or get excited and run and jump and play hard. This concept has been around for ages, and it drives me batty.

Long ago, I grew weary of the argument that running and jumping and fetching etc were bad for dogs, caused blood cortisol levels to spike, created stress, etc. It's been around a long, long time. Calm walks only, no chasing, etc. What's the grain of truth at the heart of such advice?

Do some dogs have problems self-regulating? Yep.

Will some dogs play till they keel over? Yep.

Do some dogs have a tendency towards compulsive behavior? Yep.

Do some dogs have physical limitations that mean long-term certain activities will cost them dearly? Yep. But *they* don't know that and so delight in a game is not a matter of informed consent - hell yes that's true for so many dogs.

You know, dogs are just like people in so many ways. Like us, and for so many reasons including human interference and selective breeding and appalling raising practices and unnatural lifestyles and god awful structure and obesity and poor conditioning and crazy expectations, dogs can struggle with making healthy choices that support adaptive and functional behavior.

Imagine if the whole discussion was reframed in terms of functionality - can the dog self-regulate even in the presence of exciting stimuli? is the dog physically capable of doing X at that level of intensity? how does this affect relationships with others?

My GSDs are strong and sound. While they love their games, they can also stop when asked. They can adjust themselves to take a break as needed. The same activities they enjoy were inappropriate for my Lab/Chow cross with crappy structure and bad hocks. One of my dogs long ago did not have the sense to know she needed to rest when playing fetch. Thankfully, she had 2 black spots on her tongue that were perfect markers whatever the temp -- first spot showing meant she was nearing her healthy max; second spot showing meant STOP. Wish all dogs came with such clues.

Oh wait - all dogs DO have such clues! It's called behavior. It's called movement. Always available for us to see, if we have developed the observation skills that let us see what dogs are telling us.

Perhaps most critical in this "no fetch" or "fetch is fine" discussion: does the *handler* know how to make those assessments? Can the handler recognize the shifts in fine motor control or balance or cadence or gait or recovery?

Further, does the handler know what to do with the information gained from those assessments? Do they know how to take care of a dog so to promote healthy interactions, play, and activities that support the dog's mental, emotional and physical well being.

That's our job: to be caretakers, which includes quite literally taking care when a dog is not able to be self-protective or self-regulate or when the dog's lack of understanding about long-term consequences means fun in the moment may create harm further down the line. We have to take care that our encouragement or requests or expectations are within healthy limits for that dog, and that means getting our egos out of the way, always seeking more understanding of the dog as a whole being, developing greater observation skills.

When we start to understand self-regulation its importance for any being to function well, we can make recommendations that are appropriate for each individual dog instead of stupid blanket rules.

Being disregulated is good for no one, that much is true. But what healthy arousal and fun looks like varies for each animal.

While I was teaching in Warsaw at a conference, there was a pretty hot argument about horses, racing and jumping. One person claimed horses only ran or jumped because they were forced to, and it was awful for the poor beasts and so stressful. "No horse would jump just for fun." The knowledgeable horse people were outraged by the stupidity of this statement, as their lived experience with horses echoed mine and was utterly counter to the dumb remark.

Likewise, my lived experience with dogs has shown me that some dogs self-regulate beautifully, others do not, and still others have clueless handlers. What matters is the individual dog. SEE THE DOG.

I've watched handlers who bought into the no fetch advice - and you know what? Some had major problems in their relationship with their dog because they listened to stupid humans rather than their dog. Ditto for handlers who listened to trainers telling them to exercise their dog for hours or pack weights or ... fill in the blank of exercise of choice. They had problems too.

What is almost always a problem for the human-dog relationship is this: opinions of humans vs the facts straight from the dog. Blanket statements automatically exclude listening to the dog.

KNOW HOW TO ASSESS your dog mentally, physically and emotionally so you can support them and enjoy what is good and healthy for them! SEE THE DOG. Always. First. Forever.