This is such an essential piece of raising an emotionally resilient puppy. We humans have a tendency to forget that these irresistible balls of fur actually contain a sentient being who is of a different species. In our adoration, we foist on them all sorts of human expectations and affection that are completely inconsistent with being canine. An example: hugging. Our species expresses affection by wrapping our arms around each other and, if especially happy, squeezing to show the level of our glee. This is not what canines do. For a canine, hugging is a threatening experience, as it’s not natural for them to be restrained. When we hug a puppy, we are often triggering alert bells in them, resulting in the conclusion, “I’m not safe.” Since this is obviously not what we want to instill in our puppies, we simply must understand how the canine brain works, and how, in some ways, it is dramatically different than our own. My favorite chapter in Puppy Brain falls right in the middle of the book. Chapter 15. “First, Train the Humans: Changing How We Think About Dogs.” It is filled with principles that help us understand the world through our dog’s eyes. A lot of people have asked me whether the book contains content relevant for older dogs and this chapter is a great example of why I resoundingly say “yes!” It explores concepts like a dog’s need for rest (memory consolidation) and personalized stimulation (like a food trail). It will change the way you interact with your dog and help you develop a mutual, trusting, soul-satisfying relationship together. If you haven’t pre-ordered, the link is in my bio. Can’t wait for all of you to get your copy of Puppy Brain when it ships on April 30th! 🐾 #goldenretriever #dogtraining #puppybrain #puppytrainers #dogtrainers #brainhealth #brain #newpuppy