Bart De Gols
In Bennie’s Memory: A Warning About Cutaneous ...

In this article, I share the story of Bennie, a magnificent German Shepherd taken by a cruel, deceptive cancer called cutaneous lymphoma. His journey serves as a chilling warning about a silent threat lurking in plain sight: the chemical cocktails of herbicides and pesticides used to create perfect, green lawns. Known as "The Great Mimicker," this cancer often masquerades as a simple skin allergy, leading to a heartbreaking cycle of misdiagnosis while the disease silently advances. Our dogs, living their lives nose-to-the-ground, have become the unwilling sentinels for the toxins in our shared environment, and their suffering is an alarm we can no longer ignore.

Bennie’s memory calls us to a higher standard of stewardship. The information in this article is meant to empower you to become a fierce advocate for your pet in the vet's office, questioning a recurring "allergy" diagnosis and pushing for a biopsy when something feels wrong. More fundamentally, it demands we rethink the world we create for them. By eliminating cosmetic pesticides from our own yards, wiping paws after walks in public parks, and demanding safer community spaces, we can fight this disease before it ever starts. Bennie’s legacy asks us to choose health over the illusion of synthetic perfection, protecting the animals who trust us with their lives.

In Bennie’s Memory: A Warning About Cutaneous Lymphoma and the Chemicals Under Our Dogs' Paws
Bart De Gols
The Architecture of Attention: A Cynologist ...

In my decades of work as a cynologist, no concept has proven more pervasive, nor more fundamentally misleading, than that of "distraction." It is the universal scapegoat for a lapse in connection, the label we apply when a dog’s attention strays from our intended path to a squirrel, a scent, or a sound on the wind. We frame it as a failure of focus, a moment of willful disobedience. But after countless hours observing the intricate dance between human and canine, and immersing myself in the neuroscience that governs it, I have come to see this interpretation for what it is: a profound delusion. The dog that turns away is not broken, nor is he defying you. He is, in fact, operating flawlessly according to a biological imperative far more powerful than our desire for compliance.

This article is an invitation to join me in a paradigm shift—one I call The Salience Shift. We will move beyond the flawed language of distraction and into the precise world of motivational neuroscience, where we learn that attention is a currency allocated only to what the brain deems most salient, or motivationally relevant. Your dog is not ignoring you; he is making a valid neurological choice to engage with a stimulus that has, in that moment, won the auction for his attention. Our task, then, is not to suppress the world, but to change our place within it. We will journey through the architecture of the canine mind to answer the most critical question in training: not "How do I stop my dog from being distracted?", but "How do I become the most salient, rewarding, and engaging phenomenon in my dog’s world?

The Architecture of Attention: A Cynologist Guide To Motivational Salience In The Canine Mind
Anxiety Aggression Fear, Behavior Modification, Animal Behavioral Sciene
Bart De Gols
The Cost of Cute - Neurological and Behavioral ...

As a cynologist, I have dedicated my life to understanding canine behavior, not just the surface-level actions we observe but the intricate neurological and genetic mechanisms that drive those behaviors. Every bark, every growl, every anxious glance stems from a complex interplay of brain structures, neurochemical processes, and evolutionary history. Today, I want to address a topic that is often overlooked or misunderstood: the hidden costs of miniaturizing dog breeds.

While many people are drawn to these smaller companions because they fit seamlessly into modern urban lifestyle's requiring less space, less food, and often seen as easier to manage, there is an unseen complexity beneath their adorable appearances. This complexity is not limited to physical traits like smaller bodies or rounder faces; it extends deep into their neurological architecture, affecting their brains, behaviors, emotional stability, and overall well-being.

Take Tater Tot, for example, a two-year-old Miniature Australian Shepherd currently enrolled in a behavior modification program designed to increase his cognitive abilities. Despite his playful demeanor and undeniable charm, Tater Tot faces daily challenges rooted not in poor training or a difficult temperament, but in the very genetics that shaped his miniature stature. His struggles with impulse control, heightened reactivity, and anxiety are symptoms of deeper neurological imbalances tied directly to the process of miniaturization.

Tater Tot's journey is not unique. Many miniature breeds experience similar behavioral challenges, yet the root causes are rarely acknowledged. This article aims to pull back the curtain on these hidden factors, explaining the underlying genetic, neurological, and evolutionary issues that contribute to dogs like Tater Tot facing difficulties that go far beyond simple training problems.

In this article I will guide you through the scientific landscape of canine miniaturization. We will explore how selective breeding for smaller sizes has far-reaching consequences on neuroanatomy, behavior, and cognitive function. We will dive deep into the roles of the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and neurochemical imbalances that create a brain more prone to anxiety, impulsivity, and reactivity.

But this isn't just an academic exercise. Understanding these principles can empower breeders to make more ethical choices, help veterinarians recognize the biological roots of behavioral issues, and, most importantly, provide dog owners with the tools and knowledge needed to support their dogs effectively. Tater Tot's story, and the science behind it, illustrates a critical lesson: when we alter a dog' s size, we are not just changing how they look, we are reshaping their minds.

The Cost of Cute - Neurological and Behavioral Challenges in Miniature Breeds
Bart De Gols
The Invisible Bridge Between Species - Limbic ...

I’ve often been asked what makes the bond between humans and dogs so unique. It’s a fair question, and one that science is just beginning to unravel. My answer typically begins with the obvious—dogs are incredibly perceptive animals. They read our body language, interpret our tone of voice, and even pick up on our subtle hormonal changes. But there’s something deeper, something invisible to the naked eye, that forms the foundation of this bond. That “something” lies in the realm of electromagnetic energy, specifically the energy emitted by the human brain.

It’s a fascinating aspect of the human-dog relationship: our brainwave activity and the electromagnetic energy it generates can influence our dogs in profound ways. Service dogs, for example, can detect the onset of epileptic seizures or anxiety attacks well before their human companions notice anything is amiss. How do they do this? The answer lies not only in scent but in their sensitivity to electromagnetic and neurochemical shifts that are often linked to brainwave activity.

In this article I will try to explain the mechanisms behind this invisible bridge and examine how dogs detect these signals.

The Invisible Bridge Between Species - Limbic Resonance
Animal Behavioral Sciene , Behavior Modification
Bart De Gols
More Than a Nap: The Essential Role of Sleep in ...

As a cynologist, I can’t emphasize enough how vital sleep is for dogs, playing a role as crucial to their well-being as it does for humans. Sleep serves as a cornerstone for a dog’s physical health, emotional stability, and cognitive functioning. Yet, in my experience, many pet owners often overlook the importance of quality sleep for their canine companions, unknowingly fostering environments that disrupt their dog’s rest. Just as we need adequate sleep to process daily experiences and maintain balance, so do our dogs. However, unlike humans, dogs don’t typically experience extended, uninterrupted periods of sleep; instead, they rely on frequent, shorter cycles of rest throughout the day and night to stay in equilibrium. When this delicate balance is disrupted, a host of behavioral issues can arise, from mild irritability to severe anxiety.

Often, when I see behavioral issues in dogs, they’re attributed to things like a lack of exercise, insufficient training, or stress in the environment. What goes unnoticed, however, is how frequently sleep deprivation is an underlying factor. A dog that appears hyperactive, reactive, or even destructive may, in fact, be sleep-deprived and simply unable to regulate its emotions and impulses. This connection between sleep and behavior becomes especially crucial with high-energy breeds and working dogs, who need significant time to mentally and physically recover. When these dogs don’t get enough rest, their overstimulated minds and bodies fail to reset, leading to impulsive and problematic behaviors that only escalate over time.

The impact of sleep deprivation doesn’t just stop at behavior—it can take a serious toll on a dog’s overall health. Chronic lack of sleep affects memory, weakens the immune system, and often leads to emotional instability, making dogs more vulnerable to fear-based reactions and even aggression. In sleep, dogs consolidate memories and process learning; when they don’t get enough rest, their ability to retain training and recall commands is compromised. Over time, these effects compound, creating a vicious cycle in which sleep-deprived dogs become increasingly difficult to manage, frustrating owners who are unaware of the root cause.

In this article, I’ll take you through the profound role that sleep plays in a dog’s life and its direct connection to behavioral health. I will explain the biological, neurological, and psychological dimensions of canine sleep to offer a comprehensive understanding of how lack of rest can drive behavioral issues. Additionally, I’ll share practical strategies for promoting better sleep hygiene in dogs, helping you recognize signs of sleep deprivation and foster environments where restful sleep is possible.

More Than a Nap: The Essential Role of Sleep in Canine Health and Happiness

golf

In Bennie’s Memory: A Warning About Cutaneous Lymphoma and the Chemicals Under Our Dogs' Paws

In Bennie’s Memory: A Warning About Cutaneous Lymphoma and the Chemicals Under Our Dogs' Paws

In this article, I share the story of Bennie, a magnificent German Shepherd taken by a cruel, deceptive cancer called cutaneous lymphoma. His journey serves as a chilling warning about a silent threat lurking in plain sight: the chemical cocktails of herbicides and pesticides used to create perfect, green lawns. Known as "The Great Mimicker," this cancer often masquerades as a simple skin allergy, leading to a heartbreaking cycle of misdiagnosis while the disease silently advances. Our dogs, living their lives nose-to-the-ground, have become the unwilling sentinels for the toxins in our shared environment, and their suffering is an alarm we can no longer ignore.

Bennie’s memory calls us to a higher standard of stewardship. The information in this article is meant to empower you to become a fierce advocate for your pet in the vet's office, questioning a recurring "allergy" diagnosis and pushing for a biopsy when something feels wrong. More fundamentally, it demands we rethink the world we create for them. By eliminating cosmetic pesticides from our own yards, wiping paws after walks in public parks, and demanding safer community spaces, we can fight this disease before it ever starts. Bennie’s legacy asks us to choose health over the illusion of synthetic perfection, protecting the animals who trust us with their lives.