When a caregiver tells me, “I don’t think the medication is working anymore,” I don’t question their commitment. I question the system around the dog.

In this episode, I take you inside a case that started with good intentions, a prescription for fluoxetine, and no plan beyond the pill. Three years later, the dog was still struggling—and no one could explain why.

We’ll look at:

• The common failure points in how behavioural medication is introduced and sustained
• Why medication without caregiver support, co-regulation, or behavioural tracking often leads to stagnation
• What needs to be in place before, during, and after medication to ensure it helps
• The concept of White Pathway moments—and why spotting them changes everything

This isn’t a critique of medication. It’s a call for clarity, structure, and shared responsibility. Because when behavioural medication is the only thing in place, we don’t know what it’s helping—or what it’s missing.

Whether you’re a professional, a vet, or a caregiver making hard decisions, this episode offers a structured, hopeful approach to using medication within a plan—not as the plan.

Want to learn more, read my academic paper: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/391899664_Systems_Thinking_in_Dog_Medication

In this powerful episode of the Dog Parentology Podcast, Sparky is joined by Jonah Meller an independent Dog Behaviourist, (PivotalChangeToronto@gmail.com) to revisit the case of Kodak—a dog with severe behavioural issues that resisted every traditional method. Together, we explore how applying Canine Neurobiological Systems Science (CNSS) led to remarkable and lasting changes—not just for Kodak, but for his entire family system. Through Jonah’s perspective, we unpack how systems thinking, caregiver capacity, and neurobiological insight made it possible to reach a dog others had given up on. This is more than a case study—it’s a moving account of what becomes possible when we stop treating behaviours as symptoms and begin shifting the system itself. Key topics covered in this episode: • Dog reactivity • Behavioural issues in COVID dogs • Systems-based dog behaviour support using CNSS • Real-world application of CNSS • Family dynamics in canine rehabilitation • Why conventional dog training sometimes fails • A case that redefined the role of the caregiver Perfect for dog behaviourists, vet professionals, and dog parents navigating complex canine behaviour challenges. Advice, questions and cases for Jonah - contact him at pivotalchangetoronto@gmail.com Learn more about CNSS and systems thinking in dog behaviour at www.dogparentology.com Subscribe for more real cases and evidence-based insights in canine behaviour care. © 2025 Sparky. CNSS and all related frameworks are proprietary to Sparky, Canine Psychologist. No use or citation without written permission.

Is your dog biting — or on the verge of it? In this episode, Sparky, Canine Psychologist, offers a clear and compassionate approach to understanding and preventing biting behaviours without using force, fear, or obedience training.

You’ll learn:

• How your dog’s world shapes their behaviour (Step 1: Look Around)
• How to use a colour-coded system to track emotional states (Step 2: Colour-Code It)
• How to build a real, two-way dialogue with your dog (Step 3: Speak With Your Dog)
• How to reach them during stressful moments (Step 4: Deepen the Dialogue)
• And how to help them feel brave again (Step 5: Build Courage)

These five steps draw from Canine Neurobiological Systems Science and are designed to help caregivers build lasting trust and behavioural stability, especially for dogs who have been misunderstood or have learned to use their teeth to cope.

Leave a comment below:

What colour would you say your dog spends most of their day in?

Do you have a dog struggling with anxiety, behavioural challenges, or chronic stress?

With more caregivers being told to “ask your vet about medication,” this episode clears the fog. In this podcast episode, Sparky, Canine Psychologist and Systems Thinker in Canine Neurobiological Systems Science, provides a deep dive into the nuanced world of dog mental health treatments.

Episode Overview: Demystifying Medication Myths and Realities

This isn’t just another surface-level conversation. It’s a carefully structured, science-grounded discussion that challenges common assumptions and equips dog parents, behaviourists, and veterinarians with concrete strategies and clear thinking.

Who Should Watch: Dog parents, professional behaviourists, and veterinarians seeking clarity on medication decisions.

Key Learning Objectives:

1. Pre-Medication Foundations

Before considering any medication intervention, understanding the broader system around your dog is essential. Sparky outlines what must be tracked, recorded, and trialled first—including daily observations, environmental context, and how to recognise patterns of dysregulation.

2. Medication Landscape

Sparky addresses five myths shared widely by content creators online. She discusses the difference between natural and pharmaceutical options, how both carry risks, and what’s rarely mentioned about dosing, safety, and observable effect.

3. Neurobiological Insights

The episode explains how behaviours link to chemical activity in the dog’s brain—especially in cases of trauma, chronic stress, or overstimulation. You’ll learn what neurotransmitters are likely active in common behavioural patterns, and what medications actually do to shift those patterns.

4. Practical Guidance

Each group plays a different role in medication success:

Dog Parents: How to prepare documentation for your vet, observe for medication response, and stay engaged after prescription.

Behaviourists: How to integrate medication support into broader interventions and build trust without over-relying on meds.

Vets: Clinical patterns to assess, how to use behavioural reports to inform decisions, and when to trial vs. refer.

Scientific Rigor Meets Compassionate Care

This episode revisits key ideas from Season 1 while expanding into new territory. Sparky connects scientific thinking with lived experience, aiming to guide—not overwhelm—those facing serious behavioural issues.

Balanced Approach

You’ll hear why there’s no “safe” vs “unsafe” divide between treatment types—only matched or mismatched strategies. Behavioural, nutritional, pharmaceutical, and environmental interventions are examined side by side.

Chapters:

1:30–9:28 Building a Foundation

9:29–15:47 Addressing Medication Fears

15:48–24:17 Brain Chemistry & Neurotransmitters

24:18–32:00 Your Role Isn’t Passive—It’s Pivotal

Why This Matters

Too often, dogs are labelled as “beyond help” or medicated without groundwork. This episode explains how to work through uncertainty, build a profile of your dog’s behaviour, and take next steps responsibly.

Resources:

ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sparky-Smith

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/DogParentologyPodcast

Like what you heard? Subscribe for future episodes and share with caregivers or colleagues trying to make informed, humane choices in complex cases.

Disclaimer: This podcast provides educational information and is not intended to replace veterinary consultation. Always consult a qualified vet for medication advice.

Reimagining a Dog Psychology Centre: The Future of Complex Behavioural Recovery with Roman Gottfried

In this episode of Dog Parentology, we challenge conventional approaches to dog behaviour, dog training, and dog psychology with a thought-provoking conversation on complex behavioural recovery. Host Sparky, Canine Psychologist and Behaviourist, is joined by Roman Gottfried, a holistic behaviour consultant with a background in systems thinking and product engineering, to discuss what truly defines a Dog Psychology Centre—not as a facility, but as an ecosystem of ideas, collaboration, and science-driven rehabilitation.

🔹 Key topics covered:

• Behavioural euthanasia: When is it truly the only option, and when is it a failure of the system?

• Dog trauma and neurobiology: Understanding the hidden influences of genetics, early development, and environmental factors.

• Dog trainers, veterinarians, and dog behaviourists: The missing collaboration between professionals that leads to treatment gaps.

• Canine neurobiology and system science (CNSS): A new way to assess and rehabilitate behaviour beyond basic training models.

• The role of dog parents in recovery: Why intuition, observation, and co-regulation matter as much as professional expertise.

For dog professionals, veterinarians, and dedicated dog parents, this episode provides a deep dive into dog behaviour analysis, holistic education, and interdisciplinary teamwork, reshaping the way we approach complex cases in canine rehabilitation.

Subscribe, review, and engage: Join the conversation and share your experiences in the comments.

Exclusive for Patrons: Get a Listening Guide to accompany this episode—track key insights, take notes, and apply what you learn to your own dog or practice. Become a Patron today for the cost of a small coffee.https://www.patreon.com/c/DogParentologyPodcast

#DogBehaviour #DogPsychology #DogTrainer #DogBehaviourist #DogConsultant #DogPsychologyCenter #Veterinarian #VeterinarianCareer #SpiritualWellness #HolisticEducation #HolisticHealing #DogTraining #CanineNeurobiology #DogRehabilitation

If you’re a professional who’s grown tired of shallow debates around behavioural medication, this episode is for you.

We examine the clinical role of medication through a systems lens — grounded in neuroscience, trauma psychology, and caregiver capacity.

What if the issue isn’t overmedication — but late, unstructured intervention?

What if we’re failing to distinguish suppression from resolution?

This is a preview of the full Dog Parentology Podcast episode. It includes new decision frameworks, tracking indicators, and practical guides for use in real casework.

Available now — Dog Parentology Podcast.

Life changes can be exciting but challenging—especially when adding a baby, child, or grandparent to your home.

For families with reactive dogs, these transitions require preparation and adaptability. Without planning, stress can overwhelm human and canine members of the household. This episode focuses on 7 essential steps to help your dogs adjust to a growing family, creating harmony, reducing stress, and ensuring safety.

📍 The Key 7 Steps Answered:

• 0:00 to 1:49 - Introduction: Preparing your home for new family dynamics.

• 1:50 to 4:55 - Step One: Introducing new items, scents, and routines.

• 4:56 to 6:24 - Step Two: Creating safe, relaxing spaces for your dogs.

• 6:25 to 8:00 - Step Three: Teaching all family members to interact respectfully with dogs.

• 8:01 to 8:28 - Step Four: Reassessing boundaries as dynamics evolve.

• 8:30 to 9:00 - Step Five: Gradually introducing your dogs to new activities.

• 9:01 to 10:19 - Step Six: Using sensory-based positive associations to prepare for changes.

• 10:20 to 12:00 - Step Seven: Building calm, predictable routines to support impulse control.

• 12:01 to 12:30 - Family as a system: Understanding behavior through relationships.

• 12:31 to 15:30 - Final tips, insights, and reflections on Season 1.

This episode isn’t just about adjustments—it’s about fostering long-term harmony and ensuring your dog feels secure as your family evolves.

💡 Free Resources to Help You Today:

• Free Interaction Signals Guide: Spot subtle signs of tension before fights escalate.

• System Patterns Tracker (for Patrons): Map out behavioral loops and find leverage points for change.

🔗 Links:

• Free Interaction Signals Guide

• Support us on Patreon

Together, we can stop breaking up families due to life transitions and give every dog the chance for a harmonious home.

Episode List from Season 1:

Episode 1: Dog Parents’ Secrets: Systems Thinking and Psychology

Discover why your dog really acts the way they do—beyond treats and commands.

Episode 2: Who is Controlling Your Dog’s Mind?

Meet the four hidden forces running your dog’s brain: Tom, Conrad, Reggie, and Viv.

Episode 3: Reactive Systems: Triggers and Long-term Solutions

Explore how sleep, family, and environment create reactivity and master NeuroBalance strategies.

Episode 4: Healing Your Dog’s Trauma-Induced Behaviour

Using neuroscience and the NeuroBalance Framework, learn to help your dog heal and build positive behaviors.

Episode 5: The New Science for Developing Impulse Control

Discover the revolutionary “Something Better” technique and HLCPM for lasting impulse control.

Episode 6: When Your Dog Bites: From Betrayal to Understanding

Understand the real reasons behind biting and learn the path forward for you and your dog.

Episode 7: How to Stop Behavioural Euthanasia: 6 Steps to Save Multi-Dog Families with Systems Thinking

Discover 6 essential steps to decode conflict, manage resource guarding, and keep your dogs safe and balanced.

Are your dogs fighting, and you're worried it might lead to a heartbreaking decision?

Behavioural problems in multi-dog families can feel overwhelming, and too often, they lead to behavioural euthanasia—an outcome no dog parent wants. But before you consider drastic measures, know this: there are solutions.

In this episode of Dog Parentology, discover the 6 crucial steps you can take using Systems Thinking to uncover the hidden patterns causing conflict in your multi-dog household. Fights, resource guarding, and stress aren’t random events—they’re signals from the system. Learn how to decode these signals and restore balance and harmony.

📍 Key Questions Answered:

Why do my dogs fight, and how serious is it?

What can I do to avoid behavioural euthanasia?

How can I recognise early signs of stress and tension between my dogs?

How do I manage and prevent resource guarding?

What strategies help divide attention fairly and calm multiple dogs?

How can Systems Thinking create lasting peace in my home?

💡 Free Resources to Help You Today:

Free Interaction Signals Guide: Learn to spot the subtle signs of tension before conflicts escalate.

System Patterns Tracker (for Patrons): Identify and break harmful behavioural loops in your household system. This isn’t just about fixing one fight—it’s about reshaping the system to keep your dogs safe, balanced, and at home where they belong.

🎧 Watch now, download your free guide and join our Patreon community for exclusive tools that support your mission to keep dogs in homes.

🔗 Links: Free Interaction Signals Guide: [Download Here]

Support the Podcast on Patreon: [Join Here]

Together, let’s stop behavioural euthanasia and give every dog the chance for a harmonious home.

#DogParentology #BehaviouralEuthanasia #SystemsThinking #MultiDogFamily #DogBehaviour #KeepDogsInHomes