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What is the Function of Behavior?

Quick Answer Behavior is how animals—including our pets—interact with their environment to meet their needs, respond to changes, and communicate with others. Every behavior serves a function, meaning it helps the animal achieve something important, whether that’s obtaining food, avoiding danger, seeking comfort, or communicating a need. Recognizing that behavior has a purpose is the first step toward understanding your pet’s emotions and improving their well-being. When we vi

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2 days ago6 min read

Where I First Learned That Behavior is Communication

If behavior is the answer, what is the question? Long before I began graduate study in animal behavior, I learned one of the most important lessons of my career while working as a Behavior Support Professional for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. On my first day, I met a non-verbal young woman who spent much of her time rocking her wheelchair back and forth. Staff described this as one of her "behavioral problems." Their concern was understandable

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4 days ago2 min read

Helping Your Dog Through Fireworks Season

The Fourth of July is one of the most difficult nights of the year for many dogs. Fireworks are sudden, unpredictable, and loud — and unlike a thunderstorm, they don't follow any pattern a dog can learn to anticipate. For dogs with noise sensitivities, the holiday can trigger genuine fear responses that are distressing to watch and hard to know how to handle. Here's what the science of animal behavior tells us actually helps. Why Fireworks Are So Hard on Dogs Dogs experience

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5 days ago3 min read