In this episode, Dr. Marsha Penner delves into the neuroscience behind impulse control, why adolescent dogs notoriously struggle with it, and what we can do about it. We discuss:

• How reconnecting with her Native American heritage reaffirmed the way she works with animals
• Different types of impulse control
• How adolescent brains develop
• Finding more compassion and patience for the unruly adolescent dog
• How trust can improve impulse control

Dr. Penner's bio:
Dr. Marsha Penner is a behavioral neuroscientist, certified dog trainer (KPA-CTP), and owner of Learning to Dog Training & Enrichment. Marsha worked as a research scientist and award winning professor, focusing her attention on learning, memory, and effective teaching strategies. She turned her love of learning, behavior, and teaching into a full time career as a professional dog trainer after graduating from the the Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training and Behavior in 2015. She is a proud Anishinaabe Kwe from Treaty One, but currently lives in Durham, NC with her husband and two dogs.

Links:
https://learningtodog.com/
https://www.marshapenner.com/
A collection of studies analyzing impulse control - this is really cool for those who want to dive deeper!
https://saverezdogs.com/
Asher L, England GCW, Sommerville R, Harvey ND. 2020. Teenage dogs? Evidence for adolescent-phase conflict behaviour and an association between attachment to humans and pubertal timing in the domestic dog. Biology Letters. 16: 20200097. 

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