My Dog Is My Limbic System
Hi friends!
I ran into, or stepped over, my dog River 14 times already today, and it’s only 11am. No matter where I go, there she is too. My little velcro pup.
In some past coaching sessions, I joked with clients that my dog is like the physical manifestation of my limbic system. And if any of you reading this has had the chance to interact with River, you’ll probably recognize the similarities as well!
Over the past few years of learning more about the brain, nervous system, and specifically the limbic system in the context of chronic pain/illness, I started to see some of River’s behaviors in a different light. Just like I researched and talked with clients about the various roles of the limbic system, I’d witness my dog acting in eerily similar ways. She’s like the living representation of survival behaviors!
And real quick, a little refresher on the limbic system:
The limbic system is a complex network of structures within the brain responsible for emotions, motivation, learning, and memory. It plays a pivotal role in our emotional responses to the world around us, and chronic stress (fear + focus) especially keeps the limbic system activated. This neural system has one job- to keep us safe. And safety in a modern context means not only physical safety, but also mental, emotional, and social safety. It constantly works to help us survive by making mental associations, and can also create bodily sensations to get our attention. The more we emotionally engage with these signals, the longer-lasting and more intense they often become.
So, here she is, my sweet River. And for context, she is a border collie/heeler mix, and herding breeds are known for being particularly focused, hardworking, and a bit neurotic! If you also have a herding breed, you’ll probably chuckle at these similarities too.
(warning- get ready to be spammed with dog pics…)
Both River and my limbic system (LS)…
Block me from moving forward
River is almost always standing or lying in the way, barricading the doorway or path to where I am. She’ll lay across the bathroom doorway, between my office chair and door, at the top of the stairs, and just about any major thoroughfare. This is such a clear protective behavior, and I can be grateful for it on one hand but on the other hand it sure makes it hard to move around the house! It can be quite frustrating trying to get anywhere. Both River and my LS want to keep me safe but often prevent me from getting where I want to go.
Bite when there is too much activity
As a farm-bred herding dog, River is naturally good at using her mouth to direct the behavior of those around her. If things get a little too rowdy (lots of fast movement, roughhousing, loud playing, etc), she will often nip people, especially my partner and I. Throughout much of my recovery process, it was a balance of increasing my activity levels enough that I could progress without getting too big of a “bite.”
Have gotten hypersensitized
While River has always shown many typical herding breed traits, she has become more sensitive over time. I think the combination of my own struggles, health stress, divorce, multiple moves, etc has made her even more hypervigilant. Even though she’s a senior dog, she’s still “on” nearly all the time. Same with my LS- it wasn’t always this way, but enough life experiences/traumas have created a hypersensitized system.
Are creatures of habit
Remember that the LS is all about learning, memory, and emotion, and this is largely habitual. It’s a major driver of our daily routines. My brain doesn't appreciate changes, especially unplanned last-minute changes, and neither does River. She is tied to her routine, and doesn't like when things are different! Too many changes at once, or too big of a change will create a lot of stress- for River, it’s pacing and pooing. Thankfully, my brain doesn’t do the latter.
Have cost me a lot of money
Pets can certainly be pricey, and some of our brains can be too. River has cost me 10s of thousands over the past 14 years in food, vet care, dog sitters, toys, and plenty more. And thanks to the medical runaround I went through trying to figure out my limbic-related physical symptoms, I spent probably close to $100k. At least with River it feels like it was worth it, but boy, do I wish I could get back all that money I blew on my healthcare, supplements, detoxes, and various treatments before I found brain retraining!
Need a job to do, otherwise they cause trouble
Both River and my LS thrive on enrichment and engagement. Give River a job to do or a puzzle to solve, and she’s more calm and focused for a while. And I’ve noticed that my symptoms/sensations dramatically decrease when I am fully engaged in a task or social exchange. (hint- this is why most brain retraining programs include a step for engaging in something creative, physical, positive, etc)
Are constantly running interference
Ever the hyper-responsible managers, River and my LS are always playing liaison. They both continually pace around, gathering information, and distributing that information. They both try to micromanage interpersonal interactions and environmental stressors. River will pace, sniff, watch, lick, paw, vocalize, and signal her findings. Then start all over again. I can totally visualize my brain doing the same.
Are absolute control freaks
Boy oh boy, if there’s one thing that River and my LS hate, it’s not being able to control everything. It causes such discomfort that sometimes I can even hear my LS whimpering and whining in its crate during time-out, along with my dog. There could potentially be a thousand different threats to my safety, and if River and my brain could manage every single one, they happily would.
Need strong boundaries
Training the limbic system does have some overlap with training dogs. Particularly if your dog is used to running rampant, misbehaving, and causing mischief. They both need healthy boundaries, and sometimes this means tough love. Much of brain retraining is taking the role of wise adult Self and not letting the LS run the show, just like humans must be strong, calm leaders in order to train their pets well.
Deserve my love, gratitude, and patience
Just like my limbic system, River has been my constant companion through many years of life. Many ups and downs, many joys and struggles. While they both annoy and frustrate me sometimes, they both deserve my gratitude. They’re both simply trying to keep me safe and alive. I try to remember to speak kindly to both my LS and River, and practice my patience when they are acting out.
If you have a dog, I’m curious to know if you also see some similar behaviors between them and your own limbic system! For me, making this connection helped me have greater insight and compassion along the road to recovery.
And if you need some help with “training your dog,” check out my current coaching offerings! I’d be honored to support you! And if you haven’t already, I invite you to download my free starter guide to brain retraining.
As always, my friends
Wishing you joy and ease,
