🚪🐾 Doorway Calm | Give That Energy a Job! 🧸 Kali has never met a toy she didn't believe belonged to her. Apparently, possession is ten-tenths of the law in her world. 😂 She collects them, occasionally plays with them, and seems particularly pleased when Lilly and Darcy can't have them. But here's where understanding canine behavior gets interesting. When our three girls come out of their crates after we've been away, there's about 15 minutes of pure excitement before dinner. In the past, Kali sometimes turned that excitement toward Lilly and Darcy, occasionally nipping or going after them. We discovered that giving Kali something appropriate to focus on could help change those moments. And that brings us to an important distinction. Collecting toys, guarding resources, and struggling with overexcitement aren't necessarily the same behavior. 🐾 Toy collecting can simply be something a dog enjoys. Resource guarding involves behaviors intended to keep others away from something the dog values. 🐾 Overarousal happens when excitement becomes difficult to manage. Even happy excitement can spill into unwanted behavior. 🐾 Redirection gives a dog an appropriate alternative behavior, while predictable routines and calm transitions can help prevent excitement from escalating. But here's something worth remembering: What works for Kali might not work for every dog. If toys create competition, tension, or guarding between dogs, introducing one during an already exciting moment could make things worse. Sometimes managing the environment, creating space, or getting guidance from a qualified behavior professional is the safer approach. For Kali, finding an appropriate outlet has helped us navigate those energetic moments. The lesson? Sometimes the behavior we see isn't the whole story. Understanding what's driving it helps us respond more thoughtfully instead of simply reacting. And sometimes that means accepting that your boxer considers herself the household's official toy inventory manager. 😂 Now I'm curious: Does your dog collect toys, guard their favorites, or get a little TOO excited when everyone comes home? What's worked for you?