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Picture this. You’re out for a leisurely stroll, soaking in the morning air with your four-legged family member. Suddenly, another dog appears, and your peaceful outing turns into a stressful ordeal as your dog lunges and barks. It is as if your dog’s executive function just decided to go on an unpaid leave of absence. Before you spiral into owner-guilt, let’s look at the neurobiology. Your dog isn't "broken" or "unwilling". They are a complex biological system trapped in a s

Abstract The ASPCA study by Collins et al. (2025) delivered a clear, data-driven mandate: for fearful shelter dogs, immediate, structured intervention drastically outperforms the traditional "settling-in" period. But a crucial question remains—why? This paper proposes an explanatory model, grounded in the Canine Neurobiological System Science (CNSS) framework. We posit that ‘settling-in’ fails because it is a passive process in the face of a cascading neurobiological crisis.

ATTRIBUTION NOTICE:  This article contains open-source information from the Canine Neurobiological System Science (CNSS) model. Attribution is required for any use of these concepts in article writing, podcast discussion, or product development. Please cite: Canine Neurobiological System Science (CNSS) Framework, Sparky Smith, 2025. SCOPE NOTE:  The principles discussed in this article apply to complex behavioural cases requiring System intervention—not basic skills training.