Usually owners view their dog's behaviour as a series of linear isolated reactions, i.e.: the dog reacting to another dog, or person by barking and lounging, or growling, or making itself smaller or even freezing.

But what the owners perceive is not what is happening under the hood. The dog's brain is using its past experiences (memory) to guess what the most likely behaviour must be to be safe. If the interaction is ambiguous, it results in the dog's brain preparing for many different possible behaviour patterns to be available, that it may use if the energy is avaiable. If not, it will simple use a defensive "good ennough" reaction to save cost and be efficient. Plainly, a barking lounging dog is simply being efficient.

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The Neuropark framework recognises behaviour as a continuous flow of preparatory (exploration cycles) and consummatory (behaviour ending cycles). A behaviour ending cycle allows for the next exploration to occur, which shapes the next relational interaction between the brain's past memories, its body and the environment it behaves in, creating the opportunity of new memory to be built and used in the future.

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Our framework draws on current scientific theories and their emerging understanding that the brain functions from the "inside-out", predicting and planning the most accurate action patterns,  continually regulating the body's internal needs before they arise and responding to the external world through these actions and movements.

Exploration can occur at Neuropark, because the dog moves in a semi-controlled field, which allows the affordance of curiosity over defensivness.

Through the natural need to SLOWLY explore (Levy Walk - preparatory state), your dog will exploit and efficiently satisfy its metabolic energy needs (consummatory states) while moving within the natural field (environment) autonomously. 

It is through these intrinsic cycles new experiences are built, along set knowledge and thus reduce uncertainty.

Over time, with more sets of behaviour plans having been built, you can take the dog out to quiet areas, to build on explerience gained at Neuropark.

Ultimately, Canine Neuropark® allows dogs to explore and express themselves independently through agency.

The feeling of uncertainty is the hidden cause of many of the behaviour sets we often categorize as "Issues". The root of uncertainty may arise from physical (inefficient energy regulation, illness, discomfort, pain) or / and mental states (negative memories, rigid action patterns) and / or because the brains regulatory predictions can't synchronize with the sensory input well, curating a state of experiential blindness. All of these conscious states mean that a brain cannot establish the causes from the outcomes (sensory inputs) it experiences, and those sensations create a conscious feeling of uncertainty.

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Neuropark helps your dog to learn how to construct new perceptions through active exploration (self evidencing through movement) and past experience (memory), in relation to the sensory input; freely moving to gain information about the body's future needs to provide for those needs before they arise and to act efficiently in the environment at all times. These actions adapt existing experiences (memory) in the dogs' brain's inbuilt neuronal "library" with new meaning making of their body and the world they move in, which can be observed in form of changing behaviour(s).

This approach leads to better maintenance and promotion of the systems energy regulation (Allostasis) which we can observe in a calmer, more content and resilient dog.

Your time at Neuropark will be the foundation of a healthier and closer relationship with your furry family member.

But change needs work and time by both YOU and your dog.

The use of our automated booking system ensures you & your dog have uninterrupted time to explore & exploit throughout the natural field (Environment). Offering uninhibited off-leash exploration allows the dynamic abilities of your dogs' brain to exploit environmental and physical information to reconstitute and/or construct new experiences, thus building new sets of action plans to interact with the world, reducing the exhibition of rigid / "go-to" behaviour(s), leading to a more confident & calmer dog over time and maintaining and promoting Allostasis.

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Uncertainty feeds anxiety and negative feelings in all of us. Neuropark's enclosed space ensures a sense of certainty and safety for your dog - and you!

Rehabilitation and strength

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The Physio stations and Adaptation Maze throughout Neuropark are designed in conjunction with Animal Physio NZ & SpeakingDog K9 Services to build muscle strength, proprioceptive, navigational, interoceptive & exteroceptive adaptation to enhance & promote predictive energy regulation (Allostasis), to build confidence and holistic wellbeing & efficiency.

Simply put, the whole brain and it's body are at play interacting efficiently with the immediate niche.

Members have access to video tutorials explaining the benefits of the different stations and how to introduce them to your dog.

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Pain and illness are the leading causes of many so-called "bad behaviours". We recommend all members get their dogs checked by a vet and a registered animal physiotherapist or qualified animal osteopath. Neuropark proudly works with the best  Animal Physiotherapists from Animal Physio NZ and their Registered Associates.