12/15/2024
When someone asks me, "Why does my dog ____?" or "How do I get them to stop ____?", it's hard to give a simple answer. Dog behavior isn't just one thing—it's like solving a mathematical equation. There are so many factors to consider!
This picture is a great visual representation of everything that goes into understanding an animal's behavior—and even this is just the starting point. From their environment to their genetics, their past experiences, and even their daily stress levels, every detail matters when figuring out why they do what they do.
Behavior isn't random—it's communication. When we take the time to consider all the pieces of the puzzle, we can better understand our dogs and find solutions that truly help them thrive.
What’s one thing you’ve learned about your dog’s behavior that surprised you? Share below—I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Why does my dog ___?
We get this question a lot, especially when it comes to complex behaviors like fear, reactivity, or aggression. And as humans, we want (desperately!) to find a clear label as the reason for this behavior.
We often hear “he must have been abused by a large man who wore hats because he’s so scared of them,” “he dislikes strangers because of his breed,” or “it’s all in how you raise them.”
The truth is that there are TONS of things that contribute to behavior. Not even the best scientists in the world can tell us where a particular dog’s behavior comes from. When we see a fearful dog, it could be due to genes, limited maternal care, or stress in their first weeks of life (or inside mom’s uterus). They could have had a traumatic experience or have a hormone imbalance. They could hurt, have learned associations over time, or even have certain brain structures that grew or shrank to make them more fearful.
So what’s really important to know here?
1️⃣ behavior causes can be very complicated
2️⃣ anyone who says that behavior is all because of learning, or breed, or socialization, or whatever- is misinformed.
3️⃣ in many cases, you’re just not going to be able to identify the “cause” of complex behaviors like fear, reactivity, or aggression. Get comfy with not knowing.
4️⃣ not knowing the exact cause doesn’t prevent us from working on behavior!! We can make educated guesses and use treatment plans and involve vets to help us treat what we can’t easily train.
If you're struggling to figure out what your dog needs, we'd love to help! Visit our website to schedule a behavior consult or reach out for more info!
