06/18/2025
Dogs were bred for a purpose: guardian, hunter, retriever⦠they werenāt bred to live in a home to snuggle, go running, campingā¦
We need to put our expectations aside, slow down and get to know our dog better.
Barking? Normal
Digging? Normal
Scavenging? Normal
Can these things be annoying and frustrating? Absolutely! But we can help them do these things in a less destructive way by providing opportunities to do these natural behaviors in a more controlled environment, helping to fulfill their needs.
I AINāT MISBEHAVING
Iām just doing what dogs do!
What may look like misbehaviour is often just a dog behaving as dogs naturally do.
We expect so much of our dogs when we bring them into our world, forgetting that they are a different species that donāt arrive pre-programmed to behave in a way we expect them to.
We hold dogās captive in a confined, unnatural space and then become frustrated when they donāt behave the way we expect.
We become frustrated when our dogs donāt walk nicely on a lead, donāt get on with every other dog or person they meet, steal food from counter tops, donāt give things back, guard resources, dig, chew or destroy what they shouldnāt, bark, howl, whine or perhaps growl etc.
We need to replace our frustration and our need to train away or fix unwanted behaviour with understanding, patience and guidance.
Understand that dogs naturally behave in a certain way. Be patient while guiding them to learn a different way to behave through using force free, positive reinforcement methods, meeting their needs and managing their environment.
Providing outlets to engage in natural behaviour, providing mental, physical and social stimulation and understanding why dogs behave the way they do will create secure relationship and make such a difference in their lives.
One of the greatest gifts we can give our dogs is our understanding.