07/15/2025
Another excellent post - and don't put a shock collar on a puppy or dog because you want a quick fix, you don't deserve a dog if that is your first go to - build a relationship and understand that training, just like anyone learning something new takes time, takes repetition and regular practice.
If you are not willing to invest in the time in learning and teaching your dog, you have no business having one.
“It’s Not Me, It’s You!” – A Dog’s-Eye View on Undesirable Behaviour (That’s Actually Perfectly Natural)
By Simon, with a little help from your dog
Let’s start with a simple truth:
Most of the behaviours we humans class as “undesirable” are, from the dog’s perspective, entirely reasonable, even commendable.
Barking? “I’m doing security work!”
Chewing the sofa arm? “You left me no enrichment and that bit of furniture smelt delicious.”
Lunging at the Labrador across the road? “He gave me the side-eye, and I don’t trust anyone with that many teeth and no eyebrows.”
Digging up the garden? “Mate, there could be a badger down there!”
You see, from the dog’s point of view, they’re not being naughty. They’re being doggy. And all too often, undesirable behaviours don’t appear out of nowhere, they develop slowly, subtly, often with our unintentional encouragement or neglect.
Let’s break this down properly.
The Slow-Burn of Behaviour
Undesirable behaviours typically don’t explode onto the scene like a bad soap opera plot twist. They build. Little by little. A nip that was cute at eight weeks is a liability at eight months. A bark for attention becomes a full-on karaoke session every time you leave the house. A tug on the lead becomes a full-body drag through the high street.
These issues develop and they often develop under our very noses.
What Causes “Bad” Behaviour?
Let’s not beat around the bush. A dog doesn’t wake up one morning and think, “You know what? Today’s the day I become a menace to society.”
Here are the usual suspects behind the behaviours we call “bad”:
1. Inconsistent Training
One minute Fido’s allowed on the sofa, the next he’s being shouted at for it. Sit means sit… unless it’s raining… or there’s a guest… or you’ve got a glass of wine in your hand. Inconsistency is confusing and confusion breeds frustration. And guess what frustrated dogs do? That’s right: They act out.
2. Lack of Socialisation
Imagine never being taken anywhere as a kid, then suddenly being plonked into a busy shopping centre as an adult. Sensory overload, awkward interactions, possible aggression, it’s no different for dogs. Poorly socialised dogs often struggle to cope with novel situations or unfamiliar dogs and people, leading to fear-based behaviours or reactivity.
3. Inadequate Exercise or Enrichment
A bored dog is a dog with time to kill and sofas, skirting boards, cushions, and your best slippers are all fair game. And let’s be clear: exercise doesn’t just mean physical. Dogs need mental stimulation too. Sniffing, searching, problem solving, these tire out the brain and reduce frustration-based behaviours. You can’t exhaust a dog by chucking a ball for an hour and then expect them to chill. That’s just cardio. You’ve created a super athlete with no off-switch.
4. Unclear Boundaries
Dogs crave structure. Without clear leadership, they’ll fill the void. Not because they’re plotting a household coup, but because someone has to make the decisions and if it’s not you, it’ll be them. And their decisions might not be ideal for harmonious living.
Let’s Be Fair: From the Dog’s Perspective
Dogs don’t come into the world understanding the rules of human life. They don’t know that toileting indoors is frowned upon. They don’t understand why barking is bad when it clearly alerts the house to incoming post. They certainly don’t get why the vacuum cleaner is allowed to make a racket but they’re not.
In other words, dogs aren’t being “bad.” They’re behaving in ways that are:
• Normal for their species
• Reinforced (knowingly or unknowingly) by their environment
• Developed in response to their emotional state, which is shaped by us
Take lunging and barking on the lead. We see a “reactive” dog. The dog sees a threat, feels trapped (because of the lead), and tries to make the threat go away. When the other dog walks off, your dog thinks, “Brilliant! My shouting worked!” and so the behaviour becomes learned and reinforced.
Or let’s talk about biting. Dogs use their mouths, to explore, to play, to defend, to communicate. If a dog hasn’t been taught appropriate bite inhibition, or hasn’t had clear boundaries, or is feeling cornered or unsafe, biting is as natural to them as swearing is to a frustrated teenager.
So What’s the Solution?
1. Start Early, Be Consistent
Whether it’s a pup or a rescue, from day one you need to show them not just what not to do, but what to do. Don’t just say “no.” Say “no, but do this instead.” Redirect. Reward. Reinforce. Rinse and repeat.
2. Provide Proper Enrichment
Mental stimulation is just as important as physical. Sniffing games, food puzzles, hide and seek, scentwork, tracking, even a good old-fashioned training session. A fulfilled dog has less need to seek out “fun” in your furniture or flower beds.
3. Set Clear, Fair Boundaries
Your dog isn’t a mind reader. If the rule is “no jumping,” that needs to apply always, not just when you’re in your nice clothes. Clarity breeds confidence. Dogs relax when they understand the rules.
4. Train for Real Life, Not Just the Living Room
Can your dog listen to you in the park? Outside the school gates? When someone rings the doorbell? Train in real-world situations, not just on the kitchen mat. Reliability is built through proofing, not hoping.
5. Watch Your Own Behaviour
Dogs are experts at reading us. If you’re erratic, emotional, or inconsistent, your dog will pick up on it. Be calm, fair, and confident. That’s leadership. That’s what dogs respond to.
A Word on Patience
Behaviour takes time to build and time to unpick. If your dog has had months (or years) practising an undesirable behaviour, it’s not going to vanish overnight. But with consistency, structure, and understanding, progress will come.
And remember: most dogs aren’t “bad.” They’re just doing what dogs do, in a world that often misunderstands them.
Final Thoughts (from your dog)
“I bark because you never told me when not to.
I chew because you didn’t leave me anything else.
I pull because the world is exciting and you walk like a sloth.
I lunge because I’m scared, and no one taught me to feel safe.
I misbehave because I’m lost, not defiant.
I don’t need shouting. I need showing. I need structure. I need you. I need you to lead me”
“ Because if you don’t I’ll have to try and figure it out myself!”
So next time you look at your dog and think, “Why are you doing that?” flip the script and ask, “What have I done to help you know what to do instead?”
Because behaviour isn’t built in a day. But nor is a brilliant bond.
And the good news? You’ve got all the time in the world to make it right.
www.k9manhuntscotland.co.uk
