I was speaking with a psychotherapist friend the other day who was lamenting that all too often in the mental health space, people look for quick fixes rather than doing the deeper work that ushers in lasting results. The focus is placed on symptom management rather than deep healing.
While human psychology isn’t my area of expertise, I immediately noticed a similarity in the dog world: so many people are looking for a quick fix.
What does this look like in practice?
Is there a better way? I believe there is.
It is trickier and requires more commitment, but the results for both the dog and the humans are infinitely better.
The first step to truly resolving unwanted dog behaviour (unwanted from our point of view, that is) is to ascertain why the dog is behaving that way to begin with. We have to explore the underlying emotions, because emotions drive behaviour.
Once the underlying emotion has been identified—and it is obviously more nuanced than these brief examples—we can introduce protocols to provide the dog with the necessary support and guidance.
Sometimes, this means building their life-skills so they are equipped to cope with the demands placed on them. Other times, it entails introducing enrichment activities that mitigate the aversive emotion. Or it may require us to address the dog’s confusion by gradually walking them through our expectations. But when a dog is showing big emotions starting there, with the emotions, is key, because big emotions lead to big behaviour.
When any of us feel big emotions, the thinking part of the brain goes offline, making learning pretty much impossible.
Training will have to wait.
Let’s look at how we can help a dog process these emotions.
If a dog is afraid of other dogs (for example), his central nervous system will be on high alert, not only in the presence of other dogs, but more generally, if he lives in a busy area. To lower his fear, calming activities are essential. While tailored guidance from a professional is best, generically speaking more licking, sniffing, chewing, and foraging is a great place to start. Excellent tools include spreading blended tuna over a licky mat (and freezing it) or sprinkling kibble or grated Parmesan on the ground for the dog to forage.
Once the emotions are on an even keel, training can begin. This can take some time, depending on the situation, and sometimes, it won’t even be necessary; when a dog enjoys more stable emotions, the unwanted behaviour really can settle down on its own.
If the methods are kind, there is absolutely a place for teaching specific commands, and many dogs enjoy the mental workout. However, my favourite approach involves teaching dogs critical life skills like impulse control, confidence, and focus.
Starting these in a safe, distraction-free environment and building up using games is a great option. Why? Because playing and being fearful are mostly mutually exclusive. Play is a beautiful way to inject pure positivity back into a dog’s life.
This path takes time, patience, and commitment. But the result is a dog who doesn’t just behave better—they actually feel better. And ensuring their emotional welfare makes the journey totally worth it.
Didn’t do this time.
Want an invite to my next live webinar? 🧠🐕
I run regular live online masterclasses to help owners move past the “quick fixes” and deeply understand their dogs. Because the links change and doors only open periodically, the easiest way to secure a spot is to join my inner circle.
Pop your email address below to join my free newsletter. You’ll receive practical dog welfare insights straight to your inbox, and you’ll hear about the next webinar which is all about how to provide for the needs of our dogs from a welfare point of view.
