Dog´s don´t just do things - here´s why

Dogs Don’t Just ‘Do Things’ — Here’s Why

When our dogs act out of character, it can be confusing or even frustrating. But behaviour is rarely about being ‘naughty’ — it’s often about what they’re feeling, experiencing, or trying to cope with.
Most of the time, a dog’s behaviour is pretty flexible — it helps them adjust to what’s happening around them, whether that’s changes in their surroundings, how they’re feeling physically (like being hungry or in pain), or even their emotional state.

Most of the time, a dog’s behaviour is pretty flexible — it helps them adjust to what’s happening around them, whether that’s changes in their surroundings, how they’re feeling physically (like being hungry or in pain), or even their emotional state.
A dog’s actions don’t come from just one thing, but from a mix of influences, such as:

Life experiences and learning – past interactions, training, and the way they’ve been exposed to people, animals, or different environments all leave a mark. If a dog has had a bad experience in the past, it will probably affect its future behaviour when it comes across the trigger that caused the bad experience. this is called Learned Behaviour.
Genes and breed traits – while breed plays a role, every individual dog also has unique genetic quirks that shape how they behave.
Health and wellbeing – their age, any medical conditions, or even side effects of medication can change the way they respond.
Motivation – needs like food, water, comfort, or the drive to reproduce all push behaviour in different directions.
Emotional state – feelings such as fear, anxiety, or excitement can strongly influence how a dog acts in the moment.
Environment – both their early-life setting and their current surroundings are huge factors in shaping behaviour.
Arousal levels – how wound up or calm they are at any given time.

Something important to keep in mind is trigger stacking (sometimes called situation, or arousal stacking). This is when little stresses or excitements build on top of each other. For example, if a dog is already on edge when arriving at the vet’s office, they’re much closer to their “tipping point.” Once they reach that threshold, it becomes exceedingly difficult for them to hold themselves back, and their reaction might come out suddenly and quite dramatically. The same can happen if several different triggers pile up all at once. This is why ot is important for owners to recognize their dogs body language – the owner then has the opportunity of turning the dog away, increasing distance, for example.

Next time your dog reacts strongly to a situation, think of all the pieces at play. Behaviour is like a puzzle — and learning how the pieces fit can transform the way we connect with our dog and build the trust.