When your dog behaves in a certain way—whether it’s barking, digging, or jumping—it’s not just random; it’s their way of solving a problem. Behaviour, at its core, is a strategy dogs use to achieve a desired outcome. Let’s dive into how your dog’s brain works, why their behaviours are reinforced, and how you can guide them to choose better solutions to their problems.
Why Does Your Dog Do That?
Dogs are incredible problem-solvers. When they encounter a situation, their brains assess it, pick a behaviour they believe will solve the “problem,” and then evaluate whether it worked. Over time, this process creates habits—whether we label those behaviours as “good” or “bad.”
Here’s a common example:
Barking at People Walking Past the House
Problem: Someone is walking past your house.
Solution: Bark at the person to make them go away.
Outcome: The person continues walking (as they naturally would).
From a human perspective, we know the person would have walked by regardless of the barking. But to your dog, it feels like their behaviour caused the person to leave. Each time your dog barks at someone, they think, “It worked! I’ll bark again next time.” This reinforces the behaviour.
The Science Behind Rehearsed Behaviour
The more a behaviour is practiced and achieves a perceived positive outcome, the more it becomes ingrained in your dog’s brain. This applies to both desirable and undesirable behaviours:
“Bad” Behaviour: Barking, jumping on guests, or pulling on the lead can be solutions that seem effective to your dog.
“Good” Behaviour: Sitting for a treat, staying calm when visitors arrive, or walking nicely on a lead are also reinforced by positive outcomes.
In simple terms, behaviour that works gets repeated. The key to changing unwanted behaviours lies in offering your dog a better solution to the problem they’re trying to solve.
Give Your Dog A Different Option
If barking is your dog’s solution to the “problem” of people walking by, what if you taught them a different way to respond?
Step 1: Identify the Problem
Ask yourself: What is my dog trying to achieve with this behaviour? In the case of barking at passers-by, they’re likely trying to protect their territory or make the person leave.
Step 2: Offer a Better Solution
Instead of barking, teach your dog to focus on you or remain calm when someone walks past. For example:
Reward your dog for staying quiet or looking at you when a person approaches.
Use a cue like “leave it” or “look here” to redirect their attention to you.
Step 3: Reinforce the New Behaviour
Every time your dog chooses the new behaviour, reward them. Whether it’s treats, praise, or play, make sure they see this as a more rewarding solution than barking.
Why This Approach Works
When you teach your dog a different behaviour to solve a problem, you’re rewiring their brain to see this as the better option. Over time, they’ll default to the new behaviour because it becomes just as rewarding—and far less stressful—for them.
Game to Try: 'Reward Nothing'
Teaching your dog to associate calmness with positive outcomes can transform their response to challenging situations. Here’s how to play the "Reward Nothing" game to capture and reinforce calm behaviour in your dog.
How to Play:
Step 1: Observe Calm Moments
Watch for times when your dog naturally chooses calm behaviour, such as lying down in their crate or bed, or quietly observing a movement without reacting.
Step 2: Reward Calmness
Calmly reward your dog with a treat (Busy Pawz Premium Treats are perfect!) whenever they display these relaxed behaviours. The key is to reinforce the good choice they’ve made.
Step 3: Ignore Temporary Excitement
If your reward temporarily excites your dog, don’t worry—this is normal! Keep rewarding calm moments consistently to help them build a positive association with staying calm.
Step 4: Build Calmness Pathways
Over time, these repeated calm moments will strengthen the neural pathways in your dog’s brain, making calm behaviour their go-to choice in challenging situations.
This game helps your dog learn that calmness leads to rewards, making it easier for them to choose relaxed behaviour over barking, jumping, or other undesirable actions. Let their calm moments shine! 🐾✨
Final Thought
Your dog’s behaviour isn’t about being “good” or “bad”—it’s about finding solutions to their problems. By understanding how their brain works, you can guide them toward behaviours that are both effective for them and less stressful for you.
Remember, behaviour that’s practiced gets reinforced, so start providing your dog with better solutions today. With patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement, you’ll see their problem-solving skills transform into habits that benefit you both.
Thanks for reading! I hope you found this post helpful.
Don’t forget to throw your dog a treat from all of us 🐶
Deb & the Busy Pawz Crew
P.S. Want more personalised advice?
👉 Check out our training sessions or send me a message—I’d love to help!
And if you found this helpful, share it with a fellow dog lover who might need a little extra support. 💕
Comments