Italiano's Pawsitive Pups Training

Said perfectly 🥰

Stopping or suppressing behaviours may seem like it will achieve everything we want but that truth is that it will not.

Behaviour happens for a reason. It is communication. It is telling us that there is something occurring that makes the dog feel they need to show that behaviour in that moment.

Stopping the behaviour might initially stop our 'problem' but it doesn't address that why, the underlying cause and how the dog is feeling. That is what we need to understand before attempting to change (not just stop) behaviour.

Is something scaring the dog?

Are they uncomfortable or in pain?

Are they hungry or thirsty?

Are they able to carry out natural and normal behaviours regularly?

Is their communication and body language observed and respected, so they don't feel the need to escalate their signalling?

Are they bored and need more stimulation in their environment?

Are they over-stimulated and need to learn how to switch off and rest?

These are a (non-exhaustive) points to consider when our dogs do something we find problematic - the why of behaviour is always the first thing we must think about.