Is Your Dog a Bad Dog?

Have you ever found yourself wondering, “Why is my dog like this?”

“Is my dog just bad?” Maybe it is... your fault?

You’re only human. But here’s the thing: there’s no such thing as a “bad dog” or “bad behaviour.” Stay with me.

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What we often label as bad behaviour is usually a dog simply responding to their environment — doing the best they can with the information, management, and emotional capacity they have in that moment.

So let’s take a step back together and reflect: Could the environment we’ve created be setting our dogs up to fail?

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Reframing ‘Bad Behaviour’: Your dog's perspective.

These behaviours are not born from defiance or dominance.

They are responding to the environment around them. An environment we create or place them in.

Natural, emotional responses, shaped by what we have inadvertently or unknowingly produced.

Often, these responses arise from fear, confusion, anxiety, opportunities, or unmet needs.

The routines we set, or the situations we place our dogs in without realising how overwhelming they might be.

Take the dog who growls when a stranger approaches. Are they being "naughty"?

Or are they saying, "I don’t feel safe right now"?

When we look beyond the behaviour, we make space for understanding. Through that lens, we discover kinder and more effective ways to support both the dog and the guardian.

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Your Role in Your Dog’s Behaviour

You are not the cause of your dog’s struggles, but you are a powerful part of the solution.

Behaviour does not exist in isolation. It is shaped by genetics, past experiences, learning history, emotional states, and the conditions we expose. That includes our routines, expectations, and the way we respond when things become challenging.

You cannot control your dog’s emotions, their history, or how the world feels to them in any given moment.

But you can influence how safe and supported they feel. You can plan and manage a space that minimises stress, supports their success, and caters to their unique needs.

When we shift from trying to control behaviour to supporting emotional safety, that is when meaningful and lasting change begins.

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Where to From Here?

If you’ve made it this far, thank you for being open to seeing behaviour through a different lens.

Understanding your dog doesn’t mean having all the answers.

It simply means being willing to pause, to observe, and to ask, “What might my dog be feeling right now?”  From that place, everything begins to shift.

If this approach resonates with you, I’d love to invite you to stay connected.

A new membership is on the way — created for dog guardians and professionals who want to explore behaviour with more clarity, kindness, and confidence.

You can join the waitlist below and be the first to hear when it opens.

Together, we can build a better way forward for dogs and the people who love them.

Wait List

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