06/07/2025
Challenging behaviour our dogs present is often the expression of an unmet need. These needs extend beyond the basic 'food, water, shelter, exercise', because dogs do indeed live very rich emotional lives. Davey, our Pyr mix, *needs* connection with his people, so we do our best to have 15-20 minutes of 'snuggle time' on the couch with him every day. If we don't, he gets barky. Not barky at us, but at various noises...insignificant things...the neighbour firing up their side by side, a vehicle driving by, some barely perceptible stimulus only he is aware of..., random things that don't ordinarily evoke a reaction. With Dave, it's easy to tell because he really wears his heart on his sleeve; aside from barkiness, he'll follow us into the living room & 'herd' us toward the couch, he'll stand sideways in front of us in the hallway, 'Pets please', and he actively seeks out the attention. Other dogs are not so blatantly obvious. If you're seeing undesirable behaviour, ask yourself if you're meeting those less obvious needs - the emotional needs, the breed & dog specific needs. It's amazing what 15 minutes can do, whether it's cuddles on the floor, playing in the yard, shredding a box, a food search in the grass, or some other activity. By observing our dogs to see what they enjoy, we can meet their individual needs & experience a happier, more fulfilled relationship with our dogs.
