29/09/2025
Ever wondered why your dog sometimes 'overreacts' to something small? To us, it's just another dog walking past or cyclist, it's just someone at the front door or a crying baby. So why do some dogs struggle with these triggers?
Dr. Sarah Heath came up with a great 'sink' analogy that helps dog owners understand this. I use this analogy in a lot of my consultations.
🔹 The Sink = Emotional Capacity of your dog
Every dog has a different sized sink. Some can handle more stress or excitement than others.
🔹 The Tap= Emotional Input
Everyday things like noises, visitors, walks, or even excitement add water to the sink.
🔹 The Drain = Recovery
Sleep, chewing, play, natural behaviours help empty the sink. Without drainage, water (stress) piles up.
🔹 Overflow of the sink= Behaviour
When the sink is too full, it overflows. That’s when we might see some 'unwanted' behaviours such as barking, lunging and jumping.
So the behaviour you are seeing is the consequence of a number of other internal and external factors which are often easily missed.
Keep your dogs sink as empty as you can and get help from a professional if you need help with your dog's emotional health.
