19/10/2025
So true!
The Energy You Bring: How Your Emotions Influence Your Dogâs Behaviour
If thereâs one truth every dog owner, handler, and trainer should tattoo on the inside of their eyelids (metaphorically, of course), itâs this: your energy matters. Dogs are emotional sponges, expert readers of human energy and mood. They donât care about the words you say nearly as much as how you say them, how you move, and what energy you radiate.
You canât fool a dog. You can lie to your partner, your boss, even your own reflection, but your dog will call your bluff every time.
Understanding a Dogâs Sensitivity to Human Energy
Dogs are masters of non-verbal communication. Long before they were sniffing out missing people or the contents of your lunchbox, their survival depended on being able to read energy and intent. They know when weâre calm, stressed, angry, or upset, often before we do.
Science backs this up. Dogs can detect fluctuations in human cortisol levels (our stress hormone). They pick up on tiny shifts in our tone of voice, breathing patterns, and posture. If youâre tense, they know it. If youâre calm, they know that too.
To a dog, energy is communication. If you approach your dog frustrated, theyâll mirror that frustration. If youâre anxious on a walk, theyâll absorb that tension through the lead. But if youâre calm, grounded, and confident, your dog will often relax as well.
Simply put: your dog is your emotional mirror, whether you like the reflection or not.
The Domino Effect of Household Energy
Itâs not just your energy that matters, itâs the collective atmosphere of your home. Dogs are highly attuned to the general âvibeâ of their environment. A peaceful, structured home promotes calm, balanced behaviour. A tense, chaotic home? Not so much.
Picture this:
⢠Youâve had a horrendous day at work.
⢠Your partner walks in equally frazzled.
⢠The kids are arguing.
⢠The tellyâs blaring.
⢠The house feels like a small-scale riot.
And in the middle of it all, thereâs the dog, ears twitching, pacing, perhaps barking at shadows. He doesnât understand why everyoneâs stressed; he just knows the air is thick with tension. That tension builds up in him until you grab the lead for a ânice relaxing walkâ⌠and suddenly heâs pulling, barking, lunging, and youâre wondering, what on earth got into him?
The answer: you did. Or rather, your collective household energy did.
Dogs are emotional amplifiers. When we live in chaos, they reflect it back with interest.
Why Calm Confidence Is the Secret Ingredient in Training
When it comes to dog training, your emotional state is every bit as important as your lead, your treats, or your timing. Dogs thrive under calm, consistent leadership.
If youâre anxious, unsure, or cross during training, your dog feels that instability. A reactive dog, for instance, will pick up every flicker of tension through the lead. You tighten up, they brace for trouble, and before you know it, both of you are in a feedback loop of stress.
But approach that same situation with calm, grounded confidence, and everything changes. The dog senses thereâs nothing to worry about. Youâre in control. Youâre steady. And that steadiness gives them permission to relax.
Dogs donât follow panic; they follow peace.
Breaking the Cycle: Managing Your Energy for Your Dogâs Sake
So how do we stop our stress leaking down the lead? Here are some practical steps for owners, trainers, and handlers alike:
1. Check yourself before you wreck yourself (and your dog).
Take a moment to notice your mood before engaging with your dog. Feeling wound up? Breathe. Take five minutes. Donât carry your workday into your training session.
2. Reset the household energy.
After a stressful day, switch off the telly, lower the volume, and breathe. A calm home sets the tone for a calm dog.
3. Stick to a routine.
Dogs thrive on predictability. Even when life gets messy, keep their schedule consistent. Structure equals security.
4. Mindset before movement.
Before you clip that lead on, make sure your head and heart are in the right place. Walks started in frustration rarely end well.
5. Shared responsibility.
If you live with others, make sure everyone understands that dogs feed off human energy. Children, in particular, should learn how to stay calm around the dog.
6. Build calm into their day.
Activities like nose work, slow lead walks, puzzle feeders, or âplaceâ training help dogs decompress and switch off mentally.
The Ripple Effect of Calm Energy
Hereâs the best bit, when you start to regulate your energy, everyone benefits. The dog becomes calmer. The household feels lighter. And you, well, you might just find yourself breathing easier too.
Dogs are emotional barometers. They reflect what they feel around them. If we project chaos, they respond with chaos. If we project calm, they respond with calm.
So the next time your dog is wound up, donât ask, âWhatâs wrong with him?â Ask, âWhat energy am I bringing?â
Because when we lead with calm confidence and clarity, our dogs follow with trust, balance, and peace.
And in a world thatâs already noisy enough, thatâs a win for everyone, two legs or four.
