07/06/2026
The Truth About Behaviour Challenges: We’ve Been Asking the Wrong Questions All This Time
Some time ago, I took part in a discussion involving trainers from very different backgrounds, philosophies, and viewpoints. As you can imagine, there were plenty of debates around methods, ethics, and the pros and cons of various training approaches.
One question that came up was whether the use of aversive tools is appropriate.
My answer then is the same as it is now:
I don’t think that’s the right question.
In fact, I think it’s one of the reasons so many people struggle with their dogs.
When we face behaviour challenges, our instinct is often to ask:
“How do I stop this?”
“What tool should I use?”
“What’s the fastest way to fix this behaviour?”
But what if we’ve been asking the wrong questions all this time?
What if the real question isn’t how we stop the behaviour, but why it’s happening in the first place?
When I look at social media, I see endless arguments about training methods. Positive reinforcement versus balanced training. Rewards versus corrections. Tools versus no tools.
Social media thrives on controversy. It pushes the loudest voices, the strongest opinions, and the most eye-catching content.
But when I strip away all the noise and listen to the conversation underneath it all, one thing stands out above everything else:
Most people don’t truly understand what their dog is.
And perhaps even more importantly:
They don’t understand who their dog is.
Before We Talk About Training, We Need To Talk About Dogs
Dogs are not ornaments.
They are not furry accessories.
They are not creatures designed to fit neatly into our routines without having needs of their own.
Yet many dogs live remarkably repetitive lives.
The same food.
In the same bowl.
At the same time.
Every day.
The same walk.
Around the same park.
In the same direction.
Every day.
Then they’re left alone for varying periods of time, spending much of their day sleeping, waiting, and existing in a state that often resembles boredom more than fulfilment.
And then we’re surprised when behavioural issues appear.
The reality is that many dogs aren’t being difficult.
They’re being under-stimulated.
Under-challenged.
Poorly understood.
And under-served.
The Five E’s
I talk constantly about what I call the Five E’s:
* Exercise
* Enrichment
* Emotional Stability
* Education
* Entertainment
These are the pillars that should underpin our relationship with our dogs.
Not occasionally.
Not when we have spare time.
Not as a luxury.
Daily.
Every single day, we should be asking ourselves how we’re investing in these areas.
Are we providing meaningful exercise?
Are we enriching our dog’s life?
Are we helping them develop emotional resilience and confidence?
Are we educating them and giving them opportunities to learn?
Are we making life enjoyable and engaging?
Because if we’re not, we’re missing a huge part of what dogs actually need to thrive.
A Lesson We All Experienced
One of the most fascinating insights into this came during the global pandemic.
For many people, restrictions on movement, social interaction, freedom, and routine had a profound impact.
At first, it felt manageable.
The weather was nice.
People found ways to keep busy.
But as weeks turned into months, many experienced frustration, anxiety, loneliness, anger, and declining mental wellbeing.
Why?
Because many of our own needs were no longer being met.
Our opportunities for movement, social interaction, challenge, novelty, and purpose had been restricted.
In many ways, it offered us a glimpse into what countless dogs experience every day.
Not because their owners don’t love them.
Most owners adore their dogs.
But because many simply don’t understand the needs of the animal they’ve chosen to share their life with.
This isn’t a criticism.
It’s a sadness.
Because when we understand better, we can do better.
Understanding What Your Dog Is
Dogs are highly social, intelligent, adaptable animals.
They evolved to solve problems.
To explore.
To communicate.
To move.
To engage with their environment.
To learn.
Yet we often ask them to fit into a lifestyle that gives them very few opportunities to do any of those things.
Then we become frustrated when they create their own entertainment.
Whether that’s barking, digging, chasing, pulling, chewing, scavenging, or reacting to the world around them.
The behaviour isn’t appearing in a vacuum.
It’s information.
It’s communication.
It’s often a reflection of needs that haven’t been fully met.
Understanding Who Your Dog Is
But there’s another layer.
Because understanding dogs generally isn’t enough.
You need to understand your dog specifically.
A Spaniel is not a Border Collie.
A Border Collie is not a German Shepherd.
A German Shepherd is not a Labrador.
A Labrador is not a Cockapoo.
And no amount of wishful thinking changes that.
Every breed carries generations of selective breeding that influence what motivates them, fulfils them, excites them, and challenges them.
Then we add individual personality on top.
The dog in front of you is unique.
They have strengths.
Preferences.
Challenges.
Needs.
And the better you understand those things, the better you can meet them.
Most Behaviour Challenges Start Long Before The Behaviour
When dogs aren’t having their needs met, challenges emerge.
Not because they’re bad dogs.
Because they’re struggling.
The reactive dog.
The destructive dog.
The dog that won’t settle.
The dog that runs off.
The dog that can’t cope when left alone.
The dog that constantly seeks stimulation.
Many of these dogs are communicating something important.
Yet too often, we focus entirely on stopping the behaviour rather than understanding why it appeared in the first place.
And that’s where people start looking for solutions that suppress symptoms rather than address causes.
A gadget.
A correction.
A punishment.
A quick fix.
Something to make the behaviour disappear.
But behaviour doesn’t exist in isolation.
If we’re serious about helping dogs, we have to look deeper.
The Happiest Dogs Are Often The Most Fulfilled Dogs
One of the beautiful things about meeting a dog’s needs properly is that many of the behaviours people struggle with become far less likely to develop in the first place.
A fulfilled dog is often a calmer dog.
A calmer dog is often easier to live with.
A dog whose needs are consistently met tends to make better decisions, cope better with stress, recover more quickly from challenges, and integrate more successfully into family life.
Not because they’ve been forced into compliance.
Because they’re content.
Because their cup is full.
Because they’re living a life that makes sense to them.
The Questions We Should Be Asking
So instead of asking:
“How do I stop this behaviour?”
“What tool should I use?”
“How do I get my dog under control?”
Perhaps we should start by asking:
“Do I truly understand what my dog is?”
And then:
“Do I truly understand who my dog is?”
Because when we start there, everything changes.
Training becomes clearer.
Behaviour makes more sense.
Relationships become stronger.
And most importantly, our dogs get to live richer, fuller, more meaningful lives.
The truth about behaviour challenges is that we’ve been asking the wrong questions all this time.
The more we lean into Exercise, Enrichment, Emotional Stability, Education, and Entertainment, the better off our dogs will be.
And that’s something every dog deserves.
