09/11/2025
We often hear that the best dogs are the ones who don’t bark, don’t pull, and don’t cause a fuss. But here’s the truth: silence isn’t always a sign of calm — sometimes it’s a sign of stress or learned helplessness.
👉 What is learned helplessness?
It happens when a dog has tried to communicate — through barking, growling, or other signals — but those signals were ignored, corrected, or punished. Over time, the dog stops trying to express themselves at all, because they’ve learned that nothing changes or they’ll get in trouble.
A dog that has shut down may look “well-behaved” on the outside, but inside they’re anxious, fearful, or disconnected. That isn’t peace — it’s silence born from stress.
✨ A truly “good dog” is one who feels safe, understood, and supported. They may still bark, growl, or communicate in other ways — and that’s healthy. Communication means trust.
If your dog has gone quiet or seems “checked out,” it doesn’t mean they’re stubborn or broken. It means they need help feeling safe enough to communicate again.
👉 Have you ever noticed your dog go completely still or silent in a stressful situation?
✨ This is exactly the kind of work I do: helping dogs (and their humans) move from stress and shut-down to calm, confident, and connected.
Reach out to me at justgooddogstraining.com
