Good Dog or Bad Dog?

Do you sometimes wonder if your dog is a “good dog” or a “bad dog?” In reality, what dogs are and what we humans think they are can be really different! Truly, there is no such thing as a good dog or a bad one. Only dogs that have certain quirks that affect their behavior. With the right training, I truly believe ANY dog can be a good dog! But here are some examples of dog behaviors that might lead to confusion in humans near and far.

As you can see, dogs are not stubborn, mean, spoiled, dominant, manipulative or rude. But oftentimes dogs are communicating on their own “wavelength” if you will. Just like humans, there are times that your dog cannot properly regulate his emotions, gets overwhelmed, is seeking human connection (remember, dogs are pack animals after all!), distracted with other things, trying to understand the “human rules” that they he now is expected to live by while learning to live in our world and homes. And finally, your dog might just be afraid and needing reassurance from you! Go be a good cheerleader mom and dad!

Dogs are not inherently good or bad. Like humans, they are largely shaped by their experiences and are constantly trying to find ways to please their owners and the world around them. Sometimes they do a better job than others. Good training helps!

Feel like your dog is processing information in a very different way than you would like more often than not? Losing patience with DIY dog training? Want to make sure your dog falls in YOUR good dog category ALL the time? Contact me today here to discuss an in-home consultation for you and your pet!