Good Dog Training

Distance doesn’t have to stop you!

Wherever you are, we’re here to help you and your dog build a better bond and a calmer, happier life together 🐾

One of the most common things we see in dog training is anthropomorphism - assigning human thoughts, emotions, and motivations to dogs.

Most owners do it because they care deeply about their dogs, but it can sometimes lead to misunderstandings in behaviour.

Let’s break down the examples from this post:

When we say “what I need is what my dog needs”, we’re assuming dogs experience the world the same way we do. In reality, dogs regulate stress, comfort, and safety very differently. What feels reassuring to us (like physical affection) can sometimes feel overwhelming or confusing for a dog in that moment.

When a dog looks “sad” and we respond with cuddles, our intention is comfort. But dogs don’t interpret emotions the same way humans do – and in some situations, closeness can actually prevent them from disengaging or processing stress in their own way.

When a dog paws for attention, it’s very easy to label that as affection seeking. But often, it’s a learned behaviour – the dog has discovered that pawing results in interaction. Over time, this becomes a pattern that is reinforced without us realising.

When we interpret guarding or protective behaviours as “love“, we miss the underlying emotional state. Behaviours like barking, blocking, or positioning can just as easily come from insecurity, uncertainty, or a lack of confidence in how to handle the environment.

When a dog stands between us and something in the environment, it can feel like protection. But in many cases, it’s actually a sign the dog feels responsible for managing the situation themselves rather than relying on the handler.

When we comfort a crying or demanding dog, we often do it with the best intentions. However, if the behaviour is attention-seeking or uncertainty-based, repeated reinforcement can unintentionally strengthen it over time.

None of this means we should be cold or disconnected with our dogs.

It simply means that understanding why a behaviour is happening is more useful than assigning it human meaning.

Dogs don’t need us to interpret them as little humans.

They need us to understand them as dogs ❤️