Recognising the Emotional Drive Behind Canine Behaviour

3 min read

Understanding why dogs behave the way they do is an essential part of building a strong and trusting relationship with them. While we often focus on what a dog is doing—barking, jumping, or refusing to walk—it’s equally important to consider why they’re doing it. At the heart of every behaviour lies an emotional drive, and recognising these emotions is key to improving both behaviour and well-being.

What Are Emotional Drives?

Emotional drives are the feelings that motivate a dog’s actions. Just like humans, dogs experience emotions such as fear, joy, frustration, anxiety, and excitement. These emotions influence how they respond to their environment and interact with the world around them.

For example:

A dog barking at the window may feel fear (perceiving a threat) or excitement (anticipating something fun).
A dog pulling on the lead may be motivated by enthusiasm (wanting to explore) or frustration (wanting to move faster).
A dog refusing to come when called may feel fear (being scolded) or independence (wanting to stay where they are).

Understanding these emotional drives allows us to address the root cause of behaviour rather than simply trying to stop it.

Why Emotions Matter

Recognising a dog’s emotions is essential for building a positive relationship and addressing behavioural challenges in a compassionate way. Dogs are not “naughty” or “stubborn” for the sake of it; they are responding to their feelings in the moment. Misinterpreting their emotions can lead to frustration for both the dog and their guardian.

For instance:

A reactive dog might seem aggressive, but their behaviour could be driven by fear or uncertainty.
A dog that jumps up may be seen as annoying when they’re actually expressing joy or seeking attention.

By understanding the emotional context, we can respond with empathy and help the dog feel more secure and understood.

How to Recognise Emotional Drives

Dogs communicate their emotions primarily through body language and behaviour. Some common signs of emotional states include:

Fear or Anxiety: Tucked tail, avoiding eye contact, lip licking, or trembling.
Excitement: Wagging tail, jumping, barking, or playful movements.
Frustration: Whining, pawing, or persistent attempts to get what they want.
Happiness and Contentment: Relaxed body, soft eyes, and calm behaviour.

Paying attention to the context is important, too. A wagging tail can mean excitement in one situation but uncertainty in another.

Responding to Emotional Drives

Once you understand the emotional drive behind a behaviour, you can work to address it.

For example:

If your dog is barking out of fear, you can help by removing the trigger and gradually building their confidence.
If they’re pulling on the lead out of excitement, you can teach them to channel that energy into a more controlled activity.
If they’re frustrated, you can provide mental or physical stimulation to meet their needs.

Using positive reinforcement—rewarding the behaviours you want to encourage—can help change the emotional association behind an action.

Building a Stronger Bond

Recognising the emotional drives behind your dog’s behaviour is about more than solving problems. It’s about understanding your dog as an individual with their own feelings and needs.

When you approach behaviour with empathy and awareness, you strengthen the bond between you and your dog, creating a relationship built on trust, respect, and mutual understanding.

By focusing on their emotions as well as their actions, you can help your dog feel happier, more secure, and better equipped to navigate the world.