What is The Real Reason Your Dog Is Behaving That Way?

When we evaluate behaviour considering the most common reasons listed below, we stop reacting emotionally to what we see on the surface and start making strategic, sustainable changes underneath it. That’s how we build confident city dogs, from the inside out.

The most common reasons are:

• Arousal

• Genetics

• Reinforcement History

• Environment

• Unmet Needs

Today I want to break down: The A-B-C model (Antecedent, Behaviour, Consequence)

• The real drivers behind unwanted behaviour

• Why we always take a well-rounded, system-first approach

• And how changing the system changes the dog

  
  

Because it does. Every time.

The A-B-C Framework: Antecedent, Behaviour, Consequence

Let’s simplify behaviour science.

Every behaviour follows this sequence:

A – Antecedent (what happens before)

B – Behaviour (what the dog does)

C – Consequence (what happens after)

It’s not opinion. It’s not philosophy. It’s learning theory.

Let’s use a common example:

Doorbell rings (A)Dog explodes barking (B)Intruder “goes away” (C)

From your dog’s perspective?

“I barked and it worked. I saved us.”

That consequence reinforced the behaviour.

Now here’s where many people go wrong:

They try to suppress the barking without examining:

• The trigger

• The emotional state

• The reinforcement history

  
  

If we don’t adjust the antecedent or the consequence, we’re just arguing with biology.

Behind Every Unwanted Behaviour Is a Reason

When a dog is barking, lunging, counter surfing, digging, pacing, pulling, jumping ,the behaviour is information.

Let’s unpack the real drivers.

1. Arousal

Arousal is the nervous system’s activation level.

Too low? Shut down, disengaged.

Too high? Explosive, reactive, impulsive.

Most behaviour problems I see are over-arousal problems, not “obedience” problems.

High arousal affects:

• Impulse control

• Frustration tolerance

• Decision-making

• Ability to respond to cues

  
  

A dog cannot access learning when the nervous system is in overdrive.

How We Change It

We:

• Reward calmness (yes, we reinforce boring)

• Build decompression routines

• Use structured play instead of chaotic stimulation

• Prioritize sleep (criminally underrated)

• Teach “how to settle,” not just “sit”

  
  

If arousal drops, behaviour stabilizes.

This is not magic. It’s neurobiology.

2. Genetics

This one makes people uncomfortable.

Breed traits matter.

A Border Collie that stares and stalks?A terrier that digs?A livestock guardian that alerts at movement?

That’s not rebellion. That’s programming.

You cannot train genetics out of a dog.

But you can:

• Channel it

• Structure it

• Give it appropriate outlets

  
  

Example

A herding breed nipping at children’s heels.

The behaviour: Nipping.

The reason:Motor pattern activation.

The solution isn’t punishment. It’s:

• Structured tug games

• Flirt pole work

• Controlled herding outlets

• Teaching an incompatible behaviour

  
  

We respect genetics. Then we train around them.

3. Reinforcement History

Dogs repeat what works.

If jumping got attention even 20% of the time? That’s enough.

If pulling gets the dog forward? Reinforced.

If barking gets space? Reinforced.

Even yelling at your dog can reinforce behaviour if attention is what they were seeking.

We don’t judge the past.

We audit it.

How We Change It

We:

• Remove reinforcement for unwanted behaviour

• Reinforce alternative behaviours consistently

• Control access to rewards

• Set up clear contingencies

  
  

Behaviour that isn’t reinforced fades.

Behaviour that is reinforced grows.

Simple. Not always easy. But simple.

4. Emotional State

This is the big one.

Fear. Anxiety. Frustration. Excitement.

Emotion drives behaviour.

A dog that lunges may not be “dominant.”They may be afraid.

A dog that jumps may not be “disrespectful.”They may be overstimulated.

If we punish emotion-driven behaviour without addressing the emotion, we create suppression, not confidence.

And suppressed dogs eventually erupt.

How We Change It

We:

• Pair triggers with positive associations

• Build confidence through small wins

• Lower exposure intensity

• Create predictable routines

• Teach coping skills

Confidence is trained.

Resilience is trained.

We do not bully emotion out of a dog.

5. Environment

Environment is wildly underestimated.

Slippery floors.No boundaries.Chaotic children.Overstimulating dog parks.Lack of structure.

The environment shapes behaviour before training ever starts.

If the environment sets the dog up to fail, training won’t stick.

How We Change It

We:

• Manage access

• Use gates, leashes, crates strategically

• Control rehearsal of unwanted behaviour

• Set clear patterns and structure

Management is not failure.

It’s intelligent training.

When the environment supports the behaviour we want, learning accelerates.

6. Unmet Needs

This is where I get skeptical.

If a dog is:

• Under-exercised

• Mentally under-stimulated

• Sleep deprived

• Socially isolated

• Lacking enrichment

  
  

We cannot expect stable behaviour.

Unmet needs create chronic stress.

Chronic stress creates behaviour problems.

You can’t obedience-train your way out of unmet needs.

How We Change It

We build routines around:

• Species-appropriate enrichment

• Predictable exercise

• Social matching

• Rest cycles

• Problem-solving opportunities

  
  

A fulfilled dog is easier to train.

Always.

When We Change the System, Behaviour Changes

This is the philosophy behind everything we do at Carey Trains Me.

We don’t just train behaviours.

We adjust:

• The antecedents

• The reinforcement patterns

• The emotional associations

• The environment

• The arousal level

• The daily routine

  
  

Because behaviour is a symptom of a system.

Change the system → behaviour shifts.

Why We Take a Well-Rounded Approach

Quick fixes are seductive.

But here’s the truth:

If you correct behaviour without examining:

• Arousal

• Genetics

• Reinforcement history

• Emotional state

• Environment

• Needs

  
  

You may suppress it temporarily.

But it will resurface somewhere else.

Often louder.

Our goal is not a quiet dog.

It’s a confident, stable, thinking dog who can function in the real world.

Especially in city environments filled with:

• Traffic

• Strangers

• Dogs

• Noise

• Chaos

Confidence is built through layered training.

Not shortcuts.

The Bigger Picture

When a dog arrives for board and train, we’re not asking:

“How do we stop this?”

We’re asking:

• Why is this happening?

• What system is supporting it?

• What emotion is underneath?

• What skills are missing?

• What needs are unmet?

  
  

Then we build:

• Calm foundations

• Clear communication

• Structured reinforcement

• Real-life exposure

• Emotional resilience

  
  

That’s how we create confident city dogs.

Not through force.

Not through intimidation.

Through understanding, structure, and intentional training.

Behaviour is information.

When we listen to it, instead of fighting it, everything changes.

And when we change the system?

The dog changes with it.

Always.