Motivated to Change

It’s a question every dog owner has asked at some point: why does my dog do [that thing]? With many behavior issues, getting to the heart of “why” can get us on the right path to better dog behavior.

What is Motivation?

Motivation as what inspires a dog to behave a certain way. By understanding your dog’s motivation, you can change their behavior.

Consequences

Much of our dogs’ behavior is driven by consequences. In other words, what happens because they do a behavior? Dogs can use their behavior to get something they want (like food) or to escape something unpleasant (like the vacuum). Most importantly, your dog decides whether a particular consequence is worth seeking or avoiding. If they don’t care about something, it won’t motivate them.  

Emotions​

Emotionally-based motivations, like escaping something the dog thinks is scary, are very important to consider. Fear and anxiety can be strong motivators for a dog’s behavior and often your dog can’t control their emotions in the same way that they control their behavior. For example, they can’t choose to not be afraid like they can choose to work for or ignore a treat. But emotional motivation can change too; with careful training, dogs can learn to feel safe around things that previously scared them.

 

Identifying Motivation

If your dog is doing something you would like to change, try the “why” game. Like a small child, each time you come up with an answer as to why your dog is doing a particular behavior, ask “why” again. Instead of stopping when you think “my dog is jealous,” keep going until you’ve identified a basic motivation that you can either use or work to change. For example: “Why is my dog jealous?” “Because they aren’t getting as much playtime.” Play is a more basic motivator than jealousy, 

Some common motivators are: 

Food
​Every dog needs to eat so food is one of the “primary” motivators - they don’t need to learn to want it. It is also one of the easiest for us to use to change behaviors. 

Play

Many dogs love toys and play. Whether it’s chasing a ball, tugging a rope, or playing with other dogs, play feels good. A dog’s version of play might not always match ours, such as mouthing on our hands or grabbing our clothes.

Attention

Dogs typically enjoy attention from their favorite people. They may seek out petting or cuddles as well. It’s important to note that dogs don’t enjoy every type of attention or petting in the same way so you will need to pay attention to what your dog enjoys. 

"Doggie" Things

Sometimes a dog wants to be a dog! Digging, chasing, chewing, and sniffing are all normal dog behaviors that most dogs just love doing.

Safety and Security

All beings, dogs included, need to feel safe. Dogs that are stressed or fearful can display a large number of behaviors related to needing to feel safe and escape perceived threats.

Other Motivators
This is only a partial list and other motivators will vary from dog to dog. Many motivators, like getting access to a certain area, are learned based on a dog's experiences. 

Notice that none of these motivators are personality traits like “stubborn” or “dominant.” When you stop at those labels, instead of looking closer for a more basic motivation, you may not identify a motivation that you can use to change the behavior. The general idea of dominance doesn’t tell us much about how to train our dogs. Understanding their desire for food, play, attention, or other things gives us a path forward.

 

Using Motivation to Change Behavior

Once you understand why your dog is behaving a certain way, you can use that information to improve their behavior. 

Meet Their Needs    

Make sure your dog is getting what they need, like appropriate chewing options and exercise. Many problem behaviors can be solved simply by providing the things your dog naturally needs.

For example, if your dog loves to dig, give them an area where they can do that. If your dog doesn’t have an outlet for their behavior, they will continue to look for opportunities to do it, probably in ways you don’t like. 

Build Security and Lower Stress

Stress and fear need to be addressed. Protect your dog from unnecessary stress (like leash greetings with rude dogs) and help them build positive associations to things that scary them using food. Provide mental stimulation and games that let them play and explore at their comfort level. Don’t use punishment or force interactions on them. 

Add a Reward

Now that you know what motivates your dog, use this to reward any behavior you want. Food and treats are a great way to encourage a dog to repeat desirable behaviors. Also, don’t ignore good behavior, make sure to tell your dog!

Remove the Reward​If your dog’s problem behavior is their attempt to get something they want, you can decrease the behavior by making sure they don’t get their reward. For example, ignoring demanding barking or putting away fo

Behavior never just comes out of the blue. Your dog's reasons may be hidden at first but it is worth trying to figure out the “why” in order to live a happier life together!

This material was written in collaboration with dog behavior consultant Jessica Char.
Learn more at   www.CanineEngineering.com