‘There are no bad dogs, only bad owners’ is a phrase I encounter all too frequently. It’s perfectly well-meaning, but lacks nuance and serves to drive a culture of owner-blaming, which does little to actually resolve problematic behaviours when they arise. In this blog, I am going to break down this phrase and discuss the reality surrounding ‘bad’ dogs and ‘bad’ owners.
‘There are no bad dogs.’ I agree with this statement. In a dog’s world, the concepts of good behaviour and bad behaviour do not feature. Yes, a dog can learn not to do something if we punish them for doing it, but this does not mean that they understand that the behaviour is ‘bad’. More likely, our dog has learnt that performing that behaviour results in an unpleasant stimulus, and this is what results in a reduction in that behaviour. Similarly, when we reward our dogs for doing something we desire, the dog is not learning that the behaviour is ‘good’ – they are simply learning that it is associated with reward, and therefore will repeat it in future. It is all too easy to apply human concepts to our dogs, but we must remember that cognitively, our two species are not the same.
If a dog is repeatedly performing an undesirable behaviour, this does not make them a ‘bad’ dog. They may be utilising a behaviour that has previously produced rewarding consequences for them, they may be in a state of distress, or they may just be carrying out perfectly natural behaviour that we happen to find inappropriate.
In a similar vein, the responsibility for a dog’s undesirable behaviour does not fall solely on the owner. While pet guardians do play a heavy role in shaping their animals’ behaviour, there are other factors which can contribute. For example, a dog’s genetics and early learning have a significant influence on their behaviour later in life. A genetic predisposition towards fearfulness or anxiety can increase the likelihood of reactive or aggressive responses in situations where the dog perceives a threat, and an under-stimulating early learning environment can result in decreased confidence.
If we were to be particularly pedantic, we could argue that the fault here lies with the breeder of the dog, since it is their responsibility to select dogs that are physically and behaviourally sound, and to provide a suitable environment in the first few weeks, so as to ensure the confidence and success of the puppies they are producing. However, when people see reactive dogs and seek to criticise the owner, they are often not thinking of the breeder, but of the person who is holding the other end of the lead in that moment.
Additionally, a person can get everything right with a puppy, setting them up for success in every way possible with early training and confidence building, yet still find themselves dealing with behavioural problems. No matter how stringent a breeding protocol is, there will always be natural variation within a litter, and some individuals will demonstrate greater propensity towards certain emotions and behaviours than others. You could take two dogs from the same litter and raise them in identical manners, yet end up with adult dogs who are like chalk and cheese.
Once a puppy arrives home, the experiences they have continue to shape their behaviour as they develop. Unexpected events can unfortunately trigger behavioural issues, no matter how careful the owner is – many guardians of reactive dogs will testify as to how damaging a single encounter with an uncontrolled off-lead dog can be, although it can take less than this to create a problem. Pain and discomfort can have a severe impact on a dog’s behaviour, and events that we may consider to be relatively insignificant, can cause massive changes in a dog’s perception of the world around them due to the resultant fear and frustration. None of these events are the fault of that dog’s guardian, yet they are the ones who often receive the blame for their dog’s struggles. The causes of challenging behaviour are far more nuanced than merely labelling an owner ‘good’ or ‘bad’, and it does both human and canine a disservice to take such a simplistic view of the matter.
We cannot disregard the dog owners who have not had their four-legged friends since they were puppies, either. It is often assumed that rescue dogs’ behaviour problems arose due to previous abuse or neglect, but this may not be the case. Again, these issues may have been caused by genetics, early learning, or unexpected circumstances.
Sometimes, there is nobody to blame for a dog’s behaviour, and that is something we need to learn to accept. Laying the blame on the owner will not help to rectify the problems; if anything, it creates guardians who feel they are incapable of working with their dog. I frequently meet people who have been told that their dog’s struggles are all their fault, and this trend of owner-blaming is not helping, but instead damaging relationships and in a lot of cases, making an unpleasant situation feel even worse for the humans involved.
If you are struggling with your dog’s behaviour, and have been made to feel that it is your fault, there is support out there. A good behaviourist should not judge or blame you, and will be able to give you the information you need to start moving forward.