Decoding Dog Behaviors: Why Does My Dog Act This Way? An Interview with Nick Franco | Pupford
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Sometimes we watch our dogs do certain things and are left wondering... why in the world are they doing that?!
The best part is, as we strive to better understand why our dogs do certain things we can better understand how to stop those unwanted behaviors.
Although you don't need a degree in dog psychology, taking steps to think about the why will help you improve your dog's behavior.
In this episode with Nick Franco, we talk about why our dogs act the way that they do. Plus, we discuss some real-life examples of how understanding the 'why' can help us improve that specific behavior!
In Nick’s words, he is an animal addict on a journey to learn everything he can about pet behavior, nutrition, and products so that he can spread the word and improve the lives of as many pets as he possibly can.
LET'S USE LEASH WALKING AS AN EXAMPLE... HOW CAN UNDERSTANDING "WHY" DOGS PULL ON A LEASH HELP US OVERCOME THAT CHALLENGING BEHAVIOR? (Starts around 4:40)
Not understanding the way leads to excuses and lack of responsibility
When we look at why dogs do certain things, it opens up our way of thinking to… ‘How can I make my dog want to do what I want them to do”
When we see the why, it helps us understand the best way to give them the ‘how’
WITHOUT NEEDING TO GET A PHD IN ANIMAL BEHAVIOR, WHAT CAN PUP PARENTS DO TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW THEIR DOGS LEARN AND WHY THEY ACT THE WAY THAT THEY DO? (Starts around 12:55)
Simply put, if something gets reinforced, that behavior will increase in frequency (and sometimes we do NOT want that)
If we want to decrease the frequency of a behavior, how will you ensure situations lead to less opportunities of it occurring and how do you interrupt the behavior to reduce the frequency
Often, we want to prevent the behavior from ever occurring while also practicing real-life scenarios BEFORE they happen
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR PUP PARENTS WHO STRUGGLE TO KEEP THE "WHY" IN MIND AS THEY TRAIN THEIR DOG? (Starts around 17:40)
Practice, practice, practice!
You have to practice and plan so you can practice the scenario BEFORE you are in a real-life challenge
Practicing leads you to better real-life results… education to application
Always be thinking… how can I set my dog up for success so that it is SO easy for my dog to do the right thing?
RECAP
Understanding why our dogs do certain things can help us better train our dogs and build stronger communication with them! Proper training,practice, positive reinforcement, and improving our communication with our dogs, will all assist in our efforts to better learn from and communicate with our dogs.
How do you think your communication is with your dog(s)? Let us know in the comments below!
Hey Carla! Thanks for the comment. It sounds like you are taking the right steps to help make your dog more comfortable with your husband. For a concern like this that is quite complex in nature, we would recommend reaching out to a positive-reinforcement based professional dog trainer in your area. You’ll likely need an in-person trainer (or virtual at least) to help visualize the problem and be able to provide a solution. Best of luck and stick with it!
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Laney01/26/2025
Hi there Sharon, I would say that it sounds as if you’re male pup is marking (if you get him neutered it can help with this). Talk to you’re vet and rule out if there are any underlying health issues, though it sounds to me that he is probably marking his territory or a dog may have marked in that room in the past. Use a natural urine cleaner that will really take out any pee scents that remain. If none of this helps, talk you’re local trusted dog trainer :)
Hope this helps you’re pup!!!
R
Rob01/26/2025
Hi do you have any suggestions for creating a relationship from a 15 week old puppy and a 4 year old cat? Our cats not a cuddly type and likes to be left to her own devices. Our puppy seems inquisitive but just launches herself towards the cat, which scares the cat off. How can we try and create a safe relationship? Thanks Rob
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Team Pupford01/26/2025
Thank you for reading/listening!
c
carla01/26/2025
We rescued a 1 1/2 dog she is such a good dog except when my husband is home alone with her.She will only come within 6 ft or a different floor. He is the main feeder and does give treats,walks her,when I am along.She won’t let him pick her up or leash her. We love her but it is been 7 months and still having this behavior. She is perfect for me and does all I ask her to do. Do not know how to make her comfortable with him. Please help.
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54 comments
Leave a CommentHey Carla! Thanks for the comment. It sounds like you are taking the right steps to help make your dog more comfortable with your husband. For a concern like this that is quite complex in nature, we would recommend reaching out to a positive-reinforcement based professional dog trainer in your area. You’ll likely need an in-person trainer (or virtual at least) to help visualize the problem and be able to provide a solution. Best of luck and stick with it!
Hi there Sharon, I would say that it sounds as if you’re male pup is marking (if you get him neutered it can help with this). Talk to you’re vet and rule out if there are any underlying health issues, though it sounds to me that he is probably marking his territory or a dog may have marked in that room in the past. Use a natural urine cleaner that will really take out any pee scents that remain. If none of this helps, talk you’re local trusted dog trainer :)
Hope this helps you’re pup!!!
Hi do you have any suggestions for creating a relationship from a 15 week old puppy and a 4 year old cat? Our cats not a cuddly type and likes to be left to her own devices. Our puppy seems inquisitive but just launches herself towards the cat, which scares the cat off. How can we try and create a safe relationship? Thanks Rob
Thank you for reading/listening!
We rescued a 1 1/2 dog she is such a good dog except when my husband is home alone with her.She will only come within 6 ft or a different floor. He is the main feeder and does give treats,walks her,when I am along.She won’t let him pick her up or leash her. We love her but it is been 7 months and still having this behavior. She is perfect for me and does all I ask her to do. Do not know how to make her comfortable with him. Please help.