Dog Management Three - Natural Behaviors, Real Boundaries, and Living Together

Dog Management Three - Natural Behaviors, Real Boundaries, and Living Together

Why Suppressed Instincts Become “Problems”

An Unencumbered Journal on Living With Dogs

Intro: When “Bad Behavior” Is Just Misunderstood Behavior

Most things people call “bad behavior” in dogs aren’t bad at all.

They’re natural …

Sniffing.

Licking.

Digging.

Pulling.

Barking.

Chasing.

None of these are problems by default.

Problems usually show up when instincts are:

• Suppressed

• Ignored

• Punished instead of understood

This episode isn’t about excusing behavior.

It’s about understanding what you’re actually dealing with.

Because you can’t manage what you don’t understand.

Dogs Live by Instinct — Whether You Like It or Not

Dogs don’t stop being dogs because we live in houses, drive cars, or wear shoes.

Instinct doesn’t disappear.

It just looks for an outlet.

If you don’t allow:

• Sniffing

• Exploring

• Movement

• Play

Those instincts don’t vanish — they re-route.

That’s when people see:

• Anxiety

• Destruction

• Lunging

• Reactivity

• “Aggression”

Not because the dog is broken — but because it’s frustrated.

Instincts Exist on a Scale

I look at natural behaviors on a spectrum.

On one end:

• Exploring

• Wandering

• Sniffing

• Licking

• Play

On the other:

• Lunging

• Snapping

• Biting

• Running off

If a dog gets to work out enough of the lighter instincts, it usually doesn’t seek the heavier ones.

When you suppress everything, the pressure builds.

That’s not a dog problem.

That’s physics.

Why I Allow Things Most People Don’t

I allow my dog to:

• Sniff

• Lick

• Explore

• Play rough (within limits)

• Express excitement

Not endlessly.

Not uncontrollably.

But intentionally.

Because when instincts are acknowledged, boundaries are easier to respect.

Suppress everything, and you end up fighting your dog’s nature all day long.

Boundaries Are Still Necessary

Letting instincts exist doesn’t mean chaos.

Boundaries matter.

The difference is how boundaries are established.

Not through constant correction.

Not through fear.

Not through domination.

But through:

• Timing

• Consistency

• Fairness

• Presence

My dog knows what isn’t acceptable — because I show her early, clearly, and calmly.

Boundaries aren’t punishment.

They’re information.

The Mislabeling of “Aggression”

True aggression exists.

But it’s far rarer than people think.

Most dogs labeled “aggressive” are:

• Overstimulated

• Under-exercised

• Misread

• Forced into social situations they don’t want

Not every dog likes every dog.

Not every dog likes every person.

That’s normal.

Forcing social interaction doesn’t make a dog social — it makes it defensive.

Why Dog Parks Often Create Problems

Dog parks reveal human behavior more than dog behavior.

People socialize.

They stop paying attention.

They assume “dogs will work it out.”

Meanwhile:

• Responsible handlers correct their dogs

• Distracted owners don’t

• The attentive dogs get corrected more than the careless ones

That imbalance creates confusion and frustration.

I stay with my dog.

Always.

Because responsibility doesn’t end once the gate closes.

Living in the Real World With Your Dog

I don’t keep my dog hidden from life.

She goes places.

She experiences noise.

Movement.

People.

Change.

Sheltering dogs from reality doesn’t protect them — it weakens them.

Dogs adapt through exposure, not avoidance.

The world isn’t quiet, polite, or predictable.

Your dog shouldn’t be expected to live in a bubble.

Food, Tools, and Responsibility

Food matters.

Leashes matter.

Harnesses matter.

Not because they control dogs — but because they support communication.

I don’t rely on tools to replace relationship.

Tools assist connection.

They don’t substitute for it.

And responsibility always comes first:

• Leash near streets

• Awareness around people

• Reading situations before reacting

Freedom without responsibility isn’t freedom.

It’s negligence.

Why My Dog Isn’t “Out of Control”

People notice that my dog isn’t frantic, reactive, or chaotic.

That’s not because she lacks instincts.

It’s because her instincts are acknowledged, not suppressed.

She knows:

• When she’s free

• When she’s expected to focus

• When she needs to stay close

• When she can explore

That clarity creates calm.

Closing: Living Together, Not Managing Each Other

I don’t see my dog as something to manage.

I see her as a teammate.

She brings awareness I don’t have.

I bring structure she needs.

That’s the exchange.

This isn’t about perfect behavior.

It’s about shared understanding.

And that’s why she listens.

That’s why she stays close.

That’s why people notice.

Series Closing Note

These three episodes aren’t a system.

They’re a journal.

This is how I live with my dog.

This is what works for us.

This is why she behaves the way she does.

If it resonates, take what fits.

If it doesn’t, leave it.

That’s Unencumbered.