When a dog growls, barks, or avoids certain people or situations, many people rush to stop the behavior immediately. While it’s understandable to want a quiet, calm, and obedient dog, focusing solely on stopping the behavior without understanding why it’s happening can cause more harm than good.
Behavior Is Communication
Dogs don’t speak our language, but they’re constantly communicating. A bark may be a request for space. A growl may be a warning that a dog is uncomfortable or fearful. These expressions are not “bad behaviors”—they are valuable information about a dog’s emotional state.
When we suppress these behaviors (through punishment, force, or even well-meaning but poorly timed training), we’re not solving the problem—we’re just silencing the alarm.
The Dangers of Suppression
Suppressing a behavior without addressing the underlying emotion is like putting tape over a smoke alarm instead of putting out the fire. It may seem like things are better in the moment, but the real issue is still there—often growing beneath the surface.
A dog that has learned not to growl may look calm, but may still feel stressed, scared, or threatened. And without the warning signs, a bite may come “out of nowhere.” Suppression increases the risk of reactivity and aggression because it removes the early communication signals.
What to Do Instead
Instead of asking, “How do I stop this behavior?” a better question is:
“Why is my dog doing this, and how can I help them feel better?”
Here’s a better approach:
- Observe the context of the behavior. What triggers it? What does your dog seem to be feeling?
- Validate your dog’s emotions. Fear, frustration, and stress are real experiences for dogs.
- Support your dog by teaching alternative behaviors and building positive associations with challenging situations.
- Train proactively, using methods rooted in compassion, communication, and science—not intimidation or correction.
Emotions Drive Behavior
At the core of every behavior is an emotion. Fear, excitement, anxiety, frustration—all of these drive the way a dog responds to their environment. When we address the emotions rather than just the behavior, we build trust and lasting behavioral change.
Dogs don’t need to be silenced—they need to be heard, understood, and supported.