When Something Goes Wrong, Fix the Process — Not the Dog
In many workplaces, there’s a common mistake managers make when something goes wrong.
When the pressure’s on and things fall apart, the instinct is often to look for who messed up — and then try to fix that person.
But good leadership understands something different:
When outcomes aren’t working, the problem is rarely the person. It’s usually the process.
The systems, expectations, environment, workload, communication, and pressure all play a role.
And if you don’t address those, blaming the individual won’t actually solve anything — it just creates fear, frustration, and disengagement.
The exact same logic applies to dog ownership and training.
Unwanted Behaviour Is Feedback — Not Defiance
When a dog reacts, barks, lunges, shuts down, pulls, freezes, growls, or loses their ability to cope, the most common response is:
“They shouldn’t be doing this.”
“They know better.”
“They’re being stubborn.”
“They’re trying to get away with it.”
But just like in the workplace, this mindset focuses on the individual instead of the system.
Dogs don’t misbehave in a vacuum.
Unwanted behaviour is not a character flaw.
It’s not a moral failing.
And it’s rarely about “disobedience.”
It’s information.
Behaviour Is a Symptom, Not the Root Cause
When we see reactivity, for example, it’s easy to focus on the moment it explodes:
barking
lunging
growling
freezing
spinning
losing control
But that moment is the end of a process, not the beginning.
If we only try to stop the behaviour itself — through correction, punishment, or suppression — we haven’t actually fixed anything. We’ve just tried to silence the symptom.
And symptoms come back.
Often louder.
Often messier.
Often in new and more confusing ways.
What Does “Fix the Process” Look Like With Dogs?
Instead of asking:
❌ “How do I stop this behaviour?”
We need to ask:
✔ “What led us here?”
✔ “What state was my dog in before this happened?”
✔ “What pressures are stacking up?”
✔ “What skills are missing?”
✔ “What environments are too much right now?”
Because behaviour is always influenced by:
emotional state
stress load
learning history
environment
expectations placed on the dog
recovery (or lack of it)
When we ignore those and just correct the dog, we’re essentially saying:
“The system is fine — you’re the problem.”
That’s not fair. And it’s not effective.
Why “Fixing the Dog” Makes Things Worse
When we focus on punishment or constant correction:
Dogs become more stressed, not calmer
Trust erodes
Communication breaks down
The dog becomes hyper-vigilant or shut down
The behaviour often resurfaces in a different form
Just like an employee who’s blamed instead of supported, the dog doesn’t learn how to do better — they learn how to avoid getting caught, or they stop trying altogether.
Neither outcome leads to real improvement.
Real Change Comes From Ownership, Not Blame
When unwanted behaviour shows up, the most powerful shift you can make is this:
“What do I need to change around this behaviour so my dog can succeed?”
That might mean:
lowering expectations temporarily
changing the environment
creating more distance or space
improving handling skills
rebuilding emotional regulation
increasing rest and recovery
adjusting routines
rethinking exposure
teaching alternative behaviours
offering clearer guidance and predictability
This isn’t being permissive.
You’re still setting boundaries.
You’re still intervening when needed.
But you’re doing it without blaming the dog for struggling.
Behaviour Improves When the System Improves
Dogs don’t become calmer because we demand it.
They become calmer when their world makes sense.
They don’t gain confidence through pressure.
They gain it through safety, clarity, and consistency.
And just like in any healthy workplace, when the system supports the individual, performance improves naturally.
The Takeaway
If your dog is showing unwanted behaviour — especially reactivity — resist the urge to “fix” them.
Pause.
Zoom out.
Look at the process.
Because behaviour is rarely the problem. It’s the messenger.
And when we listen to the message instead of punishing the messenger, real change becomes possible.
Inside Canine Caregivers, we teach you the realities and practicalities of understanding dog behaviour as well as give you practical ways to teach and resolve unwanted behaviours.
If you’re in Sydney and want personalised guidance, I’d love to support you and your dog through one-on-one sessions.
👉 Join Canine Caregivers
📞 Or get in touch for 1:1 help in Sydney
— Ian
Bondi Behaviourist
“A healthy dog is a happy dog and a happy dog is great to live with”.
