If we decide to have a dog in our lives (or any other animal for that matter), we should provide them with opportunities for mental and physical stimulation. After all, the domestication process started long ago and it stemmed from a shared purpose: hunting to survive. In most modern societies, often this purpose has vanished and dogs often become keys for the wrong lock. Offering dogs stimulation, but also choice can help build their confidence and promote their overall well-being.

Dogs, like all animal, have a natural drive to explore, learn, and interact with their environment. Providing them with opportunities to do so can help prevent boredom and destructive behavior. It can also help prevent fear and anxiety, enabling them to find and use strategies to cope with new situations and challenges.

Social contact with other dogs (if they enjoy it) and people can help dogs develop their social skills and learn appropriate behaviour. This can be especially important for dogs who may be fearful or over-reactive in certain situations.

In recent years, dogs have sometimes become popular accessories, resulting in their natural needs being overlooked, their well-being and natural tendencies compromised.

Breeds are often chosen based solely on appearance or perceived social status, without consideration for the dog's individual needs and temperament. This can lead to dogs being placed in homes that are not suitable, causing frustration for both humans and dogs. Of course, there are also a lot of people who choose their dog as a companion, with the intention of creating a loving bond. Even in these cases things can develop in ways that do not match our expectations. These are the situations where we can learn the most and grow as individuals, where we should turn obstacles into opportunities. Instead of fixing the dog to suit our needs, we can learn to see behaviours as the expressions of emotions stemming from our and the dog’s perception of reality through the nervous system. Instead of focusing on changing the behaviour, we look at addressing the nervous system, at creating co-regulation through self-regulation, at making the dog feel safe, at understanding his biological needs and his perception of the world around him. This is particularly important in the case of over-reactive dogs who tend to see the world through a trigger lens. The dog’s reactivity can turn on our own, and the cycle viciously continues. So, by working on the dog’s neuroception and cognitive bias, we can eventually change the unwanted behaviour.

It is important to remember that dogs are living creatures with specific needs and behaviours, and that it is our responsibility as pet owners to provide for those needs. Dogs should be allowed to engage in normal canine behaviours. Some unwanted behaviours are perfectly normal and are part of the dog's DNA. We cannot and should not change them.

Some old-fashioned dog training techniques have focused on suppressing or punishing natural dog behaviours, such as growling, barking, chewing, and digging, rather than addressing the underlying needs of these behaviours. This approach can lead to the suppression of important communication signals and natural coping mechanisms that dogs use to communicate and cope with stress.

For example, growling is a natural way for a dog to communicate that he is uncomfortable or feels threatened, and suppressing this behavior can result in the dog biting without warning. Similarly, barking can be a way for a dog to express excitement or alertness, and punishing this behavior can lead to increased anxiety and fear.

Chewing and digging are also natural behaviors for dogs, and can be a result of boredom or anxiety. Instead of punishing these behaviours, it is important to provide dogs with appropriate outlets for them, such as chew toys and digging areas.

It is important to respect a dog's natural behaviours and needs, and to use positive reinforcement coaching techniques that focus on teaching appropriate behaviours and addressing the underlying causes of unwanted behaviours. This approach can help dogs feel more comfortable and confident, leading to a happier and healthier relationship between dogs and their owners.