Fixing Behavioral Problems Without Spending a Dime

What is agency? Agency refers to giving your dog opportunities to make decisions for themselves or have control over certain aspects of their life. There are so many benefits to giving your dog agency such as improvement in behavior, fostering independence, reducing fear and anxiety, improving problem solving, better social skills, and so much more. How can we provide these opportunities? When it comes to social interactions let your dog choose who they want to go up to or if they even want to greet anyone at all. Not all dogs love people and that’s normal. Daily walks are a perfect time to give your dog a choice. If your dog would rather sniff, let them. A dog takes in the world via their nose. If your dog runs away from a harness but likes a collar, use the collar. 

Giving your dog a say in their daily life provides room for growth. There’s no need to micromanage your pets. I encourage you to pay attention to what your dog truly enjoys and do more of it. Our dogs love us and we know you love your dog. This is an easy way to make their days a little brighter!

A perfect example is our smallest dog Bailey. We started trimming his nails at home this past year. We have a file, a dremel, a scratchboard, and a normal nail cutter. We tried all of them to see which was easier for him to handle and ended on the dremel. This is such a small way we can provide agency for them. Bailey obviously can’t tell me which one he likes but I can be aware and pay attention to help him. 

Agency is crucial for dogs because it significantly impacts their overall well-being and behavior. Agency enriches a dog’s life, allowing them to thrive both mentally and physically. It helps create a happier, more balanced dog.