Dogs are far more complex than many people give them credit for, and a surprising number of owners compare their pet’s behavior to that of a misbehaving child. When a dog ignores a command or bolts toward the door, it can feel personal, like the animal is deliberately pushing buttons. However, canine behavior experts point out that this interpretation misses the mark entirely, because dogs operate on a very different logic than humans do. Unlike people who consciously bend rules to see how others react, dogs learn exclusively through the consequences of their actions.
Hayley Kenner, a New York-based dog trainer and co-owner of Revival Dog Training, spoke to Newsweek about this widespread misunderstanding. “They don’t check if they can get away with something they know is forbidden,” she explained. “Dogs are actually opportunists. They will do what has paid off for them in the past, even if it only paid off once. They watch us all day and have learned to read us and predict our moves. It’s up to us to start predicting theirs.” Kenner identified five specific situations where owners regularly misread their dog’s motivations, and understanding the real reason behind each behavior can make training calmer and far more effective.
The first behavior is darting through doorways. When a dog bolts out the front door the moment it opens, most owners assume their pet is trying to escape or assert dominance. Kenner says the real driver is simply excitement and impatience, and if the dog still gets to go on a walk after the bolt, it quickly learns that rushing through the door is just part of the routine. Practicing calm waiting while the door is held open, and only proceeding once the dog has settled down, teaches a much more composed way of requesting to go outside.
Counter surfing is the second commonly misread behavior. A dog jumping up to check out the kitchen counter isn’t acting out of spite toward its owner; it’s seizing a highly rewarding opportunity. Kenner’s advice is direct: “Completely remove that opportunity and train yourself not to leave food on the counter when you’re not in the room. Your dog will eventually learn there’s no food on the counter and will stop looking for it there.” Removing the reward source is far more effective than repeated corrections.
Leash pulling is another behavior that frustrates many owners who interpret it as stubbornness. Kenner reminds us that “dogs naturally walk faster than us, and leashes are inherently unnatural,” adding that dogs have an opposition reflex that causes them to pull harder the moment they feel resistance. When pulling results in forward movement, the behavior gets reinforced over and over. Stopping the moment tension appears on the leash and waiting for the dog to refocus before continuing can gradually reshape this habit, and slowing down the pace of the walk can also reduce overall excitement.
The classic keep-away game, where a dog grabs a sock and darts around the house while the owner gives chase, is the fourth misunderstood behavior. Kenner explains that from the dog’s point of view, all the running and yelling is simply play. “While we speak to them and try to take the sock, all they hear is human barking. For them, that means it’s time to play!” she said. Her recommendation is to turn this situation into a training opportunity by teaching the “Drop it” command through exchanges rather than grabbing, which also prevents resource guarding and helps the dog understand that socks are not toys.
The fifth behavior covers whining, begging, and barking for attention, which Kenner describes as a textbook example of the rule “if it works once, it works forever.” Even negative reactions from owners, like scolding or pushing the dog away, can inadvertently reinforce the behavior because the dog still received attention. “This can be hard and requires a lot of patience,” Kenner noted, stressing that the key is to fully ignore the noise and reward calm or quiet behavior the instant it appears. Over time, dogs figure out that stillness and politeness are what actually earn them what they want.
Kenner’s overall conclusion is that an owner’s ability to anticipate situations is the single most powerful tool in dog training. By recognizing the moments when a dog is likely to seize an opportunity and removing that opportunity beforehand, owners set their dogs up for success. When calm and appropriate behavior reliably leads to good outcomes, dogs will naturally choose it more often, and that consistency also builds a deeper level of communication and trust between a dog and its person.
It is worth knowing that modern dog training is largely grounded in the science of operant conditioning, a learning framework established through the research of B.F. Skinner. The core idea is that behaviors followed by rewarding consequences tend to be repeated, while behaviors that produce no result or a negative outcome tend to fade. Positive reinforcement training, which is the approach Kenner advocates, focuses on rewarding desirable behaviors rather than punishing unwanted ones. This method has been endorsed by major veterinary and animal welfare organizations, including the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, because it has been shown to produce more reliable, long-lasting results and a stronger bond between dog and handler. Leash reactivity and doorway rushing, two of the behaviors Kenner discusses, are among the most commonly reported issues by dog owners across the United States, which makes understanding their root causes especially valuable for anyone raising a dog.
If you’ve ever misread one of these behaviors or found a training tip that worked wonders for your dog, share your experience in the comments.
