why your dog’s behaviour might not be about training at all.

We often expect dogs to just get on with it — to walk nicely, stay calm, listen when we ask, and cope with whatever life throws at them. But dogs, like people, have limits. When they reach those limits, they struggle — not because they’re being “naughty,” but because they’re overwhelmed.

The Stress Bucket: A Simple Way to Understand What’s Going On

Imagine your dog has a bucket inside them that collects stress. Every little thing they experience pours into that bucket — both the exciting stuff and the stuff they find hard. Meeting new people, hearing loud noises, seeing other dogs, visiting new places - even fun things like playing fetch or going to a training class can fill the bucket.

When the bucket fills up too much, your dog can’t manage anymore. That’s when you might see behaviours like:

• Barking or lunging

• Struggling to settle at home

• Jumping up or pulling on the lead

• Seeming distracted or not listening

• Becoming grumpy or irritable

• Hiding or avoiding contact

These behaviours aren’t your dog being difficult – they are a sign your dog is trying to cope with too much.

It’s Not a Training Problem

If your dog usually knows how to behave but suddenly can’t, it’s rarely about not being trained enough. It’s more likely that their bucket is full. In that state, your dog simply can’t take in information or respond well - not because they won’t, but because they can’t.

Trying to “fix” that behaviour with more training is a bit like trying to stop a boiling kettle by shouting at it - it doesn’t work and it doesn’t deal with the reason it’s boiling over in the first place.

What’s Filling Your Dog’s Bucket?

Several things can contribute to your dog’s stress levels, and often they stack up together:

• Daily Life Stress: This includes anything your dog finds exciting, challenging, or overstimulating - such as visitors, unfamiliar dogs, car journeys, busy walks, household noise or changes in routine.

• Pain or Discomfort: Dogs are experts at hiding pain! It still affects their behaviour. Ongoing pain (even if it hasn’t been diagnosed) adds a constant strain to your dog’s system, making everything harder to cope with.

• Itch and Skin Issues: Allergies, parasites, and food sensitivities can cause ongoing itchiness and irritation. That low-level discomfort adds up and it’s incredibly stressful to live with.

When several of these are happening at once, even in small amounts, the bucket can fill up very fast.

Why This Matters

Your dog’s behaviour today might be influenced by things that happened yesterday, last week, or even longer ago. A busy day, an itchy night, or a twinge of pain can affect how they feel and respond now. And when stress, pain, or discomfort go on for too long, it can take days for the bucket to start emptying on its own, if it does at all.

Left unmanaged, this kind of stress doesn’t just affect your dog’s mood. It can impact their overall health, behaviour, and even their lifespan.

What Can You Do?

Thankfully, there are simple, supportive ways to help your dog’s bucket stay manageable — giving them space to rest, feel safe and properly relax. That’s where we come in - by understanding what’s contributing to your dog’s stress, we can reduce the load, support their wellbeing and set them up for success.

Would you like support with your dog’s behaviour? Please get in touch!