Back to knowledge

Behaviour

Feelings are always learned too

Your dog beams when you reach for the lead, but trembles on the way to the vet? That's learned. How feelings get linked to experiences.

Your dog doesn't just learn commands and tricks. They always learn feelings along the way, too. If they jump up happily as soon as you pick up the lead, they've learned: lead means walk. In just the same way, they can learn that a certain place means fear. This happens all by itself, without anyone wanting it to.

How these links are made

When two things keep happening together, your dog connects them in their head. The lead announces the walk – so they're already happy just seeing the lead. After a really bad experience, such a link can even form in an instant; one single time is enough.

Register for free to read the whole article

Create your free DOGSY account and read the full article – plus the whole DOGSY app all about dogs.

Register for free

Already with us? Log in

More articles

Behaviour

Puppy licence: does it apply with people too?

The «puppy licence» is something people talk about between dogs – what the idea means for contact with people, and what it does not mean in law.

Behaviour

The first meeting: two people, two dogs

Two people, two dogs, one first meeting: with the right place and a little patience, you're off to a good start. And if in doubt, you simply stop.

Behaviour

Reading your dog's mouth

Loosely open or tightly shut? Your dog's mouth alone can tell you how they're feeling. Here's how to look properly.

Behaviour

Take warning signs seriously before things boil over

Before a dog snaps or bites, he almost always warns you, quietly at first, then more clearly. Here's how to spot the signs early enough.

Behaviour

Calming signals: your dog's quiet messages

Licking their nose, turning their head away, yawning: with quiet signals like these, your dog tells you something is getting too much. Here's how to spot them.

Behaviour

Reading your dog's ears

Pricked forward, turned to the side or pinned right back: your dog's ears show you how they're feeling. Here's how to read them.

This article is no substitute for veterinary advice. Source: DOGSY editorial team.