When Instincts Speak Louder: Why Dogs Need More Than Just Training

When Instincts Speak Louder: Why Dogs Need More Than Just Training

Imagine hunger that gnaws ten times stronger. Stress that floods your body like a storm. A need to move, to mate, to chew — amplified beyond what we, as humans, could bear. For dogs, instincts are not background noise. They are the main soundtrack of life.

Instincts don’t ask — they command

Dogs don’t “decide” to chase a squirrel or mount a pillow. Their brain is wired for survival and reproduction. What for us looks like misbehaviour is, for them, a non-negotiable drive. And when these drives have no outlet, frustration builds — leading to stress, anxiety, even health issues.

Why empathy matters

If we forget this, we risk punishing a dog for being what it is: an animal. Empathy starts with a mental shift — instead of “bad dog,” we ask: What instinct is speaking right now? That simple question changes everything. It allows us to see not a problem to be suppressed, but a natural force to be guided.

Outlets, not obstacles

When instincts are channelled — through play, exercise, or well-designed tools — they transform. Stress turns into relief. Restlessness into calm. And what’s more: the bond between human and dog deepens, because the dog feels understood, not judged.

Final thoughts

Next time your dog “acts out,” pause. Imagine your own instincts amplified until they can’t be ignored. Would you want someone to scold you — or to help you find release? That’s the empathy our dogs need. And it’s the empathy we owe them.

👉 This is also the philosophy behind Fiona: not to suppress instincts, but to guide them safely. Learn more about Fiona