THE IMPORTANCE OF GIVING OUR DOGS CHOICES(Agency)

Most of us say we want a “well-behaved” dog.

What we usually mean is a dog who can cope with the world we live in. A dog who doesn’t jump all over guests, who can manage their excitement around other dogs, who tolerates grooming, and who settles calmly when we go to the pub!.

But……

Well-behaved dogs aren’t created by us constantly telling them what to do.
They’re created by giving them opportunities to learn how to make good decisions for themselves.

That’s where agency comes in.

What Do We Mean by Agency?

Agency simply means having choice.

When we talk about agency in dogs, we mean giving them safe opportunities to influence what happens to them and around them.

It’s the difference between:

Doing things to our dogs
And
Doing things with our dogs

This might show up in everyday life as:

• Grooming and nail care
  • Not jumping up on visitors
  • Walking nicely on a lead
  • Settling calmly in the house

Agency is not about letting dogs “do whatever they want.”
It’s about helping them learn how to make good choices when it’s safe to do so.

Why Choices Matter

When dogs have appropriate choices in their lives, something powerful happens:

• Confidence grows
  • Frustration reduces
  • Resilience builds
  • Emotional regulation improves

Dogs who regularly get to make safe decisions are better equipped to cope when life doesn’t go their way.

And life won’t always go their way.

The long-term impact of giving dogs choices is often fewer behaviour struggles down the line, because they’ve learned how to think, adapt and cope — rather than simply wait to be told what to do.

A Simple Analogy

Imagine you have a routine in your household.

After every meal, your teenage child empties the dishwasher. It’s just what happens. It’s expected. They know the drill.

Now imagine that for the next three months, after every single meal, you say:

“Empty the dishwasher.”
“Don’t forget the dishwasher.”
“Have you done the dishwasher yet?”

Even though they already know it’s their job.

Over time, one of two things is likely to happen:

• They become irritated and resistant
  • Or they stop taking ownership and wait to be prompted every time

In other words, they either push back… or they stop thinking for themselves.

Dogs are not teenagers — but the learning principle is similar.

If we constantly cue, prompt, repeat, manage and instruct, our dogs don’t get the opportunity to develop independence in decision-making.

They learn to wait for us.

What We’re Aiming For Instead

Rather than constantly asking our dogs to behave well, we want to:

Create routines
Set up clear expectations
Allow repetition
And step back when they understand

We want them to ‘think’:

“This is what works here.”

Not:

“I’ll wait until I’m told.”

This isn’t about removing guidance.
It’s about gradually reducing how much we micromanage once understanding is there.

Does This Involve Food and Rewards?

Agency is not about constantly using food.
It’s not about bribing or distracting.

It’s about structure and opportunity.

It’s about allowing your dog to:

• Move away if they’re unsure
  • Choose to settle
  • Choose to disengage
  • Participate in handling rather than being restrained

Of course, reinforcement is part of learning — but the deeper goal is helping dogs develop internal confidence and decision-making skills.

Why This Matters Long-Term

Dogs and puppies who never get to make decisions can struggle later with:

• Frustration
  • Reactivity
  • Over-dependence on the handler
  • Anxiety when things feel unpredictable

Dogs who have been given appropriate agency tend to:

Recover more quickly from stress
• Show more emotional flexibility
• Handle change better
• Rely less on constant instruction

In short, giving dogs safe choices now builds the kind of dog you want to live with in five years’ time.

Final Thought

Our role isn’t to control every move our dogs make.

It’s to guide them, teach them, and then trust them — where it’s safe to do so.

Because resilient dogs aren’t built through constant instruction.

They’re built through thoughtful opportunity.