Most Dogs Labelled “Bad” Are Simply Misunderstood 🐾

When dogs act out, it’s often instinct, not disobedience. Learn how to understand their needs and channel their behaviour in positive ways.

Imagine This… 🎨

Imagine if your child was a talented artist.

But you never understood or encouraged that gift. You never gave them a sketch pad or paints, and there were no art classes at school.

What would happen if that creative drive was suppressed? Sooner or later, it would find a way out. Maybe they’d start scribbling on the walls at home or spraying graffiti in the local neighbourhood — because drawing and painting is what they were born to do.

You could punish them, or bribe them to stop. But the urge would always return, because it’s in their nature.

Does that make them bad — or simply misunderstood?

The Same Is True for Dogs 🐾

It might seem obvious when you think about it this way. But this is exactly what happens to many working breed dogs kept as pets.

Dogs like collies and spaniels were bred for a purpose: to herd, to flush, to chase, to work alongside humans. When those instincts aren’t understood or given a proper outlet, the dog will find a job for itself.

And the jobs they invent are rarely good ones.

The collie that fixates on bikes isn’t naughty — it’s hyper-sensitive to movement and desperate to chase.
The spaniel that tears around uncontrollably isn’t wild — it’s looking for something to flush or retrieve.

Without an outlet, these dogs go “self-employed” — and that’s when problems start.

Why So Many End Up in Rescue 🏚️

Rescue centres are full of working breeds. Not because they’re bad dogs, but because they ended up in homes that didn’t understand their needs. Owners may have underestimated the time, training, and enrichment required, and labelled natural behaviours as “problems.”

But a working dog that isn’t given a job doesn’t simply switch off its instincts. Those drives are genetic. And without direction, they can become overwhelming for both the dog and the owner.

What Working Breeds Really Need 🦮

If you’re thinking of welcoming a collie, spaniel, or other working breed into your life, being an active household isn’t enough. These dogs need:

✅ Thorough training to give structure and teach self-control.
✅ Alternative jobs — like agility, scent work, or gundog-style games — to channel their instincts positively.
✅ Understanding of their hard-wiring, so you can meet them where they are rather than fight against their nature.

When you provide this, you don’t just prevent “bad behaviours” — you unlock the very best of your dog.

Final Thoughts 🌟

A collie chasing bikes or a spaniel running riot isn’t a bad dog — it’s a misunderstood one. With the right training and enrichment, those instincts can be channelled into positive, rewarding activities.

At Penarth Dog Training, I specialise in fun, reward-based methods that give working breeds the outlets they need, so they can thrive as companions as well as pets. If you’d like help giving your dog the job they were born to do, I’d love to work with you.