Behavioural changes in our dogs often take us by surprise. Everything seems fine, until one day your previously affectionate companion snaps when you reach out to stroke them. Shock, embarrassment, anger, even guilt can follow. Many owners then reach out to a dog trainer or behaviourist, hoping to have the unwanted behaviour “fixed”.

But what is causing it?

Sudden or escalating behaviour changes always raise an important question: could pain be involved? And while there could be many possible reasons for a behaviour change, pain is one of the most significant – and one of the easiest to miss.

If pain is an underlying factor, behaviour modification alone is unlikely to be effective.

Appropriate pain management doesn’t automatically erase learnt behaviours, but without it, meaningful behaviour change is often impossible. A dog cannot learn new coping strategies if they are physically uncomfortable, distressed, or constantly managing pain. This is why a vet check should always be the first step when behaviour changes appear or intensify.

How easy is it to spot signs of pain in our dogs?

Many owners expect pain to look like:

• Limping
• Reduced mobility
• Crying or yelping
• Flinching when touched

Even the example we gave at the beginning was quite “obvious”. But in reality dogs are remarkably good at masking pain and discomfort. A dog in pain may still run, jump, chase, play enthusiastically, and have zoomies. In many cases the signs are often subtle and appear long before the dog’s behaviour changes.

When more obvious physical signs are absent, pain may show up through changes in behaviour, including:

• Restlessness or difficulty settling
• Early waking or disrupted sleep
• Excessive licking and coat changes
• Reduced frustration tolerance
• Heightened reactivity or irritability
• Reduced ability to self-regulate
• Increased anxiety

Pain can also amplify existing emotional or motivational states. A dog who was already a little anxious, reactive, or sensitive may appear to “suddenly worsen” – when in reality, their capacity to cope has been compromised.

According to CAM (Canine Arthritis Management) “Dogs express pain in many subtle ways, which we often identify and associate with the disease late in its course. Please don’t delay seeking veterinary advice, waiting until your dog limps or yelps to confirm your suspicions of pain, as by then they are likely to be in significant pain. ” (4)

So what else do we often miss?

Mouthing, destruction and displacement behaviours

Some dogs show increased mouthing, chewing or destructive behaviours when in pain. These behaviours are not attempts to be “naughty” or controlling. They often function as displacement or tension-reducing behaviours – or ways of reducing internal discomfort (1; 10). The feeling of relief that follows can be reinforcing, even though the original cause (pain) remains unresolved.

Guarding spaces: comfort becomes valuable

Has your dog suddenly started guarding the sofa, bed, or specific resting spots?

Soft, supportive surfaces can become especially valuable to dogs experiencing discomfort. These areas may offer relief, warmth, or the ability to rest in a position that minimises pain.

Guarding in these contexts could be suggest underlying pain and protecting comfort, not dominance or status.

Chronic pain and emotional wellbeing

Pain, when unnoticed or left undiagnosed and untreated for long time, can become chronic. Chronic musculoskeletal pain, even when mild, can affect day to day life significantly. Over time, persistent discomfort can:

• reduce stress tolerance
• lower arousal thresholds
• increase anxiety and reactivity (8)
• lead to chronic stress (15).

Chronic pain doesn’t just affect behaviour in specific situations; it influences the dog’s overall emotional state, behavioural expression and well-being (6; 8).

Pain, handling and defensive behaviour

Pain and chronic medical conditions can make physical handling uncomfortable or painful, which could be a factor in any defensive reactions (12). This may affect stroking, lifting, grooming, claw clipping, putting harness on, etc. If snapping, growling or avoidance have previously succeeded in stopping or preventing the interaction, and therefore removing the pain (2), and providing relief (14), those behaviours are likely to be repeated, they become learned behaviours.

With chronic pain or mobility issues, grooming can be especially challenging (3; 5).

• Handling one paw even before the actual claw clipping may be uncomfortable due to joint stiffness or altered weight distribution
• Brushing over tense or sore areas may cause pain, even with gentle pressure

Over time, grooming tools — and the people holding them — can start predicting discomfort and pain (13), and what looks like “overreaction” is often a learned response based on pain history.

And from the dog’s perspective, the behaviour works.

Seasonal flare-ups and environmental stressors

Chronic pain conditions, particularly those affecting joints, often worsen in colder weather (11). Autumn and winter can bring increased stiffness, greater discomfort and seasonal pain flare-ups, making dogs more irritable, potentially increasing stress levels (8) and lowering his threshold for reactivity and aggression.

At the same time, environmental stressors such as storms, wind, fireworks, and shorter daylight hours could also lead to low mood and pessimistic bias, making any other underlying issues worse (9). Even dogs without noise sensitivities may be startled by sudden sounds like thunders or fireworks, leading to abrupt movements that trigger pain (7). This combination can lower tolerance and increase the likelihood of reactive or defensive behaviour.

The takeaway

Behaviour doesn’t happen in isolation.

When we see behavioural changes, especially sudden or escalating, pain should always be part of the conversation — not an afterthought.

Effective behaviour work starts with:

1. Veterinary assessment and appropriate pain management where needed;
2. Adjusted expectations and management strategies;
3. Behaviour modification that considers both the dog’s physical and emotional capacity.

Pain often explains behaviour. And understanding that explanation is what allows us to support our dogs more fairly, compassionately, and effectively.

REFERENCES:

(1) Arhant, Christine; Winkelmann, Rebecca; Troxler, Josef (2021) Chewing behaviour in dogs – A survey-based exploratory study. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 241, 105372.

(2) Beaver, Bonnie V. (2009) Canine Behaviour, Insights and Answers, Second Edition.
St Louis, Missouri, Saunders Elsevier.

(3) Bekoff, Marc (2022) Grooming Dogs: What’s Good and Bad From Their Point of
View, Psychology Today.

(4) Canine Arthritis Management (2026) Does my dog have arthritis? https://caninearthritis.co.uk/what-is-arthritis/identifying-the-signs/

(5) Edwards, Petra T.; Hazel, Susan J.; Browne, Matthew; Serpell, James A.; McArthur,
Michelle L.; Smith, Bradley P. (2019) Investigating risk factors that predict a dog’s fear
during veterinary consultations.  PLoS ONE 14(7): e0215416.

(6) Malkani, Rachel; Paramasivam, Sharmini; Wolfensohn, Sarah (2024) How does chronic
pain impact the lives of dogs: an investigation of factors that are associated with pain using
the Animal Welfare Assessment Grid. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 11:1374858.

(7) Meneses, Tia; Robinson, Jessica; Rose, Jessica; Vernick, Jennifer; Overall, Karen L.
(2021) Development of and pharmacological treatment options and future research
opportunities for separation anxiety in dogs Journal of the American Veterinary
Medical Association, 259(10), 1130-1139.

(8) Mills D S; Demontigny-Bédard I; Gruen M; Klinck M P; McPeake K J; Barcelos A M;
Hewison L; Van Haevermaet H; Denenberg S; Hauser H; Koch C; Ballantyne K;
Wilson C; Mathkari C V; Pounder J; Garcia E; Darder P; Fatjó J; Levine E; (2020)
Pain and Problem Behaviour in Cats and Dogs Animals 10(2), 318.

(9) Mills, Daniel; Dube, Maya B.; Zulch, Helen (2013) Stress and Pheromonatherapy in
Small Animal Clinical Behaviour. UK, John Wiley & Sons, LTD.

(10) O’Heare, James (2007) Dog Aggression Workbook. Ottawa, Canada, BehaveTech
Publishing.

(11) Overall, Karen L. (2013) Manual of Clinical Behavioural Medicine for Dogs and Cats,
St. Louis, MO, USA, Elsevier Mosby.

(12) Reisner, Ilana R.; Houpt, Katherine A.; Shofer, Frances S. (2005) National survey of
owner directed aggression in English Springer Spaniels Journal of the American
Veterinary Medical Association, 227(10), 1594-1603.

(13) Rooney, Nicola J.; Clark, Corinna C.A.; Casey, Rachel A. (2016) Minimizing fear and
anxiety in working dogs: A review Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 16, 53-64.

(14) Sapolsky, Robert (2017) Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst
London, UK, Vintage.

(15) Scholz, Martina; von Reinhardt, Clarissa (2007) Stress in Dogs Wenatchee, Washington,
USA, Dogwise Publishing.

Let’s unpack why the “stubborn dog” myth falls apart the moment we look under the surface of the problem behaviour.

The “Stubborn” Label Is Harmful

And here are the reasons why:

• Labelling a dog as stubborn simply shifts blame onto their character without any proof that this is the case. We stop looking at ourselves – have we actually done enough?
• It closes the door on curiosity. Why isn’t this working? How do dogs learn? What about the environment, the dog’s DNA, or the level of training they’ve actually received?
• It creates frustration and punishment-based reactions.
• It frames the dog as defiant rather than confused, overwhelmed, or under-trained.
• It places responsibility on the dog instead of the training process.

Stubbornness Requires Knowledge — Most Dogs Don’t Have It Yet

Stubbornness assumes the dog knows what to do and is choosing not to.

To refuse something, you have to understand the request.
Many dogs simply don’t. Most of the time, the dog never truly learned the behaviour in the first place.

A dog performing a sit in the kitchen does not mean they understand “sit” in the park, around squirrels, when wet grass feels weird, or when another dog is walking past.

Dogs don’t generalise well. They learn in contexts, not abstract concepts.

Most owners unintentionally skip some critical stages of teaching. What I hear often is: “I want my dog to have a good recall in the park, but he just ignores me”. When the truth is, we expect too much, too soon. Training doesn’t start in the local park and there are important learning stages missing:

• Clear learning: showing the dog what the behaviour means in a low-distraction environment
• Repetition: many, many, many successful trials.
• Generalisation: practising in different places, on different surfaces, with mild distractions.
• Maintain knowledge: reinforcing the behaviour long-term, even when it’s reliable.

If any one of these steps is missing, the dog doesn’t “know” the behaviour.
They’re not being stubborn — they’re untrained in that context.

Reinforcement History Predicts Behaviour (Not Attitude)

Dogs repeat behaviours that have been reinforced.
Full stop.

Owners see puppy classes as a tick box exercise – my puppy has completed it, so they have been trained…

But no trainer can teach your dog all they need to know in just a few weeks. They show you the HOW and send you home to practice and improve.

We often expect “obedience” from behaviours that have:

• Been practised only indoors
• Only been practised a few times
• Never been rehearsed around distractions
• Not received reinforcement in weeks or months
• Been overshadowed by much more appealing alternatives (e.g., wildlife, scents, other dogs)

In those scenarios, a dog who “ignores” you is making a perfectly rational choice based on natural instincts, needs and reinforcement history — not being stubborn.

Competing Motivations Aren’t Disobedience

If a dog is chasing a squirrel, investigating a scent patch, or worried about a nearby dog, those motivations often override whatever cue you’ve given.

Dogs aren’t refusing you out of spite.
They’re responding to the strongest stimuli in the environment.

Understanding your dog’s motivation and needs, will help you become more important than a squirrel, or another dog, you name it…

Working Breeds: Why are They Not Designed to Be Compliant

This part matters.

Many guardians choose a dog because of looks, not function — and function always influences behaviour.

Example: Dachshunds (Call me biased…)

Dachshunds are cute, but often described as stubborn, difficult to train, or having “selective hearing”. And people just accept it, and stop trying.

In reality, Dachshunds were bred to work independently:

• Following scents underground
• Making decisions without handler input
• Persisting in problem-solving
• Staying highly focused despite discomfort or stress

Independence was always a breed requirement, not a flaw. Getting a puppy from a working line of dogs is almost always a guarantee of strong instincts.

A Dachshund ignoring a recall around scents isn’t being stubborn.
They’re being… a Dachshund. And we just haven’t shown them how to be the pet we want them to be.

The same applies to:

• A terrier who “won’t stop digging”
• A herder who “won’t settle”
• A spaniel who “won’t come back when they’re on a trail”
• A guarding breed who “won’t relax around the front door”
• A husky who “pulls like a train”
• The list goes on…

If a dog wasn’t bred to prioritise human instruction in certain situations, we should not brand them stubborn when they don’t.

Adolescence: The Perfect Storm for the “Stubborn” Label

Between roughly 6–24 months (depending on breed, size, individual dog), dogs enter adolescence.
Brain development during this period temporarily affects:

• Impulse control
• Emotional regulation
• Response consistency
• Risk–reward assessment (“that squirrel is worth EVERYTHING right now”)
• Reinforcement sensitivity
• Stress recovery

This is the stage where many owners say:

• “He knows this, he’s just refusing.”
• “She’s suddenly stopped listening.”
• “He used to come back, now he runs off.”

Adolescence doesn’t create stubbornness.
It exposes gaps in training, reinforcement, or unmet needs that weren’t as obvious during puppyhood.

A Better Question: “What Does My Dog Need Right Now?”

Instead of assuming refusal, try asking yourself “Why isn’t this working?”.

The response I often get during training sessions is – “This makes perfect sense now that you’ve mentioned it”.

And most of the time it’s all common sense. Questions, which as owners we don’t ask ourselves because we don’t want to hear that we maybe haven’t done enough, that we might be letting our beloved companions down, not the other way around…

Ask yourself:

• Am I expecting him/her to actually respond or just “hoping” for the best? Hoping equals insufficient training.
• Have we practised enough?
• Have I reinforced this enough?
• Am I trying to rush this and move too fast?
• Is the environment too difficult for my dog right now?
• Have I taught this behaviour in this context?
• Am I giving clear instructions, or am I confusing her?
• Is my dog stressed, tired, or over-aroused?
• Is their breed influencing their response?
• Is adolescence in play?

Looking at our dogs’ behaviour with an open mind can be liberating. This shift moves us from frustration to problem-solving — and from blame to partnership.

Conclusion

Your dog isn’t giving you a hard time.
Your dog is having a hard time — understanding, focusing, generalising, or meeting their natural needs.

When we rethink behaviour through reinforcement history, learning theory, and breed function, the idea of the “stubborn dog” simply doesn’t hold up.

What does hold up is this:

Dogs do what works.
Dogs do what we’ve taught clearly.
Dogs do what we’ve reinforced.
And dogs follow their natural instincts and do what their genetics prepare them to do.

Swap “My dog is stubborn.” for “What does my dog need?”
That mindset shift changes everything.