176. The Energy You Bring Is the Behaviour You Get

Why mindset matters more than we think in dog training

There’s a moment I’ll never forget—Arthur was doing so well with visitors. Calm. Steady. Not a puddle in sight. And then… my husband walked in. Full of love. Full of excitement. Full of energy.

Cue: fountain.

Now, I adore that my husband is thrilled to see Arthur. It’s gorgeous. But what that moment reminded me is this—our dogs are always watching. Always learning. Always reacting. And often, they’re responding more to our energy than our actual instructions.

This week on the Found It, Fetched It podcast, I sat down with our wonderful LWDG Expert Claire Denyer to talk all about this. How our behaviour, emotions, tone of voice—even a little laugh—can shape our dogs’ choices in ways we don’t always realise.

Because here’s the truth:
🐾 That cheeky moment you giggle at today?
Might just become tomorrow’s frustration.

🐾 That subtle shift in your dog’s energy during training?
Could be them telling you something’s not quite right.

🐾 That tension you’re carrying after a tough day?
Might be the very thing your dog is reacting to.

Claire shared stories from her classes and from her own dogs—like Rose, who recently showed signs something was off long before a vet confirmed a back injury. And we talked about how crucial it is to read the room—not just the dog’s, but our own emotional one too.

Because when you bring calm, connection follows.

So what can we do differently?

Here are a few gentle takeaways we covered:

💡 Be mindful of what you’re reinforcing.
That laugh, that excited greeting, that “oh he’s so cute!” moment—your dog sees it as feedback.

💡 Know your dog’s emotional “normal”.
The more you understand what calm, focused behaviour looks like, the easier it is to spot when something’s off—physically or emotionally.

💡 Use play to shift the mood.
Claire reminded us that play isn’t just fun—it’s a brilliant tool to reset both your energy and your dog’s.

💡 Take a break if you need one.
Some days, training just isn’t the right move. And that’s okay. A connection walk or some snuffle time might serve you both better.

Final thought…

If your dog’s being “difficult”, ask yourself—
“What energy am I bringing into this moment?”
It’s not about blame. It’s about awareness.
Because when you show up calm and clear, your dog feels it. And they often respond in kind.

🧡 They don’t need you to be perfect. They need you to be present.

And if you’re ready to explore this further, our Calm Dog Blueprint is a beautiful next step. It’s full of steady, supportive guidance to help both you and your dog find a little more peace—together. You can find the link at the bottom of this post.

Let’s keep showing up. One steady step at a time.

Much love,
Jo x