When we are working with a dog, sometimes we are working with a behavior such as "come when called" or "go to your place". Other times we are working with an emotion that can affect behavior such as fear or anxiety. An emotion and a behavior are two very distinct things and as such, we treat them differently.
I am afraid of snakes. I don't want to be afraid snakes and in most cases, it is not even rational that I am afraid. Especially if it is just a harmless Garter Snake, since there is no chance I can get hurt by one. I did not choose to be afraid of snakes, I just am. Emotions are responses to significant internal and external events. Emotions are intense feelings that are directed at someone or something. While a behavior consists of an organism's external reactions to its environment. Sometimes when we want to change a behavior, we need to look at the emotion behind the behavior and change that. Just trying to change a behavior that is rooted in something emotional usually won't work. So often when we are working with our canine companions we are looking at what can we do to ease the emotion so we can change the behavior. When you address the root cause, you change what derives from it.
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