Is your dog really an A**hole, or just confused?

Let’s be real: sometimes your dog feels like an a**hole.

He barks at the worst possible times, jumps on your guests like a frat bro at spring break, and suddenly forgets what ‘sit’ means the moment a tennis ball rolls by like it owes him money. One day he’s your perfect angel—calm, obedient, snuggly—and the next day he’s launching himself off the couch like it’s the X Games and biting the leash like it insulted his mother.

It’s exhausting. And confusing. And if you’re like most owners I meet, you’ve probably asked yourself at least once:

“What the hell is wrong with this dog?”

Here’s the good news: probably nothing.

In fact, most of the “problem dogs” I work with are actually great dogs who just don’t understand the rules. They’re trying to communicate in dog, while you’re yelling back in human, and somewhere in the middle—everything falls apart.

So this blog? It’s not another list of hacks from someone who’s never had their dog scream at a leaf mid-conference call or humiliate them at Starbucks.

It’s a real-life guide for real people.

People with messy lives, imperfect schedules, loud kids, and stubborn dogs.

You won’t need a clicker, a PhD, or magic training treats flown in from Finland. You’ll just need a little bit of structure, a clearer way to communicate, and the willingness to stop guessing what your dog needs—and start listening instead.

Let’s dive in.

Chapter 1: You’re Not Screwing It Up (Probably)

Let’s start with the truth: If you’re reading this blog, it probably means things aren’t going as planned.

Your dog is a handful. You’re tired. You’ve tried watching TikToks and reading blog posts and maybe even hired a trainer, but things still feel messy. You want a dog you can be proud of—but half the time, you’re just trying to survive.

Take a breath. You’re not screwing it up.

Most of the people I work with aren’t “bad dog owners.” They’re confused, overwhelmed, and trying to piece together advice from fifty different sources that all contradict each other. One person says never say “no.” Another says you’re being too soft. One tells you to use hot dogs, another tells you food is bribery. Your aunt Karen tells you she raised twelve wolves and they all turned out fine.

No wonder you feel lost.

Here’s the truth: most of that noise is just that—noise.

You don’t need to become a professional trainer. You don’t need to follow a single method like it’s a religion.

You just need to understand how dogs actually learn—and how to communicate with them clearly.

Your dog isn’t stubborn.(maybe)

Your dog isn’t trying to dominate you.

Your dog isn’t broken.

He’s confused.

And when you learn how to speak his language, everything changes.

You’ll stop chasing symptoms (like jumping, barking, leash pulling) and start addressing the root cause: a lack of clarity and structure.

Because dogs aren’t out here plotting revenge or being “bad on purpose.” They’re doing what works. And if what works is ignoring you, jumping for attention, or running away with socks—they’ll keep doing it.

But the second you show them a better way?

They’ll surprise the hell out of you.

So let’s reset the expectations.

You’re not broken. Your dog’s not broken.

You’re just both trying to figure it out. And that’s exactly what we’re about to do—together.

What’s next? In this series we’re going to show you how to actually understand your dog—like why he loses his mind over a leaf, or thinks “come” means “run the other way.” This series will teach you how to speak dog (no crystals required), stop the mixed signals, and finally figure out why your dog genuinely believes his name is “No.”