As someone who regularly describes their dog as 'excitable', I enjoyed this. https://thesciencedog.wordpress.com/2016/04/05/excitable-you/ FUNDAMENTAL ATTRIBUTION EXPLANATIONS (THE EXCITABLE DOG) My dog must have been born this way. (Solution: none) He was abused/abandoned/neglected by his previous owner and it made him hyperactive. (Solution: none) He’s a Lab, Lab-mix, Pittie (*Insert any breed stereotype here) (Solution: none) She’s a hyper-active dog. (Solution: none) He’s an excitable dog. (Solution: none) She’s a bad dog. (Solution: Get rid of the dog). This mindset leads an owner to the conclusion that their dog’s behavior is immutable and that their own degree of responsibility is minimal or nonexistent. Alternatively, where do situational explanations lead us? SITUATIONAL EXPLANATIONS (UNWANTED EXCITED BEHAVIORS) He is rarely exposed to new people, places, and dogs. (Solution: I need to socialize him and take him with me more often). She does not receive regular exercise. (Solution: I need to incorporate several types of daily exercise into our routines). He has not had consistent training (Solution: I will enroll him in a training class). She is crated and left alone for many hours of the day. (Solution: I will hire a dog-walker or use a reputable doggy day care). I may have unrealistic expectations for my young dog’s behavior. (Solution: I will ratchet down my expectations so that they are more in line with what is reasonable to expect of a young, happy and exuberant dog. I will love my dog). Let’s avoid making the fundamental attribution error with our dogs.
