Owning pets brings enormous joy and is well‑known to support our health and wellbeing, but even the cutest kitten or most lovable puppy can sometimes display behaviour that feels challenging or stressful.

At Four Paws with Feelings, my mission is to help pets and their people live harmoniously together. I do this by helping owners understand why their animals behave the way they do, and by guiding them through positive, empathetic behaviour change.

Just like humans, dogs and cats experience emotions that prepare their mind and body to act. These emotions influence their social behaviour, decision‑making, memory, and learning. They can even override logic. Just as we sometimes snap when overwhelmed or say things we don’t mean, now think of a dog who growls because he feels scared or threatened, or a cat who scratches furniture because she’s stressed or overstimulated.

If we focus only on the behaviour, it’s tempting to try to “stop” it without understanding the emotion driving it. This might work briefly, but it rarely lasts and it can damage the trust and bond you share with your pet.

When we address the underlying emotion, behaviour often improves naturally, without the need for correction.

Animals have emotional needs that must be met before behaviour can change. They need safety, predictability, social connection (for social species), enrichment, and a sense of control over their environment. When these needs aren’t met, emotional stress builds and behaviour problems follow.

Put simply: if you don’t understand the emotion, you can’t understand the behaviour. And if you can’t understand the behaviour, you can’t change it.

Whether you’re teaching a new behaviour or addressing a challenging one, I’m here to support you and your pet every step of the way.

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Catherine Burniston