Having self-determination (or agency) in our lives is important for our feeling of wellbeing and having control over our lives. For those of us old enough to have gone to school in the days before choice was considered important for children we had to drink our 1/3 pint of milk every day and eat stewed liver and over cooked vegetables. Although I admit most of our meals were OK I hated the way the staff would walk up and down checking that we were clearing our plates.
In a totally different situation, I have worked for people who have given me a task then micromanaged me which I found frustrating and demotivating or on the other hand I have worked with managers who have given me project and allowed me to work out the best way of achieving the objective. I have found this way of working far more motivating and less stressful, enabling me to produce my best outcomes.
So why would dogs need AGENCY?
If we accept that we all need a degree of choice to enable us to enjoy life and minimise stress then it isn’t such a big jump to see how our dogs, also sentient beings, may also benefit from having a degree of control over their lives. In fact many involved in the care and welfare of our pets would say it is vital.
On the face of it this may seem difficult to offer. They have o fit in with our routines, walk when and where we take them, eat what we give them, and go to bed when we do – or do they?
How to give our dogs options has been something that I have given quite a lot of thought to in recent years and finding many small ways of doing so. On a recent course however one of the presenters, Dr Jessica Pierce, offered a more structured approach [1]
She suggested writing a list of all of our dogs’ activities during the day and indicating whether or not they have agency and look at how we may be able to give or increase choice. The approach she suggested was to use an inventory something like the table below, adapted from one shown by her. Using her example as a starting point I have populated with some prompts but you can include things to suit your dog and your own commitments.
| Activity | Choice Y/N |
Thoughts on ways in which choice could be added/increased |
| Walks | Time/place/distance | |
| Meals | Number/times/types of food | |
| Sleep | When/where/time | |
| Activities/Training | When what/frequency | |
| Treats/rewards | Food/toys/petting/play | |
| Other |
What do you think;
Should dogs have choice or is obedience the right way?
Can choice sit alongside obedience?
Is it possible to make the way we like to see our dogs behave so attractive that they choose to ‘be good’?
Do share your thoughts and suggestions in comments, below
Sources and Resources
[1] Choice Inventory Dr Jessica Pierce from ISCP Big Psychology Sumit 2025
Why Choice Matters in Dog Training Article Jo Middleton, of the The International School for Canine Psychology and Behaviour
How to Ask if A Dog Really Likes to be Patted (Dog Charming) Video shared by Debbie Jacobs in her Fearful Dogs Group