Did you know that giving your dog the freedom to choose can be one of the most powerful tools in building their confidence and trust? Often, we focus on teaching specific behaviors—sit, stay, come—but what if the real key to a well-balanced, happy dog is allowing them to make choices?
This concept is called agency, and it plays a big role in how our dogs experience the world. By incorporating agency into enrichment, we empower our dogs to engage with their environment in ways that are fulfilling, reducing stress and increasing their confidence.
Choice is a Part of Our Everyday Lives—And We Take It for Granted
Think about your day so far. From the moment you woke up, you made hundreds of choices—and you probably didn’t even realize it.
✔ What to wear
✔ What to eat for breakfast
✔ What music or podcast to listen to
✔ Whether to take the scenic route or the fastest way to work
✔ How to spend your free time
✔ Reading my blog
Now imagine someone taking all of those choices away. You wake up, and someone else picks your clothes, tells you exactly what to eat, and decides every move you make throughout the day—without your input. How would you feel?
Probably frustrated, anxious, or even defeated.
This is the reality for many dogs. They live in a human-centric world where we make all the choices for them. While structure is important, completely removing choice can lead to stress, frustration, and even behavioral issues.
By giving our dogs more agency, we allow them to feel heard, respected, and in control of their own experience, just like we want in our own lives.
Why Agency Matters for Dogs
Choice Reduces Stress
Imagine being in a situation where you feel uncomfortable, but you aren’t allowed to leave. Sounds stressful, right?
Dogs experience the same thing. When they know they can move away from something that makes them uneasy, they feel safer and less anxious.
By allowing your dog the option to disengage, you are reinforcing calm behavior and preventing them from resorting to fight-or-flight responses.
Building Trust & Confidence
Dogs thrive when they trust their humans to listen to their needs. If we constantly force them into interactions—whether it’s greeting another dog, meeting a stranger, or navigating a busy area—they may start to feel powerless.
By giving them choices, we show them that we respect their comfort levels. This trust strengthens the human-canine bond and fosters a more cooperative relationship.
Reinforcing Calm Behavior
Allowing dogs to walk away from a trigger without being forced to interact teaches them that they don’t need to react to feel safe. This is incredibly useful for reactive dogs, but it benefits all dogs by promoting emotional regulation and problem-solving skills.
How Agency Connects to Enrichment
Many people think of enrichment as puzzle toys and physical exercise, but true enrichment is about engaging the dog's mind in a meaningful way.
Enrichment should be more than just giving a dog something to do—it should give them options and opportunities to make decisions.
Ways to Give Your Dog More Agency in Enrichment:
- Scent-Based Enrichment – Let your dog choose which scent to investigate during nose work activities.
- Choice-Based Walks – Use a long leash and allow your dog to choose the direction (within safe limits).
- Food Puzzles & Mealtime Enrichment – Offer different puzzle feeders and let your dog choose which one they want to engage with.
- Training with Consent – If working on handling or grooming, let your dog signal readiness by offering a behavior (e.g., presenting a paw for nail trims). If they move away, respect their choice and try again later.
- Interactive Play Sessions – Offer different types of toys and allow your dog to choose what they want to play with.
Practical Ways to Introduce Agency into Daily Life
- Pay attention to your dog's body language – If they show signs of discomfort, help them create distance.
- Let them explore at their own pace – Whether on walks or during enrichment, allow freedom (within safe boundaries).
- Give them options – From choosing their sleeping spot to picking a toy, small decisions make a big difference.
- Teach that disengaging is always an option – If they’re uncomfortable around other dogs or people, guide them away without forcing interaction.
Final Thoughts: Enrichment Isn’t Just About Doing—It’s About Choosing
Training isn’t just about teaching commands; it’s about building trust, respect, and understanding. When we allow our dogs the power of choice, we support their emotional well-being, helping them become more confident, relaxed, and resilient.
By integrating agency into enrichment, we create a world where dogs don’t just adapt to us—we learn to meet them halfway.
