What Fish Tanks Taught me About Dog Training

Michael Baugh CDBC

When I was a kid, I had fish tanks, two in my room and three more in other rooms in the house. Freshwater tropical fish. My dad taught me how to care for them, even to breed them. Sometimes a fish would get sick; it was usually bacteria or a parasite. My dad’s lesson: we treat the water. It’s not the fish; the tank is sick.

I think about my dad’s wisdom a lot when I’m working with dogs. Behavior problems can be unique to an individual dog. Some relate to prior trauma we know nothing about. Pain or illness causes some problems, certainly. A few issues are neurological. But mostly the tank is sick.

Our dogs’ behavior is a constant conversation with their environment, shaped by prompts and feedback from the world around them. And yes, that includes the people in their lives. Our dogs live in community with us, with our visitors, with the other animals in our home and on our property. We may not have caused our dogs’ behavior problems. Still, we are key players in the game. Changes we make in our own behavior, and changes we make in our dogs’ environment matter a lot. Even small changes in our dogs’ world can have a big impact.

You see? It’s not all the dog. Everything connects and interacts. Our dog barks at strangers; but not if we introduce the stranger outside. A dog might snap at children; but we can teach him to remain calm watching kids from his bed. Some dogs lunge at other dogs on walks; but not when we give them a little more breathing room when they pass. The cues remain the same. Their meaning for our dogs is what changes. The feedback from their world changes and, sure enough, our dogs’ behavior changes.

Treat the tank, not just the fish.

We can do this for ourselves too. When I feel anxious or sad, I can practice being calm and watch the world from a distance. Set the phone down. Slow the scroll. Let the doom fade. Meet outside and feel the sun. Give each other a little breathing room. We can set things differently, interact with each other a little differently. Even a slight change can have a big impact.

My dad and I would talk late into the evening while we watched the fish. He still lives in that memory, rent-free. There is a natural cycle to life, he taught me. It’s rough sometimes. The tank gets sick, sure enough. We do our best. Things get better. It’s all connected. And, you know what that means? None of us is ever really alone.

Michael Baugh CDBC teaches dog training in Houston TX. He specializes in aggressive dog training. Jack Baugh was a world-class salesman and, hobby fish breeder and wise old dude. He died in 2014 at the age of 89.

What Does Behavior Have To Do With My Dog’s Health?

Dogs don’t just express themselves through cute quirks. They are also communicating their physical and mental health. Our dogs’ behavior and health are deeply intertwined.

How Does My Dog’s Health Affect Behavior?

Pain, illness or injury often show up first as behavior changes. Pacing, panting, withdrawing, sleeping more, or suddenly acting aggressive are all signs. Dogs can’t tell us when their joints ache or their stomach hurts, so behavior is a key early warning sign.
Hormonal and metabolic shifts can modify energy levels, mood, reactivity.
Chronic stress, fear or anxiety has measurable physiological effects like higher cortisol, altered immune function. For example, dogs with fear/anxiety disorders are more likely to get skin disorders and other immune or hormonal issues. (Dreschel 2010)

Early intervention is key. Any sudden change in behavior, especially in an adult dog, should begin with a thorough veterinary assessment.

How Does My Dog’s Behavior Affect Health?

Persistent anxiety in dogs keeps stress systems activated. Over time, that is linked to poorer immune function, greater risk of infections, slower healing, and shortened lifespan. (Dreschel 2010)
Poor sleep or disrupted activity cycles and also increased disease risk, especially on older dogs. (Modino 2014)

Euthanasia related to canine behavior issues is one of the leading causes of death in young, otherwise healthy dogs.

The encouraging news is that behavior can change. In fact, change is the nature of behavior in dogs (and humans).

What Every Vet Should Know About Behavior Change.

In practice, vets should screen for behavioral signs just as they do for physical ones: ask owners about noises that scare the dog, separation behavior, aggression, changes in sleep or appetite. Early detection means interventions can start before behavior problems worsen. Baseline interventions include:

Positive reinforcement training (rewarding desired behavior) is supported by both behavior science and welfare research. It tends to produce more reliable, less stressful results than aversive or punishment-based methods. It improves trust between dog and human, reduces fear.
Classical conditioning (associating neutral or formerly negative stimuli with positive outcomes) helps reshape emotional responses—for example reducing fear of loud noises, strangers, or new environments.
Medical Treatment by a licensed veterinarian is part of many behavior change plans, even when there is not an underlying physical malady. This often the case with dogs who have significant anxiety, fear, or aggression.

Two Professions Working Together.

Qualified trainers and certified dog behavior consultants will flag behavior changes that require a veterinary visit. Medical intervention can go a long way in changing even the most troubling behavior issues. Similarly, excellent veterinarians will have behavior professional to whom they can refer for behavioral functional analysis and intervention.

Your dog’s behavior is one of the clearest windows into his health. Behavioral changes often precede obvious medical signs. At the same time, behavior itself can contribute to disease risk, reduced well‐being, and even shorter lifespan. For veterinarians (and for dog owners) addressing behavior proactively using evidence‐based methods like positive reinforcement operant and classical conditioning isn’t just about better manners. It’s about longer, healthier, happier lives.

Aggressive Dog Training – Keep it Light and Fun

Michael Baugh CDBC

I don’t remember who it was. A mentor many years ago said, “Aggressive behavior is just behavior.” It plays by the same rules of behavior just like anything else our dogs do.

It’s true. Behavior that is reinforced (think: behavior that works) grows stronger and comes back time and time again. But aggressive dog behavior is distinctly different because powerful emotions fuel it. Aggression works; barking and biting make things stop. And aggression is born of fear turned to anger. Emotionally charged behavior comes up fast and has a kick behind it.

We can replace aggressive behavior with cooperation, more benign tasks and patterns our dogs can follow. New people in our home, for example, can trigger calm and attentive behavior rather than barking and menacing. There’s training for that.

More importantly, though, we can quell the fear and anger behind the aggression. It’s not all about throwing treats at the dog, either. Yes, food plays a role. But there is something else even more powerful at play. You and me. How we behave around our dog when things get tense — that is critical.

Here are some facts. Dogs watch us. They understand our facial expressions. They. notice and respond to our body postures, vocal tones, and some words. Our dogs look to us for social feedback and support. They are social creatures. So are we. Dogs and we have co-evolved for thousands of years. This next part is really cool. Dogs frequently mirror our emotions (and we there’s, I suspect). Model calm behavior for your dog, and you are more likely to see a calmer dog. Act excited and talk in a cheerful voice, and see your dog get bouncy and excited.

I like to keep all training fun and easygoing because I know it helps my dog learn. How we show up in the moment matters. Take a few deep breaths before you start. Let your shoulders relax. Smile. This is especially important when we are working with a dog who has an emotional injury. Our fearful dog (and angry dog) needs a human teacher who is confident but calm, and most of all kind.

If you have a long-standing good relationship with your dog, you are already in an excellent position to succeed. Your relationship counts for more than you might think. You might use clicker training (a mechanical clicker or tongue click) to teach your dog new skills and patterns of behavior. Good. But don’t forget your most powerful advantage: yourself. Learning is not all about the clicks and treats. Leverage your relationship. Include yourself, your gentle words, your reassuring presence. It all counts.

Include play. Take a break for some tug or retrieve. Spend a moment or two between reps to enjoy some goofy time.

Share some joy. Soak some in for yourself. The days we have with our dog are passing quickly. Don’t let them go unlived. Aggressive behavior is serious business. The training to ease it doesn’t have to be.

Michael Baugh CDBC teaches dog training in Sedona AZ and Houston TX. He specializes in aggressive dog training.