Dear Overthinking Dog Parent, You Don’t Need to Do More. You Might Need to Do Less.
- Deb from Busy Pawz
- Dec 18, 2025
- 4 min read
We live in a world that constantly tells us to do more. More activities, more outings, more training, more enrichment. And when it comes to our dogs, it’s easy to get caught in that spiral especially if we’re trying to “fix” behaviour or keep up with what other dog owners are doing.
But sometimes, more isn’t better.
Sometimes, more just means overstimulation. Overthinking. Overwhelm.
Not just for you, but for your dog too.
If You’re Feeling Frazzled, Your Dog Might Be Too
The funny thing about living with dogs is that they tend to reflect what’s going on around them. Whether it’s our energy, our routines, or our emotions - they notice. And many of them mirror us in ways we don’t always realise.
Take my girl Kenya, for example. She’s a 10-year-old kelpie with a brilliant brain and a low tolerance for chaos - always has been. Lately, she’s been extra grouchy. Her fuse is shorter. She’s more reactive to the dogs around her, and little things are setting her off.
But when I stop and look at what’s happening in my own life, it starts to make sense.
My head’s full. I’m juggling work, study, Christmas planning, and all the usual end-of-year pressure. Everywhere I go feels busy and loud. And that whole time, I’ve been carrying that energy with me.
So am I surprised Kenya’s feeling off? Not really.
She’s my mirror. And her nervous system is just as overwhelmed as mine. So am I trying to “do more” with her right now? Absolutely not.
She wants space. She needs space. And it’s my job to honour that.
I can’t control the outside world but I can control how I show up for her. And I can choose calmness over chaos, for both of us.
Doing Less Can Be the Most Supportive Thing
There’s a belief out there that if your dog is struggling, you need to do more. More training, more outings, more effort.
But sometimes, the kindest thing you can do is step back.
Instead of pushing through, ask yourself:
Does my dog need this right now?
Are they enjoying it?
Are we both coming out of it feeling better?
Supporting your dog doesn’t always mean doing more. Sometimes it means slowing things down, making calmer choices, and bringing a bit more steadiness into the moment. When you start looking at things from your dog’s point of view, it often changes how you respond.
If your nervous system is frazzled, your dog is likely picking up on that. And if they’re feeling muddled or over-aroused, adding more stimulation is only going to pile it on.
That doesn't mean you stop training or give up on your goals. It just means you start from a place of calm, and you build from there.
This Time of Year Can Add Extra Pressure
It’s December. The “silly season.” Which means it’s even easier to fall into the trap of thinking you need to do more, be more, provide more.
But your dog doesn’t need a packed social calendar. They don’t need to attend every family gathering or master new tricks before the new year.
They just need you to slow down enough to see what they’re telling you.
Maybe they’d prefer a quiet crate with a frozen treat while guests come and go. Maybe the usual walk is too much today. Maybe what you both need is to curl up with a cuppa and breathe.
Let that be okay.
Let simple be enough.
Because the more we learn to quiet our own mental noise, the easier it becomes to hear what our dogs are trying to say.
Need Help Untangling the Noise?
If your brain feels like a browser with too many tabs open and you’re not sure where to start with your dog, Beyond Behaviour might be the perfect next step.
It’s my go-at-your-own-pace online course, full of practical guidance that’s fun, easy to understand, and grounded in everything I teach 1:1.
No pressure. No overwhelm. Just clear steps to help you reconnect with your dog and yourself.
✨ Right now, it's 20% off. You can start whenever you like.
Final Thoughts
As we wind down for the year, I just want to say thank you for being here, and for showing up for your dog in all the ways that matter.
Whatever you celebrate (or don’t), I hope you find some quiet moments to rest, reset, and just be with your dog - no pressure, no agenda, just presence.
I’ll be taking my own advice too. Since blog day falls on Christmas and New Year’s, there’ll be no new blog posts for the next two weeks. But I’ll be back in January, ready to kick off another year of mindful training, calm dogs, and just the right amount of fun to keep tails wagging without tipping into chaos.
Wishing you and your dogs a peaceful holiday season and a wonderful start to the new
year 💛
Thanks for reading!
And as always, throw your dog a treat from us!
Deb & the Busy Pawz Crew xo
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