Curiosity in Action: What Might They Be Predicting Right Now?

This is the first blog in the Curiosity in Action series—each one exploring a small question that might help you see your dog’s behaviour in a new way.

One of the most supportive things we can do for our dogs, especially those who are anxious, fearful, or easily overwhelmed, is to pause and ask:

“What might they be predicting right now?”

This question invites us to take a step back from assumptions like “they’re being difficult” or “they just don’t want to listen” and shift into a mindset of observation and curiosity. It helps us explore what our dog’s nervous system might be preparing for, not just based on the present moment, but on all the experiences that have come before it. Because behaviour doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It’s shaped by the brain’s constant process of prediction.

Why Dogs Predict

Neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett explains that the brain isn’t just reacting to what’s happening in the moment, it’s constantly predicting what might happen next, based on everything it’s learned before. These predictions shape how the brain responds, often before anything has actually happened. So when your dog reacts to something, it might not be about this exact moment. It could be about what their brain is predicting and how their nervous system is already responding to that possibility, based on previous experiences in similar situations.

How the Nervous System Responds

When the brain predicts that something might be threatening or uncertain, the nervous system prepares the body to act. That might mean becoming more alert, tensing muscles, holding the breath, or scanning the environment for more information. These aren’t conscious choices; they’re protective responses shaped by experience.

This is why some behaviours can feel “sudden” or “out of nowhere.” The dog’s nervous system isn’t responding to the moment as it looks to us, it’s responding to what it feels like, based on what’s happened before.

When Everything Seems Fine—Until It Isn’t

Imagine you’re walking your dog in a quiet area. Everything seems fine, until another dog appears at the end of the path. Your dog immediately starts barking and pulling, even though the other dog is far away and calm.

You might think: “But nothing’s happened. They were fine a second ago.”

But if your dog has had difficult experiences in similar situations before, their nervous system might already be predicting what might happen next.

The bark isn’t necessarily about the dog ahead, it’s about what this moment feels like, based on previous events that didn’t feel safe. Their behaviour is the nervous system’s way of preparing just in case it happens again.

Curiosity Creates Space for Connection

When we ask “What might they be predicting?” we give ourselves space to pause, reflect, and offer something more supportive. Instead of pushing through, we might:

Add distance
Give them time to observe and process
Use a rewarding conversational game to shift their focus
Stand quietly with them, offering calm presence without expectation.

This question doesn’t require us to know the answer. It just asks us to consider their perspective. And that small shift from certainty to curiosity, can be the start of rebuilding trust.

Ways to Stay Curious When Things Feel Unclear

The next time your dog hesitates, reacts, or suddenly seems worried, try asking yourself:

What’s happened in this environment before?
What might my dog’s body be expecting?
Is there a pattern here I haven’t noticed yet?
How can I help them feel safer in this moment?

.

Final Thought

You don’t need to have all the answers to help your dog feel supported. Just being curious about what they might be predicting, what their nervous system might be preparing for, and how you can meet them where they are, can make a meaningful difference.

Because when we start to understand what they might be predicting, the behaviour can start to make more sense. And from there, things can start to feel a little easier for both of you.