They await guidance via feedback.
Feedback. It's all about feedback.
Feedback - a reaction or response to a particular process or activity.
Living with dogs is all about feedback. From the moment your dog joins your family and throughout your life together; feedback should be a part of it all.. "I don't like telling him what to do," is a common phrase heard when discussing training a dog. Some people link obedience or training with cruel control. The whole process of learning to live in our human world requires feedback, constant feedback. Our dogs cannot learn how to act appropriately all on their own, they need assistance. If you have offered appropriate feedback as your dog learns the ins and outs of living in our world; the need for feedback typically lessens over the years.
Rules, regulations and living side by side in a human world all require feedback. When a dog offers an unwanted behavior; it is our job to give feedback. Yes, I like that; no, I don't like that. Tweaking behaviors or altering them in a large way is our job. Without feedback we leave our dog standing alone to try to figure it all out by themselves. That is not a good thing for a dog; our dogs need guidance every step of the way.
Feedback is not mean, cruel or bad. Feedback is good; our dog's need help to maneuver through it all. Do you offer your dog enough feedback? Are you helping them to figure out this whole human world of ours? When you offer your dog feedback on a regular basis; they will tend to look to you for more. Feedback can come as vocal sounds or physically stepping in. Once a dog understands a particular vocal sound that means "not acceptable" it can be very easy to share the knowledge. It is simply a required reaction to an action which supplies important information.
I have had to step in and give feedback myself when owners have not stepped up. If it concerns my dogs and someone else's dog I will most definitely offer what is needed. Like parents who offer no feedback to their misbehaved children; unruly dogs receiving no feedback are just as obnoxious. Feedback, give it to your dog.