The Stories We Tell: How Narrative Shapes Behavior (Ours and Theirs)

Why do we assume a fearful dog must have been abused? Or that a reactive dog is simply “too much to handle”? In this episode of Life Lessons from Dog, Kari Solberg unpacks the quiet power of the stories we tell—about our dogs, and about ourselves.Through personal reflection and real-world training experience, Kari explores how narratives shape behavior, influence expectations, and often hold both people and dogs back from real growth. You’ll hear about Bianca and her puppies, and how even the most ideal upbringing doesn’t always override genetic wiring. You’ll also hear how the assumptions we carry—about trauma, identity, or ability—can quietly shape our choices, our relationships, and our progress.Whether you’re navigating reactivity in your dog or bumping up against an old belief in yourself, this episode invites you to pause and ask: is this story helping… or holding me back?Because sometimes, the biggest breakthroughs start with changing the story.