system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
[The Thing] what was The Thing's goals? Was it just trying to survive or was it trying to take over the earth?

Title is self-explanatory. I will note that we don't know what happened on the space ship exactly, but it obviously crash with the thing on it. That also said, the thing could've easily (imo) infected the entire crew if it just played the long game and gave everyone a pat rub or sneezed on everyone he came across, what caused the thing to go really aggressive and attack everyone?
gpt
At the end of the day it was a severely wounded wild animal. 

I think it goofed with the dogs and kind of had to double down from there. 

It had to do something with the dogs considering it knew from its first experience the dogs can sniff you out. It just thought it had more time to become them. 

You also have to remember the place was filled with scientists, it was a matter of time once they knew that something was turning the crew inside out and wearing them like marionettes. 

Better to take advantage of the initial confusion and catch them off guard.