The Dog's Nature
Dogs are Remarkably Complicated Animals
Some estimates of the number of dog breeds reach as high as 800 in Western countries alone. Even given that
distinguishing one breed from another can be carried to a ridiculous extreme, the variety is incredible from a human perspective, where we have,
perhaps, a dozen basic races.
Adding further to the complexity is the well-known fact that modern dogs descended from wolves but began
interacting with humans over 10,000 years ago. As a result, there are behaviors that develop regardless of upbringing and some that are as
unique as the individual human the dog is bonded with. Still, there are some common traits that stand out.
Dogs are Predators
That doesn't necessarily mean they will stalk and attack every passing cat or rodent, but the instinct is
always there. With exquisite hearing and complex muscles that allow precise orientation of their ears, dogs can pick up a range of sounds and
locate the source quickly and accurately.
A dog's field of vision is wider than ours also. Their field of view is estimated from 180 to 270 degrees,
compared to a human's 100 to 150 degrees, allowing them to follow activity better.
And, of course, there is the remarkable canine sense of smell. Referencing estimates such as having 25 times
as many scent-receptor cells or being able to detect concentrations 100 million times lower than humans conveys the fact very well.
Their predatory nature is also demonstrated in their behavior. Golden Retrievers, for example, can smell a
gopher under two feet of packed snow and a foot of frozen soil. And, they'll dig single-mindedly to get to the gopher. That is predatory
behavior.
Dogs are Social Creatures
That's commonly known, of course. But, although well known, it is often forgotten. Some people will confine a
single dog in a garage or enclosure, or chained in a yard for long periods. This isolation from companionship with humans and other animals
invariably leads to anxiety and/or aggression and other types of behavioral problems. Dogs need interaction in order to develop healthy
behavior.
Isolation for brief periods can be a useful dog training technique. Fear of eviction from the pack can
motivate an excessively assertive, alpha-status seeking dog into cooperating with the trainer's goals. In any human-dog pair, the human
must be the leader (alpha). The alternative is property damage, frustration and unsafe circumstances for both human and dog.
But excessive time spent without the social interaction with another dog, a person, or some other friendly
creature results in harm to the dog's psychology and leads to unwanted behavior. Even guard dogs need to be able to recognize the difference
between outside 'threats' and members of its own 'pack'.
Dogs are Naturally Curious
Just like the two-year-old children at roughly their same developmental level, dogs learn by exploring their
surroundings. And like those children, they can engage in destructive activities. Dogs have no regard for property. Training and an appropriately
chosen group of objects in a suitable area can channel that behavior into something acceptable to humans and healthy for the dog.
Providing playthings with very distinct characteristics from human items, such as rawhide bones instead of
rubber balls that are difficult to distinguish from children's, leads to less confusion and misbehavior. In many cases, however, the problem is
remedied by scent. The dog's toys may look much the child's, but the odor is very different.
Some amount of digging may be expected as part of the dog's exploration. Plan on repairing holes in the lawn
if the dog is unsupervised for very long. Plants can often be protected with cayenne pepper, bitter apple and other pastes or sprays.
Dogs are Opportunistic Feeders
As scavengers, dogs will eat excrement, even when they are fed perfectly healthy and ample diets. They will
chew on dead animals, eat plants and ingest a wide variety of items that their own experience shows causes upset stomachs. And they'll repeat the
behavior time and again.
Recognizing their limited aptitude in associating cause and effect when those are separated in time is a
necessity in order to keep them a safe and healthy.
Acknowledging the dog's nature, and working with in it rather than against it will lead to less
frustration for both human and dog. Enjoying the favorable aspects, such as spontaneous dog hugs (leaning into a leg), paw offering and a head
laid on the lap are just a few of the many rewards.
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