Top Tips for Understanding Your Dog's Behavior by Breed

Behavior of a dog is most largely determined by its breed. Spread over hundreds of years, many breeds of dogs were selectively bred to serve various purposes such as herding, hunting, guarding, or companionship. Variations from one breed to another owe much to how certain behaviors and instincts have been more apparent in certain breeds than others. By understanding the traits associated with a dog’s breed, you can better meet their needs and form a stronger bond with your pet. Here are some top tips for interpreting and responding to your dog’s behavior based on its breed.

 1. Herding Breeds: Expect High Energy and Strong Work Ethic

Herding dogs such as Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, and Shetland Sheepdogs were developed to manage livestock, thereby instilling a natural instinct to herd and direct movement in them; this type of dog is incredibly intelligent with an immense amount of work ethic and needs to be constantly engaged at mental and physical stimulation levels to be content. If you have a herding breed, get ready for a dog that thrives on doing something. They need exercise or stimulation or they'll get bored, anxious, and destructive, among many other undesirable behaviors.

Suggestion: Expose these breeds to complex thinking exercises, including puzzle toys, obedience training, or agility exercises. They can burn out their excess energy through regular walks and playing sessions, which will help avoid problems like excessive barking or nipping.

2. Retrievers and Sporting Breeds: Keep Them Occupied with Fetch and Games

Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and other sporting breeds were bred to hunt and retrieve game when it was found. Their genetic instincts left them with all the wants of living in social harmony and to play. Retrievers need opportunities to express natural retrieving behaviors such as playing fetch.

Tip:

 Keep your retriever active by playing catch or other water-based activities-they seem to love swimming-and can also make excellent candidates for advanced training, agility, or even therapy work, as they are usually eager to please and learn.

3. Guarding Breeds: Provide Consistent Training and Leadership

Those breeds that were bred for guarding property and livestock include Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, and German Shepherds. These types of dogs are instinctively protective, loyal, and will often distrust strangers. Although the breeds excel as guard dogs on account of their strong instincts in defense, proprietors need to set strong parameters by training them early and exhibiting leadership in front of the dog to prevent aggression and territorial responses.

Tip:

Socialize any guarding breed early and often to help them feel comfortable in a variety of environments and situations. You can then use positive reinforcement training to teach them what appropriate behavior is and trust with their owners.

4. Toy Breeds: Watch for Separation Anxiety or Attention-Seeking Behavior

Among the smallest breeds, there are some which can be tiny but boast big personalities, such as the Chihuahua, Shih Tzu, and Pomeranian. Many toy breeds were bred primarily for companionship and have strong ties to their owners. They may also be more likely to engage in attention-seeking behavior or experience separation anxiety if left alone. Some toy breeds, however-including Pekingese breeds-are generally independent and not needy of constant interaction.

TIP

For toy breeds that attach to their toys, take time to leave them alone for a few minutes so they do not have separation anxiety. You may leave interesting toys or puzzle toys when you are away from them. For more independent toy breeds respect their space, yet make sure they get enough love and attention to keep them satisfied.

5. Terriers Plan for Stubbornness and a Strong Prey Drive

Terriers-think Jack Russell, Airedale, and Bull Terrier-were bred for hunting and digging out vermin. This means they have a high prey drive, a tendency to be bold, and fearless, and this can create the innate ability to be stubborn. While terriers are generally small to medium dogs, they have large personalities, which can be pretty energetic. Their strong-willed nature sometimes makes them a little harder to train than other breeds.

Tip:

 Instruct a terrier positively with patience, and they do best on short and varied sessions interspersed at frequent, changing intervals. Do not ignore their high prey drive, especially for small animals. Exercise such an intense instinct widely in control, for instance, digging or running, to fulfill this need.

6. Sighthounds: Expect Calmness Indoors but Intense Speed Outdoors

Greyhounds, Whippets, and Afghan Hounds are only a few examples of breeds that have been bred for speed and agility. These dogs were bred to chase game by sighting it, which generally makes their hunting nature quite hardwired to run after everything that moves. Sighthounds are rather athletic but relaxed inside their homes. Once they've had their daily exercises, they tend to lounge for hours on end.

Note:

If you have a sight hound, prepare for safely open space to run in or out at their own pace in a fenced yard or areas they may be taken to off-leash. Although gentle and quiet within the house, take extreme caution leaving them off-leash outside because they must run down everything that moves.

 7. Hounds: Follow Your Nose (or Voice)

While scent hounds like the Beagle and Bloodhound have been bred to track a given scent over thousands of yards, the sighthound, such as the Greyhound, trusts his sharp eyesight. They are led by their nose or eyes. As such, once they encounter an exciting scent or view prey they can become singularly focused. Their other hallmark is vocalization-beagles, for example, have a very distinctive baying bark.

Tip:

For nose hounds, give them the opportunity to exercise their instincts by doing scent work activities or setting up a scent game in the house. Do not let them off-leash on walks as the nose might take them anywhere at all, and while trying to retrieve them, it may become very challenging to get them to follow your commands. You should also train them well on the basic command "come.".

8. Working Breeds: Give them a Job

Those are breeds such as Boxers, Great Danes, and Siberian Huskies that were bred to do something-specifically pull sleds or protect the home. You would normally expect them to be enormous, powerful, energetic dogs, built for a purpose. Without an outlet for their bodies and minds, working breeds tend to get bored and destructive or worse.

Give working breeds something to do - hike, obedience training, carting, etc. These dogs need a purpose, and even a structured task helps prevent behaviors such as chewing or digging.

 Knowledge of breed and the behavior traits associated with your dog will make your relationship an easy one. As with every breed, there will be certain instincts, needs, and challenges, so you'll want to tailor your care and training to suit the individual breed. Since every dog is unique and may not necessarily embody the stereotype of its breed, it's nice to recognize and respect what comes along with certain breeds to better meet their needs and foster a happy, well-adjusted pet.