What Your Dog's Behavior Says About Their Breed

Every dog owner knows that the furry friend has his own personality, full of oddities and peculiarities that make him special. Yet, many of them are the result of the breed of the dog. For centuries, selective breeding for a specific function - whether herding, guarding or retrieving - has not only created differences in the appearance of breeds but also in their instincts, temperament, and behavior. These traits can provide you with great insight into what your dog is doing and, therefore what he might need in terms of care and training.

1. Genetic Factors Influencing Behavior

Just as breed can define a dog's size, coat type, and physical abilities, it also defines how a dog acts. While a large role in every dog is personality, there are several breeds that have characteristics common to each because they are based on the historical function for which they were bred to perform. Many of these inherited behaviors tend to reflect the work for which they were originally bred. By learning about the instincts and tendencies associated with your dog's breed, you can further understand why they behave the way that they do.

2. Behavioral Traits by Breed Group

The American Kennel Club (AKC) establishes seven key breed groups based on the historical purpose for which breeds were developed. When considering specific breeds within a group, certain behavioral traits tend to be common across those breeds.

a. Sporting Group

Sporting Group breeds, such as Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, and Spaniels, were bred to assist hunters by retrieving game or flushing birds out of bushes. These dogs tend to have a high energy level, friendly personality, and a natural love for water.

- Behavioral Characteristics:

 Sporting dogs are social, love to please, and tend to have an innate desire to retrieve. If your dog does nothing but bring you toys to throw-or even has an affinity for water-then it's probably in part sporting.

This says about their breed: Very good family pets due to the friendly outgoing nature, but they are energetic in nature and very much require lots of exercise.

b. Herding Group

The herding dogs, or Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, and German Shepherds, were bred to work on controlling livestock. Such dogs are very intelligent and alert in their nature and thrive on having a job to do.

Behavior Traits: 

These group of animals have strong instincts on chases, herding, and keeping things ordered. You may even experience your herding dog circling other pets, children, or even adults as if gathering a flock. These are highly trainable and require mental stimulation to avoid boredom.

- What It Says About Their Breed: 

A herding dog will thrive for exercise and do well in jobs they can perform or agility training. They tend to make good working dogs because of their loyalty and intelligence, but under those who don't challenge them sufficiently, they can become destructive.

c. Working Group

Examples of working dogs are the Rottweiler, Doberman Pinscher, and the Saint Bernard. These breeds were bred to provide different services, which included guarding, pulling sleds, or doing rescue work. Those breeds are characterized by strength and confidence and have a naturally watchful nature.

- Behavior Traits: 

Behavior traits in the working dogs include bravery, protective, and reliable. They will naturally start standing guard around doors or sticking close to family members when in strange conditions. They will not only be independent thinkers but will also pose some challenges in the training area.

- What It Tells About The Breed:

 Protective instincts fit them well with guard dog roles, but they must be socialized to avoid confusing visitors with menace. They sometimes demand experienced handlers who can maintain consistent leadership and training.

d. Terrier Group

This includes the Jack Russell, Bull Terrier, and Scottish Terrier, bred originally to hunt vermin and therefore aggressive, feisty, and full of a strong prey drive.

- Behavior Traits :

 Terriers are highly energetic with tendencies to chase and dig. You'll see your terrier zipping around after squirrels or digging holes in the lawn all the time. Another personality defining feature is their bravado; they do seem fearless although they are small animals.

- What It Tells You About Their Breed :

 Terriers should be trained to be firm regarding their independent nature, and their energy level must be always channeled out. One thing good about them is their tenacity. However, in terms of training, this can sometimes bring problematic factors in a stubborn attitude. Patience is therefore important.

 e. Hound Group

Breeds of hounds include Beagles, Bloodhounds, and Greyhounds, among others, and they were bred for the purpose of tracking down prey. Scent hounds follow scents, whereas sight hounds rely on their sight and speed to hunt.

Behavior Traits:

- Hounds are born-to-be-followers-of-their-noses, or they are born-to-chase-movement type. If your dog's attention is drawn to everything that smells, or he takes after anything that moves, these are sure giveaways that he has hound in him. Hound dogs also bay: they are loud, distinctive barks, usually when on the scent of something.

- What It Says About Their Breed :

 Hounds tend to be independent and, therefore, can take more work to train to recall themselves, as they lose focus for smells or movement. Such a strong tracking instinct is useful while on the hunt but not safe as a pet unless there is an enormously secure yard, or house, for fear of them wandering off.

f. Toy Group

Toy breeds-including Chihuahua, Pomeranian, and Maltese, for example-have been developed as companions. Fragile in build, these dogs often have big egos to match.

- Behavioral Characteristic: 

Toy breeds are normally affectionate, alert, and sometimes protective of the owner. Though small in size, most toy dogs have a very bold and bossy personality. You may even find that your toy breed pays much attention to your emotions or undertakes a task like that of a "watchdog," where it barks at strangers.

- What It Tells About Their Breed : 

These dogs rely on human interaction for survival and sometimes form very close relationships with the owners. They don't require as much bodily exercise as massive breeds, but they do demand mental stimulation and so used to socialization to avoid small dog syndrome: where they act too dominant or anxious about being small.

g. Non-Sporting Group

The Non-Sporting Group is an incongruous lot of breeds. These are some of the most fascinating and colorful varieties, while others-thoroughly Non-Sporting-constitute a pretty curious mix. This group runs the gamut in temperament and behavior, for the breeds included were put together for so many different purposes.

- Behavioral Traits: 

With so many breeds under the classification, even behavior will vary a good deal. The Bulldog is generally calm and hard-headed, while the Poodle is intelligent and never still. Be sure to observe the temperament of your non-sporting breed as well as the individual characteristics and tendencies of each dog.

- What It Says About Their Breed: 

Because this group of dogs encompasses such a wide range of breeds, their behavior will reflect the specific uses they were bred for: be it companionship, guarding or even doing tricks. Knowing your breed's history will bring you closer to understanding them.

3. Using Breed Behavior as a Tool

While breed tendencies can provide a general overview of a dog's behavior, it is also important to remember that every dog is an individual. Besides training and socialization, a dog's environment, among many other factors, determines the dog's behavior. However, knowledge of your dog's breed, in terms of its genetic predispositions, may serve as a guideline in knowing where to start in giving them the appropriate kind of training, exercise, and stimulation they need to be happy and healthy.

For example:

- If your working dog breeds such as Rottweiler, be prepared for their instinct of protection. Make sure that dog is well socialized.

- A herding dog like Border Collie requires a lot of physical and mental stimulation; consider agility work or other activities.

- If you have a hound, make sure that the yard you stay in is safe, because of their strong tracking instinct, they might leave out searching for a smell.

The breed says it all about what the dog will eventually behave like and even needs. The individual personality and upbringing, is going to always play a huge role in what a dog would do, but most behaviors are engraved deep within the history of what their breed is. Knowing how to respect these natural tendencies can make for a much richer life on your part for your dog to live a life that's happy, healthy, and well-balanced.