02/12/2025
BORN THIS WAY?
Do we automatically expect certain breeds to behave in a certain way because of their genetics?
Why is a dog the way they are? Are they just born this way?
Genetics certainly play a part, but genetics are not always a reliable predicter of behaviour.
Genetics may provide us with insight as to what could be expected, but it’s so much more than just that.
Genetics, environment, life experiences and individuality all play a role in shaping a dog’s behaviour.
Just like us, dogs are unique individuals, each with their own personalities, emotions, likes and dislikes, sociability, preferences or different health issues. These often change throughout life.
Just as we learn and change through our life experiences, so do dogs. Negative or positive experiences, trauma, stress, learnt habits, training methods, trust, feeling safe and secure, predictability and stability are all part of how these types of experiences affect behaviour.
Many dogs live in environments that are not compatible with what they were selectively bred to do.
People bred dogs to do certain jobs like guarding, herding, hunting, pointing, scenting, tracking or companionship.
When dogs that were bred for specific jobs, find themselves “unemployed” and have no outlet for what they were originally bred to do, this often leads to pent up frustration and behaviour problems.
Conflict between the environment and a dog’s genetics are an increasingly common reason for behaviour problems.
Yes, a dog may have just been “born this way”, but always look at the whole picture to understand the why of behaviour.
Genetics, environment, individuality and experiences – they all matter.
