There has long been debate about what actually influences dog behavior. Dogs can vary greatly in personality, with some being overly fearful and others being aggressive. Why do some become aggressive towards people and animals, while others become friends with children and cats? In fact, there are several factors that most dog trainers agree on. Let’s find out in this article what factors influence the behavior of pets.
Heredity is the first factor
According to some dog trainers, heredity is of paramount importance. Many dog owners even do a dog dna test to find out what breeds their dogs have – this makes it clear what health or behavioral problems the dog may have. Genetics is the cornerstone of a puppy’s life and destiny. But finding a dog with good nerves, brains, character, and health is a super task that requires not so much even the qualifications of a specialist as luck. Dog handlers believe that you can get in contact with some conscientious, diligent breeders, but this is not a guarantee of good qualities in a given puppy. Genetics is a very complex science. In order to ensure that from generation to generation only individuals are produced in breeding that correspond to the characteristics that we expect from dogs, very serious and thoughtful selection work is needed.
A separate topic is the health of the dog. And here we will also refer to heredity. Some dog breeds have breed-specific diseases. Common ones are joint dysplasia or epilepsy, for example. Such diseases can indirectly affect behavior. Why? The dog is in pain, and this causes stress in the animal – accordingly, the pet may begin to behave more aggressively or fearfully, and possibly refuse to communicate. In fact, people also behave this way when they are sick. In addition, genes determine physical characteristics such as size and strength – this can also influence behavior. For example, larger and stronger dogs may exhibit more dominant behavior. It is also believed that genetics determines a dog’s energy level. Accordingly, this factor will influence the dog’s activity and need for physical activity.
Education is the second factor
Very often, ordinary people and journalists confuse a lack of education with aggressiveness, bad nerves, and strength of character. Any puppy entering a family must be aware of social norms. Only a person can explain them. Many owners do not realize that their dogs bite passers-by and other dogs not because they are bad or aggressive, but because they were not raised. This is pedagogical neglect. You can raise your pet throughout its entire life.
If people take a puppy with good nerves due to heredity and start raising it seriously from scratch, then we end up with a very good story: the pet is happy with its owners, the owners are safe, and everyone is happy with society. Raising a dog takes two years.
You can continue to educate at absolutely any age, but you need to understand that correcting is always more labor-intensive than doing it from scratch. And before you adopt a dog, just weigh all the circumstances and admit to yourself that this is a lot of disciplined people. If you understand that you are absolutely not going to take on this responsibility, simply do not torture the animal and do not create problems for society.
Socialization is the third factor
Socialization is another important factor in dog behavior. Proper exposure to the environment, people, and other animals from an early age helps dogs grow into well-adjusted adults. Lack of socialization can lead to fearfulness, aggression, or anxiety. That is, you need to understand that the dog needs to be introduced to the world around him from childhood. Then you can avoid problems when, on a walk, the dog starts barking at every bush. Re-education in the future will be very difficult. You need to ensure that the puppy gets a positive experience from communicating with both people and other animals. The puppy needs a little guidance in communication so that he becomes self-confident and adaptable. Ongoing socialization throughout the dog’s life is necessary to maintain these positive behaviors.
Such preparation in the future will help a dog at any age to easily adapt to any situation. Lack of socialization can lead to behavioral problems, including fear-based aggression and excessive shyness. To prevent this from happening, taking your dog to dog parks, puppy classes, and supervised playdates are all great ways to socialize young dogs. Socialization should be a gradual process, that is, you should ensure that each new experience is positive and not depressing for the puppy. Well-socialized dogs tend to be happier, more confident, and better companions. You can often see people going shopping and even traveling with such dogs.
