Why Does My Dog Do The Things He Does?

Dogs have a language all of their own and it has been passed down from generation to generation, much like we humans pass down our behavior to our children and their children and so on.

Dogs use body movement, facial expressions, and vocalization to communicate with us and their environment. Dogs speak to us plainly and clearly in their language, with a little effort you can learn how to speak your dog’s language.

Interpreting the movement of your dog’s tail, ears, and body can often provide surprisingly quick insight into your dog’s actions and behavior.

Let’s take a look at eight interesting behaviors dogs display. It’s hard to believe that modern day dogs descended from the wild Grey Wolf yet this heritage is responsible for most of our dog’s behavior. Our wonderful domesticated dogs have natural instincts forged over several thousand years of living as pack animals.

LEADER OF THE PACK

Dogs have a pack mentality derived from their ancestors. The success of the wolf pack depends on one thing, a strong ALPHA leader. Wolves hunted, sleep, ate, and traveled together; a wolf pack is a highly functional family. That explains why dogs fit so fine into a family setting.

In every pack a social hierarchy would form with the strong leader at the top and the most submissive wolves at the bottom. For the domesticated dog, his family is his pack. Even if you live alone with your dog, you are still a pack of two. It's important for the socialization of your dog that you take the role of the leader in this relationship. Be the ALPHA, your dog needs the security the relationship brings and the dogs overall all behavior will be appropriate. Dogs need reassurance that the leader accepts their behavior, by giving your dog positive feedback to reward good behavior; you will be eliminating the bad.

AGGRESSION FOR SURVIVAL

As you can imagine living in a pack of wolfs aggression would be necessary for survival. It is a deeply ingrained instinct within our domesticated dogs today. The wolf’s aggression helped establish their territory, maintain their rank in the pack, protect their food supply and drive away would be thieves. Today, by giving our domesticated dog security and proper socialization will allow no room for aggressive behavior to begin.

NO TRESPRASSING

Territorial urinating or growling behavior is used to mark their turf, literately. I have watched my male dog have nothing left to give and still hike his leg to every brush in yard. This same territorial behavior is exhibited each time the dog barks when a stranger or another dog approaches his land. Simple put our dogs are much like their sensible families going around marking trees with NO TRESPRASSING signs.

LET GO OF MY EGO

Within a pack if you don’t protect your food you don’t eat. Easy to understand why dogs guard their food, this is a deeply ingrained instinct within your dog’s genetic makeup. When there is more than one dog in the family it is natural and acceptable for a dog to protect his dog food, but aggressive food guarding toward the ALPHA or any other family member is not OK. Correct with kindness and respect for better results.

FLIGHT OR FIGHT

Wolves and dogs alike have extraordinarily keen eyesight, with highly developed peripheral vision, which allows them to perceive the slightest movement. At the first sign of danger they instinctively flee. Flight is sensible for the dog. This same behavior can sever to protect our dogs or have opposite effect when not entirely under our control. A sudden loud noise or a excited crowd and our dog is off like a shot, possibly rushing into a oncoming car. This instinct reinforces how important a good leash is for your dog. Trust me your dog needs to know that you are in charge and that he can relax in your sensible hands, providing him with safety and confidence.

YOU RUN I CHASE

I can tell you why your dog started chasing cars. Wolves automatically pursue anything that runs from them; leaving no chase that dinner will get away. Although our dogs have their meals served up on silver plates and beautiful dog bowls it is still their nature to chase down anything that runs. If your dog decides to chase joggers, bicycles, and running children you could have a serious problem especially if your dog is large and powerful. This is when having a good fence protects you the dog owner and the neighborhood children, just good sensible dog ownership.

DOG JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN

Dogs were meant for interaction with one another and with families. Have you noticed the extraordinary sense of fun and play that is integral part of their social behavior? The family is outside playing together and your dog runs over and assumes the play bow. Dogs front shoulders drop quickly to the ground, leaving his rump up in the air with his tailing wagging and his tongue out, ready for PLAY!

Our dogs shower us with affection each greeting and other dogs with licks and kisses, usually around the face and the muzzle, each and every time they meet. Dogs that live together create a astonishing bond of love and respect. Our dogs take time every day to play every day social interaction is as important to our dogs as it is for our well being. An isolated dog or person that doesn’t share life with those around them is an unhappy fellow.

This is an important trait in our dogs because if not happy then our dogs become destructive, could create excessive barking, and worse aggression. So please the next time your dog licks you to death or brings his favorite ball to play, stop and have some fun with your sensible dog.

BORN TO BARK

Just like we sensible people our dogs love to chat. People shout, scream, yell, and whisper to communicate. Our dogs whine, yip, bark, growl and howling to communicate with one another and their families. Good communication was supportive of wolf pack survival.

Our dogs are expressing their emotions; happiness, loneliness, concern, fear, and warnings. Our little inside dog Pocahontas sings a woooof, wooof  woof, to greet us each time we come home, it is precious. Dog communicating verbally is quite natural but nobody loves a constantly barking dog. With love you can teach your dog acceptable limits, it is up to you as the leader of the pack.

SO THAT’S WHY

Understanding your dog’s habits and behavior means a more sensible relationship for both you and your dog.  Knowing your dog is the first step toward creating a strong friendship. It should now be easy to be more tolerant of behaviors that dogs really were born to exhibit. Use your new knowledge to create a happy, healthy, and well behaved dog.

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