Training For Breed Instincts

GENETICS AND THE IMPACT ON YOUR DOG’S BEHAVIOR

Do you ever wonder why different dogs are easier to train in certain behaviors than others?

Genetics are involved. Your dog’s genetics have an influence on your dog’s behavior and plays a role not only in what inborn skills he might have, but in who he is – whether he is friendly or reserved with strangers, a high-drive athlete, or a snuggly couch potato.

After thousands of years of selective breeding in the dog world we’ve been able to develop specific lines of dogs who are consistently driven to retrieve things, herd sheep, guard our homes, track rabbits, hunt by scent, sight or protect livestock, and so on. These behaviors come naturally without effort like a pre-existing genetic blueprint.

Understanding that genetic component influencing your dog’s behavior will help you be more effective in creating a training

PawsAllInDogTraining.com plan for your dog. For example, as a Nose Work Instructor, I know that different breeds have different searching styles. My German Shorthaired Pointer, Sailor, is a hunting breed. His breed is “an all-purpose gun dog suitable for both land and water” (Wikipedia). “The GSP was bred to point, retrieve, trail wounded game, hunt both large and small game, furred and feathered and to work in low or heavy cover as well as water. The dog was also intended to be a family companion”. (German Shorthaired Pointer Club of America)

As a hunting breed, my dog’s preference is to move great distances and air scent. He uses his nose more than his eyes naturally when he is searching. This natural trait helps him follow odor and not guide his decisions by just checking the objects presented in the environment. So as you might expect my dog loves to play the game of hunting odor.

Another one of my dogs, Tango is a Scottish Terrier mix. Scottish terriers were originally bred to be hunters of vermin, specifically badgers. “The Scottie working style has been described as efficient and businesslike, and their aloofness toward strangers makes them excellent watchdogs”. (American Kennel Club)

In this case, my dog Tango, is an active high energetic dog that thrives on training tricks and playing the sports of Agility and Flyball. His aloofness towards strangers is a trait that I always take in account in my training so he can feel comfortable in the presence of different people.

Every dog is different, and every dog has a genetic background that they bring with them. Knowing and understanding why your dog offers certain behaviors naturally will help you be a proactive pet parent by defining a training plan adjusted to your dog’s specific needs.