02 Nov Species-specific and breed-specific behaviour in dogs
The existence of species-specific behavioural patterns is deeply rooted in a dog’s genes. It means that dogs have a strong need to behave in certain ways that are natural to their species. When they are prevented from doing so, their wellbeing begins to suffer. They become stressed and may even develop health problems.
Breed differences exist, but they are not as great as you might think
Through selective breeding, humans have sought to influence the characteristics of different dog breeds in many ways, including hunting behaviour. These tendencies are often referred to as breed-specific behaviour. A herding dog may herd by stalking, for example, but it does not kill sheep, while companion dogs often have a less pronounced prey drive.
However, selective breeding has not significantly changed dogs’ underlying behavioural needs. Although different breeds may have stronger tendencies towards certain behaviours than others, the species-specific needs of dogs remain deeply ingrained, regardless of their breed, original purpose, size or appearance.
This is why we need to understand dogs first as a species, and only then as individual breeds. After that, we need to get to know the individual dog we share our lives with, because the strength of certain behavioural needs can vary from one individual to another. Understanding these differences allows us to anticipate our dogs’ needs and makes everyday life together much smoother.
What do you expect from your dog?
We expect and demand all sorts of things from dogs that are actually quite unnatural for them. Their normal behaviour can therefore conflict with the expectations of our society and/or their owners. A good example is walking on a lead and passing other dogs in confined spaces. Neither is particularly natural for dogs or part of their normal ways of moving around. It is almost a miracle that we don’t see even more problems with dogs passing each other on leads.
Dogs are also often expected to behave in a certain way automatically: to be nice, polite and, essentially, as unobtrusive as possible. At the very least, they should be friendly towards everyone, everywhere. If they are not, and they growl to ask for space when a stranger bends over them, displaying perfectly normal canine communication, they are labelled as having a temperament problem. Their owner may even be criticised for it.
From a dog’s perspective, an unattended breakfast sandwich is prey, and whoever gets there first gets to take it. Barking at the doorbell may get on the owner’s nerves, but for a dog it is perfectly normal guarding behaviour and communication. Many breeds have been developed specifically to guard and alert their owners to things happening around them.
We also often approach dogs, including our own, in the wrong way and ignore the signals they use to communicate discomfort. Dogs are also expected to entertain themselves quietly when left alone for long periods, even though they are social pack animals.
On top of all this, humans have a rather bad habit, especially in the rush of everyday life, of simply assuming that dogs know how we want them to behave. We forget that we can actually train our dogs. At the same time, we forget that even through training, a dog cannot learn to do something that is simply beyond its capabilities. Anthropomorphising dogs begins when we forget which species we share our lives with.
Dogs and their environment
Conflicts are particularly likely to arise when a breed developed for a specific purpose is placed in an environment where its very nature is at odds with everything around it. Or when it is expected to do something that is simply impossible for that particular breed. You cannot train a spitz to stop barking any more than you can expect a livestock guardian dog to always be a sociable, tail-wagging friend to strangers. There are also plenty of herding dogs that chase passers-by instead of sheep, and greyhounds that have never been given the chance to run.
When considering what is normal behaviour for a dog and what its behavioural needs are, it is worth asking ourselves how much we are willing to adapt our own thinking to accommodate the dog. Does it really matter if the dog digs a hole in the garden or barks at the doorbell? Of course, if a behaviour is harmful to the dog or its surroundings, we need to address it. But often, simply reminding ourselves which species we are dealing with can make a big difference. No matter how much we train, we cannot train a dog to be something else. A dog needs to be allowed to be a dog as much as possible.
A useful habit is to keep a record of your dog’s activities for a week and consider how much of its everyday life involves things that are natural to dogs as a species. At the same time, you can write down all the different situations in which your dog’s behaviour may be causing difficulties. Then take a closer look: could this actually be perfectly normal canine behaviour that simply feels challenging from a human perspective? Only after that should you consider whether anything can or needs to be done about it, and if so, what.
The need doesn’t disappear, it will find another outlet
Behavioural needs are so deeply rooted that if a dog is unable to fulfil them, it becomes stressed and may even develop health problems. Particularly when we restrict a certain behaviour, we need to provide the dog with an opportunity to fulfil that need in another way.
This is what enrichment is all about: any activity that allows a dog to fulfil its species-specific behavioural needs. Enrichment is most commonly associated with searching for food or eating, but it can just as well involve energetic exercise, swimming, predatory play, meeting canine friends, mental activities or herding.
Dogs try to fulfil their behavioural needs using whatever means are available to them. If they don’t have enough opportunities, they may eventually lose interest in things that would normally bring them pleasure and become passive. A dog may seem easy to care for, when in reality it has reached a state where hardly anything brings it enjoyment anymore. If a dog does nothing but sleep, there is probably something wrong.
It is our responsibility as owners to make our dogs’ everyday lives as enriching and suitable for them as possible. Even small changes can improve a dog’s overall wellbeing. A variety of enrichment activities should be part of every dog’s daily life. This doesn’t require circus tricks, just an understanding of a few basic principles.
A dog needs to be allowed to be a dog as much as possible.
Get out into the forest!
The forest and spending time in nature are natural environments for dogs. It is perfectly normal for dogs to roam over large areas at a relaxed pace, sometimes covering long distances, sniffing, wandering back and forth, perhaps breaking into a run for a moment before settling down to investigate something at their own pace. If you can take your dog into the forest every day, you are already doing a tremendous amount for its wellbeing. Being off lead is, of course, ideal, but a long line also gives a dog the opportunity to explore and move at its own pace.
Spending time outdoors is not the same as going for a walk. What dogs really need is time outside that allows them to explore the world through their noses. It is incredibly sad if a dog spends week after week marching briskly around the same block in a human-created environment, including parks. Every dog should have the opportunity to visit a proper forest regularly, at least a couple of times a week. Every outing should be a leisurely exploration of the world, often taking you somewhere new. Simply lounging in the garden or a fenced run is no substitute for species-appropriate outdoor activities.
Perhaps dogs, as masters of adaptation, make things a little too easy for us all the time. They simply accept their lot.
A predator is not happy eating from a bowl
Food bowls are a human invention and, with a few exceptions, completely unnecessary when feeding dogs. Throughout their evolution, dogs have needed to be able to search for food for extended periods and work hard to obtain it. Behavioural needs related to hunting are therefore extremely important to dogs, and searching for food is simply something they enjoy.
A dog’s mouth is designed for gnawing, tearing, ripping and breaking apart prey. Feeding a dog from a bowl does absolutely nothing to fulfil this need. A lack of opportunities to chew and use the mouth can quickly show up in your home furnishings, particularly if your dog is a puppy or adolescent with plenty of excess energy looking for an outlet.
Fortunately, moving away from feeding your dog exclusively from a bowl is very easy. You can simply scatter its kibble on the grass or serve its food in different enrichment toys, either shop-bought or homemade. There is also a huge variety of edible chews available, so there should be suitable options for many different dogs.
Are you really present? Is your phone in your pocket?
Dogs are social animals and need the company of their family and owner. They usually learn to rest alone during working hours quite easily, but they still need us to spend time with them outside those hours. To a dog, its owner is often its entire world. If we never seem to have time for them, they can experience loneliness and a sense of being abandoned.
Simply going for walks together is unfortunately not enough, especially if you spend the time looking at your phone. It is worth asking yourself when you are genuinely present with your dog, or whether you ever really are. Do you train, teach, pet and communicate with your dog? Are you truly there with them, both mentally and physically? Sit on a rock beside your dog, put your phone away and simply watch the world together.
You also need to make sure your dog has opportunities to interact with other dogs. Some breeds and individuals may be happier living without canine companions, but most dogs benefit from the company of their own kind. Quality matters more than quantity, and one playdate a week with a good friend may already be enough. During puppyhood and adolescence, you should also take the needs associated with each developmental stage into account.
What expectations have you placed on your dog?
Perhaps dogs, as masters of adaptation, make things a little too easy for us all the time. They simply accept their lot. Maybe we need more dogs who stop in their tracks to investigate an interesting scent, steal food and turn themselves into muddy, disobedient little furballs by diving into every puddle they can find. They remind us what it is really all about: a dialogue between two different species, a willingness to understand one another and the ability to accept that neither of us is perfect.
As long as dogs live alongside us in human society, they may develop problems simply because they are not allowed or able to be themselves. Selective breeding may still focus on enhancing sporting abilities in some breeds and other characteristics, such as being easy to live with, in others. But they are still dogs. They may look very different from one another, but they all belong to the same species.
Remember to give your own dog something today that it genuinely values. And only ask it to do things that it can do as a dog, and that you have also trained it to do when necessary.
Original author Piia Collan, 20 October 2023
Author Piia Collan
Piia Collan is a professional dog trainer based in Vääksy, Finland, working with dogs and their people at every stage of life. She helps build strong everyday skills, balanced training routines and a deeper cooperation between dogs and handlers — from puppies to adult and senior dogs. Piia’s approach is tailored to each dog and family, grounded in modern, dog-friendly training methods that support both learning and overall well-being. Her services are available locally, across Finland and internationally through online training and lectures. She offers private coaching, home visits, phone consultations, live online seminars and training courses. In addition, Piia provides exclusive in-home dog care, where dogs become part of her daily life during their stay. She also works closely with breeders and canine organizations, supporting responsible training and lifelong dog welfare.
Latest articles & product guides
- Species-specific and breed-specific behaviour in dogs
The existence of species-specific behavioural patterns is deeply rooted in a dog’s genes. It means that dogs have a strong need to behave in certain ways that are natural to their species. When they are prevented from doing so, their wellbeing begins to suffer. They… - Joy of Dog Sports training toys: which dog training toy is right for your dog?
Choosing the right training toy can make a surprisingly big difference to how much your dog enjoys playing and how useful the toy is in training. But with different shapes, sizes, fillings and designs available, how do you know which dog training toy is the… - Dog stress and recovery
Dogs tolerate stress differently depending on factors such as their genetics and personality, age and stage of development, intended purpose, health and previous experiences. Stress cannot be avoided completely and there is no reason to fear mild stress. Most dogs cope well even with intense… - When your dog turns out not to be easy
Not every dog is easy. Not every story can be neatly put back together. Not every kind of difficulty fits under the same heading. There are the ordinary challenges of everyday life that almost every dog owner encounters. And then there are situations that begin… - The teenage dog phase
Adolescence is a long developmental stage that begins when the sensitive socialization period ends and puppyhood comes to a close. Some dogs mature well before the age of two, while for others the process takes significantly longer. This long teenage phase can be filled with…
No Comments