Dog Care 101 Tip #190: Understanding Your Dog’s Personality
BestBullySticks.com knows that all dogs are different, with their own unique quirks and characteristics. But did you know that much of what makes up your dog’s temperament is determined by genetic influencers and instinctive behaviors passed down from their parents? Understanding your dog’s personality can help you understand the way they act, view the world and can help in training your dog. BBS thinks these methods developed by Jack and Wendy Volhard will not only help you understand your dog more completely, but grow your relationship. Read on to take the Dog Personality Test!
Your dog’s behaviors can be lumped together into three broad motivations, called drives.
Prey: Is your dog easily excited by motion, sounds or smells? Or does your dog live for chasing small animals or destroying their toys? These are examples of prey drive.
Pack: This motivator relates back to when wild dogs were a part of larger groups of dogs. Dogs with a high pack drive will long to be a part of a social hierarchy; meaning they love working on a team, physical contact and playing. They show reproductive behaviors like mounting and cleaning behaviors, like licking ears. Petting, grooming and close companionship is desired by this dog and being left alone is not.
Defense: Fight and flight behaviors are found in defense drives, which makes this motivator more complex. A very territorial, protective dog that doesn’t like grooming or petting exhibits fight behaviors. Flight behaviors are shown by a dog who is unsure in any situation, hides and runs away and simply lacks confidence. This is seen more in young dogs. Read more
