Dog behavior
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Dog behavior refers to the instincts that influence how a dog would react to any given situation or stimulus as determined by genetics and the environment.
Many books and articles have shared the common knowledge that dogs are pack animals. They prefer a social lifestyle similar to a human family. This truth does not always clarify the fact that dogs do vary in their pack drives or that their pack structure is not static. Lower pack drive or more independence will mean that companionship and attention do not typically rate highly as motivators.
In fact, dogs need to learn how to play. Indeed, of all the drives listed, play drive seems to be the one that is not inherently part of every dog's genetic make up. For wolves and other wild canids, play is the educational mechanism for puppies. For a domesticated dog, these behaviors are not as critical.
A dog possessed with a strong prey drive will often be found reacting to virtually anything that moves. Prey drive is an important component to many aspects of a dog's personality, social behavior, work and play.
Self preservation drives can include simple behaviors like avoidance and even hiding. This basic instinctual drive, to avoid and prevent the unpleasant, is based in the instinct to survive. As such, a dog taught to learn to accept and enjoy a wide variety of experiences helps assure that its responses are appropriate. Inappropriate responses are generally referred to as "sharp-shy," anxiety or fear-based aggression or aggressive posturing, among others.
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[edit] Behavior
Dog behavior is similar in many respects to wolf behavior but is "dumbed down" in many respects as well. Association between the two is rarely made during most behavior issues but clear resemblence is often seen. Dogs are generally less defensive and abrasive in behaviors than wolves, having more at ease social behaviors that would be considered threatening to wolves.
[edit] Behavior with humans
[edit] Behavior with other dogs
[edit] Food aggression
Food aggression occurs for one of two reasons,dominence or simply an instinctive fear due to the natural tendency of animals to protect their food which has been scarce and difficult to obtain throughout the history of the species
[edit] Territory
Territory is a major part in male dog psychology but is almost absent in many females. In many canine species territory is marked by urination or other forms of scent markings on objects.
[edit] Dominating behaviors
[edit] Forced submission
A dominant dog or a dog attempting to become dominant forces another dog to roll on its back and expose its vulnerable throat and underside. The paws are drawn into the body. This is often accompanied by whimpering.
[edit] Eye contact (dominant stare)
Eye contact can be used as a threat challenge or even an act of dominance. A dog will stare at the opponent's eyes until the opponent backs down, if not the dog trying to hold or gain dominance will try other methods.
[edit] Tail up
Tail up can mean one of two things: excitement and dominance. It has been theorized that some breeds naturally have their tail up and therefore that behavior has no connection to dominance in certain breeds.
