Behaviorism of Dogs

All dogs are different and display their own unique characteristics, but there are some common behavior traits that most dogs may display. The behavior of the dog could be hereditary, or due to generations of its breed being bred to perform a certain task. Dogs' behavior can also be caused by their past experiences. Identifying and understanding your dog's behavior can help you be more successful in training it and enjoying your time with "man's best friend."

  1. Dominant Behavior

    • Dogs sometime display dominant behavior or think it's the alpha in its family. The dog might growl or bark when it wants its owner to do something for it. Dominant dogs may growl or bite other people or dogs when they feel threatened. They may also be aggressive when something gets too close to their food or bone. Dominant dogs may also nudge their owners when they want to be petted and they often growl when something or someone gets too close to their owners or property.

    Submissive Behavior

    • A submissive dog will avoid confrontation. Some signs that a dog is being submissive are pointing its tail down and attempting to make itself look smaller. The dog may even lay down and may appear sad. When a submissive dog feels threatened or that it's being challenged, it will display the above characteristics. What it's trying to tell the animal or person is that it doesn't want to fight or enter into a conflict of any type.

    Investigative Behavior

    • An investigative dog will commonly be sniffing things. These dogs may stop to listen and look around whenever they hear something. They may investigate a new object that's brought to them, or is new to the area. Investigative dogs also may typically run with their noses sniffing the ground or the air. This behavior is common in dogs that are bred for hunting or tracking.

    Allelominetic Behavior

    • A dog that displays allelominetic behavior will oftentimes do what other dogs are doing. They may appear to be shadowing another dog, walk with it or following it. They also may commonly like to sleep next to another dog when they lay down, and even get up when the other dog gets up. Allelominetic behavior can be most common when a dog is a puppy, and it may lessen as the dog gets older.