About Dog Behavior

Commonly referred to as "man's best friend," dogs are popular pets and are beloved for their loyalty and affection. Many different breeds of dog exist, but their unifying trait is that they are all, in various degrees, pack animals and they all exhibit much of the same type of behavior in response to certain situations. Generally speaking, if you show love to a new puppy, in return you will get a lifetime of love from your new best friend.

  1. Type

    • Many types of dog behavior exist, demonstrating their range of emotions. Dogs often behave certain ways based on their surroundings. Their behavior around humans usually depends on how much contact the particular dog has had with humans throughout their lives, so they can either be very friendly and needy or aggressive and antisocial. Canine behavior around other dogs also depends on the amount of socialization that dog has had, whether or not either dog's territory is involved, and whether or not food is involved, among other factors.

    Risk Factors

    • It is important to recognize what dogs are trying to communicate when interacting with humans. If their teeth are bared and the dog is growling, and taking an aggressive stance, stay away because the dog may turn hostile. When two dogs are fighting for whatever reason, it may be dangerous to get involved because either dog may view your intervention as a sign that you are entering the conflic, too. In some cases, a fear of dogs can be overcome simply by being able to understand the risk factors.

    Identification

    • You can often tell what a dog is thinking just by looking at it. A wagging tail usually signifies happiness or pleasure. If a dog bows the front part of its body down, it wishes to play. If a dog has its tail between its legs, it is either afraid of a possible threat or attempting to apologize. The more you are around the dog, the more you will be able to understand your dog by the way the dog acts.

    Misconceptions

    • The most common misconception regarding dog behavior is that certain behavior traits are universal to all dogs. Not every dog behaves exactly the same. For example, if your dog jumps on you when it is hungry, you shouldn't automatically assume that jumping is the universal sign for hunger. For a different dog, it could mean the dog is threatened or being protective of its owner. Also, ignoring signs of aggression from a smaller dog is a common mistake. Even the smallest of dogs can injure a human if warning signs are ignored.

    Effects

    • Being able to predict a dog's behavior can lead to a better understanding between human and dog. If your dog is trying to play but you think your dog is angry, you could avoid or even punish your dog for the wrong reasons. However, if you understand what your dog wants, it will make the relationship between man and dog much easier for both parties involved. It is also important to understand dog behavior if you happen to encounter a dog you do not know so that you can identify whether there is a possible threat.