Have you been speechless when you see your furry dog performing some action or behavior typical of dogs without anyone having taught it to him ? Digging holes, pointing at objects, hunting small insects, rodents or birds, and even shepherding other dogs in the pipi-can… All of these are examples of instinctive behaviors of dogs, which are embedded in their genetic code and which, on occasions, are developed innately
Knowing a little more about instinct
The instinct can be defined, albeit in a very brief and limited way, as the natural and innate motor that drives a living being to react to various stimuli. It is inherent to the nature of an animal and is transmitted in its genes, from generation to generation, as an adaptive capacity that allows its survival.
Although it is a subject full of controversy and controversies, in most animals, we can speak of instinct as the force that leads to the beginning and the conclusion of any and all actions. In this way, instinctive behaviors occur cyclically, being both the cause and the consequence of each attitude.
However, if we consider human beings (without forgetting that we are also animals), we must mention well-developed rational capacity as a "mediator" of instinct. For many authors, rationality would be capable of analyzing, measuring and judging natural instinct, in order to preserve socially acceptable actions and expressions. That is to say: man has adapted to life in society to such an extent that his rationality inhibits certain instinctive behaviors of personal satisfaction in the name of guaranteeing social welfare
Dogs also adapted their instincts to a community life. Therefore, unlike cats, which maintain solitary and independent habits (like their wild feline relatives), dogs recognize the authority of a leader in that intraspecific community. This hierarchical instinct allowed wolves and dogs to organize themselves into packs (or packs) to ensure the survival of their species.
1. The hierarchical instinct
As we mentioned earlier, dogs developed a hierarchical instinct, which encompasses behaviors that allowed them to live in community and protect their pack.
Contrary to what many may think, dogs (and wolves) adopt complex hierarchical structures, where the leader is not consecrated only by his strengthor physical power. The alpha or dominant dog must prove to be the best prepared specimen to protect and lead his companions, which also involves his cognitive power, his self-confidence, and his adaptive capacity.
two. The hunting instinct
Hunting was probably one of the dog's qualities most appreciated by man. The beagle, the weimaraner or the labrador retriever are some examples of hunting dogs, however there are many more and each type can stand out in one function or another, such as tracking or collecting game, among others. It was thanks to the instinctive skills and the sharp canine senses that many native peoples managed to survive in truly inhospitable environments.
The hunting instinct is so predominant in some breeds that a domestic dog that has never been trained or exposed to hunting situations can innately develop a remarkable ability to identify, chase or catch its prey. If we look carefully, we can easily recognize small specimens of the spaniel or terrier families, very attentive to the movements of birds or insects in a square or even in the streets.
3. The instinctive behavior of pointing
We chose to put the Pointing instinct right after the Hunting instinct for a very simple reason: the two are closely related. Dogs developed different roles together with man in the hunting activity. While some were really dedicated to chasing and killing wild animals, others had the attribution of picking up killed prey or simply pointing at them
Now, the pointing dogs were trained to raise one of their front paws (usually the right one) to indicate where was the desired prey. And if your dog begins to develop this instinctive behavior, you should pay attention if it indicates something of interest to you or if it is a possible symptom of stress.
4. Shepherding
Es herding, along with hunting and guarding, is among the oldest and most popular functions performed by dogs. We can recognize this fact, among other things, by the number of dogs that have the term "shepherd" in their name. And some breeds like the border collie are able to exercise herding from very young, without needing any training. In fact, in the fields, it is common to see small border, between 4 and 6 weeks old, trying to herd the cattle sheep or cattle.
This instinctive behavior is so marked in some breeds that we can often see adult domestic dogs trying to herd children or small insects (such as ants) in parks in big cities.
However, it should be noted that, although a dog has an instinctive behavior related to herding, this does not mean that we should encourage him to herd any animal, and even children, it is totallynot recommended A dog must be trained to herd correctly, otherwise it could act disproportionately, and could even show behaviors related to predation
5. Dig and make holes
Dogs may dig for a variety of reasons, but this instinctive behavior is more common in breeds that were used assmall prey lifters (rats, rabbits, etc.). We can very easily observe a Terrier scratching the ground with great perseverance. Therefore, don't be surprised if your Yorkshire terrier turns your garden into a real canine playground.
6. Survival
The survival instinct is present in all species. If we feel threatened or frightened, our body automatically prepares to react to possible negative, dangerous or unknown stimuli (whether they are people, animals, noises, etc.).
And just like us, our dogs can react in different ways when they feel that their physical, cognitive or emotional integrity is at risk. They can decide to run away or show signs of appeasement and even attack Therefore, if we want to prevent possible behavior problems, we must pay close attention not only to their training and socialization, but also to the environment we provide them.
Genetic selection and instinctive behavior in dogs
Many times, the genetic selection is not carried out just to obtain the most beautiful specimen, but rather the one that has certaininstinctive behaviors , such as hunting, grazing, or guarding/protection, more marked (or with greater potential for development) in their genetics.
Although education, training and socialization are essential for every puppy, these specimens selected based on their genetics show greater ease of learning and natural predisposition for certain trades, thanks to the inherent instinctive behaviors to its nature.
