Understanding your dog's natural behaviors (and why they might be a problem for you)

As a dog training and boarding business, we see a lot of behaviors with the dogs that come in our training and boarding facility. One thing we’re always trying to help owners understand is that dogs aren’t born knowing how to live in our world. Imagine this: they come into our homes with their own behaviors, instincts and needs. Many of which make perfect sense in the wild or among a pack of dogs but can feel frustrating or even destructive to us humans. We always try to chance these behaviors instead of understanding them. So, let’s explore some of the most common natural dog behaviors, why they exist, and how they can clash with human expectations.

Chewing: more than just a puppy problem

Chewing is a necessary and natural behavior for dogs. Puppies chew to relieve teething discomfort. Adult dogs chew to keep their jaws strong and their teeth clean. It’s also a way to explore the world, reduce stress, and fight boredom. That is why dogs sometimes chew on the weirdest things. They try to understand the environment around them. During stressful moments, like a heavy thunderstorm, they chew to release stress. But for us this can be unwanted. Dogs don’t only chew on their own toys, but also on our clothes, shoes and kitchen utensils. Provide appropriate chew toys and rotate them to keep things interesting. Make sure your dog is getting enough mental and physical stimulation. Supervise young or destructive dogs. And use crates or puppy-proofed areas when you can’t.

Digging: is not just for fun

Digging is a deeply ingrained instinct. You see a lot of dogs digging in the yard or during a hike. These natural behaviors are meant to help with a lot of things. They may dig to cool off, hide food, chase after burrowing animals. Sometimes they dog simply to entertain themselves. But it also means that landscaped yards and flowerbeds don’t stand a chance. Or that there are holes in your yard where you can fall in. At the same time your dog will be covered in dirt. Most of the time after you’ve just cleaned the house. One of the solutions here is to designate a part of the yard as a ‘dig zone’. You can use a sandbox filled with toys and treats for it. Redirect the behavior instead of fighting it completely, and make sure they’re not digging out of boredom or anxiety. But also make sure that the dog has enough mental and physical stimulation. A dog that is left alone for hours in the backyard is more likely to dig than dogs that have a fulfilled life.

Barking: Communication or natural behaviors?

It’s no secret that dogs bark. They can do this to alert us for danger, which is a behavior that we all like. But there are other reasons for the barking. They do this to express excitement, communicate fear or because they are bored. It is their way of talking and communication. While barking is one of the natural behaviors of dogs and can be helpful, it can be a problem for us. Excessive and poorly timed barking can create a stressful home environment. And it can strain neighborly relationships. To help with this behavior you can train your dog to be quiet. You first have to desensitize the dog from what triggers them. After that you teach ‘quiet’. But make sure that you don’t teach the dog a command without identifying the root cause.

Jumping: Happy greeting for dogs

Have you ever looked at the way dogs greet? In the canine world, face-to-face interaction is a normal part of greeting. Dogs lick each other. Especially puppies. It’s a submissive gesture. Jumping can be a dog’s enthusiastic attempt to greet. They want to be on eye level. A lot of smaller dogs jump up on you. They are lower to the ground. It might seem cute when a small dog does it. But is it just as adorable when a 70 pounds dog does it? They can knock a child or elderly relative over. At the same time, it scares people and can damage clothes. Instead of letting the dogs jump and give them the attention they want, we have to train an alternative behavior. For example, make the dog sit before getting petted. We have to stay consistent. Most importantly, make sure everyone your dog greets follows the same rules.

Scent marking and rolling: a stinky natural behavior

Dogs discover everything through smell. Scent is a dog’s primary sense. This is one of the reasons why dogs mark their territory. Or worse: roll in strong smells! It’s a way for dogs to communicate and learn more about the world. But for us this can be a problem. We don’t want our dog peeing in our house, or when we’re out in public. We also don’t want them rolling in something dead during a walk. It’s messy and inconvenient. It’s one of the natural behaviors that is hard to manage without understanding. One of the options that could help with the marking is spaying or neutering your dog. Also make sure that your dog has a strong recall and ‘leave it’. This can prevent rolling in undesirable smells. But: when the dog is unsupervised, they will still do it.

There are no bad dogs

The bottom line: dogs aren’t being bad when showing their natural behaviors. When we adopt a dog in our lives, we’re not just getting a companion. We’re also inviting a completely different species into our world. With thousands of years of instincts. Dogs dig, chew, bark and roll in things. This is not because they are misbehaving, but because it is what they do.

As dog owners it is our job to give our dogs what they need. This also means that we have to stimulate natural behaviors in a controlled way. We don’t do it by suppressing these behaviors completely, but to channel them in ways that fit into our lifestyle. We have to provide them outlets, training and patience. If you're struggling with any of these natural behaviors, you're not alone. It also means you’re not failing as an owner. It simply means that the dog is showing natural behaviors and we don’t give them the mental and physical stimulation to control it. With the right guidance, tools, and a bit of insight into your dog's instincts, you can turn frustration into understanding.

Need help with training?

At Connecting K9 we look at what the dogs need. And what they are missing in their lives. We help dogs and owners communicate through training and mental stimulation. During our private training sessions and board & train programs, we don’t only focus on obedience, but also the mental stimulation suited for your dog. So, contact us today and schedule a consultation or sign up for one of our training options. Let’s work with your dog’s nature, not against it.