Dog: Animal behaviour and problems.

      General information

      Dogs are wonderful mates of human beings, if they are kept       and treated in ways appropriate to their species. There is       hardly another creature that is so often misunderstood than a       dog. In our affluent society dogs are often being humanized       on the one hand, but on the other hand people often also       want to get rid of them insensitively.

      Before buying a dog or even breeding dogs, one should think       about it meticulously. Maybe the dog will reach the age of 15       years and during this whole time one is responsible for his                                                                                        life and his welfare. Dogs are living things, they are not a merchandise, not a toy, not a weapon and not an object of prestige.

Social behaviour

The behaviour of a dog is, with regard to form and frequency, more or less the changed behaviour of a wolf. The animals living together in a pack in the wilderness develop an extremely differentiated social order which is confirmed or changed by means of facial expression or body gesture. Baring his teeth, raising his hackles, raising his head and tail are signs of superiority; bowing his head, putting his tail between his legs etc. are signs of servility.

When dogs gather round and form packs, for instance in an animal home or as sledge dogs, the pack behaviour with its social order fights is fully present again. In the social behaviour of dogs the olfaction plays an important part. It is indeed part of the communication within the species. So dogs are sniffing each others genitals in order to identify the sexe of the other dog. This way male dogs also get information with regard to the oestrus of the females. Splashes of urine left in certain places inform other dogs about the "sender". Exkretas are being sniffed intensively. Dogs communicate with scent marks. Pups should spend at least 12 weeks within the litter community, in order to learn something about "social behaviour" and "language instruction".

Behavioural disturbances

Behaviour disorder is a frequent phenomenon with dogs. As examples we cite self-mutilation, continued pawing and scratching at unsuitable objects and fittings, nervousness and fright, abnormal readiness for aggression, anxious biting, extreme fear and many more. Reasons for this may be: Bad conditions in early youth, wrong or bad treatment, hereditary factors, but often also the fact of keeping dogs in ways not appropriate to their species. It is possible to take measures against behaviour disorder and to ask experts' advice. Besides that, there are imperfections in the nature of dogs which can be typical for the breed. Breed clubs should, therefore, not include such dogs in their breeding but rather push animals strong in nature. Before buying a dog it is advisable to examine his nature which will help to discern possible problematic dispositions and imperfections in nature. Things like hypersexual drive of young male dogs, who cannot run free in their sexuality, gnawing at objects, stealing feed, nervous fear of separation, aggressiveness towards visitors, the master or other dogs, extreme barking are, however, correctable.

Man-Animal communication

There is hardly another creature who waits with such joy and utmost attention for a sign from his role model. Although man and dog speak different "languages", things like body posture, facial expression, tone of voice are in themselves clear indications on both sides for what the partner wants. It is not necessary to guess twice what the whimpering, pawing or growling dog would like. Within the family, the dog has to take a subordinate role and must obey.

Animals "talk" to their fellow species by body posture, position of the tail, facial expression, vocalization and many more. If the human being has the position of companion and substitute for fellow species, then he must try to make up for the big deficit. The easiest way to do this is to talk calmly with his pets. Animals are extremely capable of learning and understand very quickly what words, the tone of voice and gestures want to say.

The daily walks with the dog on a lead, playing in the open countryside, the confrontation with changing surroundings give the opportunity of practising the man-animal communication in all subtleties. The dog will some day even be able to understand one's own mood and act comforting.

Undesirable behaviour

Many behaviour patterns which actually are part of the normal behaviour repertoire of the dog may, within the framework of man and animal living together, become problematic and thus undesirable. In the case of a social quarrel, an aggressive behaviour like snapping or biting is a normal phenomenon amongst dogs. On the other hand, this behaviour cannot be tolerated if it is directed at a human being. It is then necessary to detect the reason and eventually give therapy to the dog. One should also try to break one's dog of following moving objects such as joggers, cyclists, scaters or riders. Especially in the case of riders it can come to serious accidents, particularly because not all the horses meet an approaching dog with calmness. In case of doubt it is, therefore, better to to keep the dog on a lead.

A problem in the apartment is the gnawing at furniture, the begging at table, the incessant howling and barking if the owners are absent or the taking possession of furniture like for instance a bed or a couch and the aggresssive defense of these. Here also it is important to break the dog of this behaviour. There are enough manuals in book form, but also advice centers and therapists who can help. The A and the O in the upbringing and training of a dog is consequence, just as it is the case with children.

Mood barometer

Over the years, a pet owner becomes acquainted with most of the signals of our four-legged friends. From the facial expression or from the body posture one can easily gather if the animal is offended, has a subordinance behaviour, is aggressive, wants to be caressed, is threatening, is in a state of arousal, feels hungry, wants to play, feels sleepy, is bored or the like. The same is true in reverse: The dog feels exactly the way you feel.

Psychology of animals

In most cases it is the human being who needs psychological support rather than the dog. For often the correction of behaviour disorder and its causes are at stake here. And very often also the human being himself is responsible for these causes because he humanizes and pampers the dog and thus does not keep his animal in ways appropriate to his species. By chaining young whelps, by not giving them enough love and care after having separated them from their mother and by really letting them "go to the dogs".