Do You Really Know Your Dog?

Have you ever been caught off-guard by something your dog did? Or perhaps you left them with a friend who said they acted very different than what you expected? Maybe you've never experienced this yet, but there's a very good chance your dog displays different behaviors in different situations - some of which you've probably never seen. Many people think of their dog as being reliably "themselves": whether easy to live with or a little more of a challenge. But do you really know your dog?

You may not know your dog as much as you think!

A common mistake that owners make in regards to their dog's personality is assuming their dog will act like they do with their owner or at their home, even in new circumstances. But dogs can change behavior for many reasons, and it's important to understand that in some instances your dog may behave differently than how they usually do.

Perhaps you've even seen some of these behavioral changes, but you're not sure what caused them. By carefully observing how your dog acts in a variety of situations, you can begin to predict situations where your dog may act differently than they normally would. This knowledge will allow you to be more proactive on how to best navigate those situations in the future.

First, let's look at some important details on how dogs think.

Generalization: It's Different for your Dog

Dogs most often display unexpected behaviors when their routines are interrupted. What your dog perceives as a significant 'change' to routine may seem like a small change to you, because dogs are terrible at generalizing things. This means that while you might realize that two things are essentially the same, your dog may see them as completely different.

Generalization affects everything in your dog's life, including interactions with new environments, people and dogs. Just because your dog walks nicely down the streets that you walk every day, doesn't mean that they will walk nicely in a different public place. Your dog may be less secure in this 'totally new' place or just more excited or distracted with the novelty of the new environment. The same applies when new elements are added to familiar situations: your dog may walk nicely with you when it's just you taking them for a walk, but if your friend were to join with their dog and walk ahead of you, you may notice that your dog pulls a lot more.

Another example of this is with crates. Your dog may be comfortable in their crate at home, but not in other types of crates. Perhaps they're comfortable in a plastic crate, but stressed in a wire crate. It's still a crate, but to your dog it's a very different space. Even putting their crate in a different room of your home might elicit a change in behavior. This is where many dogs get stressed when boarding as it is not their regular routine and place to sleep.

This is why both routine and change are important for dogs. Routines can be helpful, but they also can be overused: if dogs never learn to be flexible and 'go with the flow', they are very likely to experience anxiety when they have to face change.

Another example, if a dog is always allowed to potty off-leash in a yard, they often will refuse to potty on-leash the first time they're asked to or if they only potty in your yard and haven't learned to potty in other places, they may refuse - it's very common! If they always do "X" first thing in the morning (play, potty, eat, etc.), they may be frustrated, confused or stressed if you ever have to change that because of your own routine changing. A dog that learns to accept change adapts better when change is necessary.

Likewise, if your dog has no routine at all (or if the 'routine' is that they decide how to behave with no guidance), they may not know what's expected of them at any given time. Then when you do have to place expectations on them (such as relaxing on place while friends or family comes over), they're more likely to test what they are allowed to get away with in those situations. Routines are best tied to cues from you: if you do "X" the dog knows you expect them to do "Y". Dogs that are naturally inclined towards anxiety expecially benefit from having set expectations and facing change in a controlled manner.

Sociability Changes in Different Contexts

Generalization (or lack thereof) is only part of the reason for behavioral changes. Many people think of dogs as either social or not social, end of story. But many dog's sociability level changes based on the circumstance they are in.

This 'range' of sociability is different for each dog. It's important to figure out your own dog's range, so you are able to make educated decisions on how to best help your dog through any given situation.

For example, most dogs - even the ones that are generally social - get a little more nervous at the vet office (which is understandable). How they act with a person when they are confident can be dramatically different from how they act with someone when they are nervous. When you can recognize signs that your dog is nervous - which can look very different from dog to dog - you can better predict how your dog will behave with the people around you, and whether or not they want to be interacting with those people.

Another common example: when strangers approach your yard, your dog probably acts differently than they do when strangers approach in a neutral space (a space that is not "your territory"). Take note of these changes in behavior: is your dog more or less social on their home turf? For those with dogs who seem to be more territorial or defensive at home, it may be more appropriate for you to introduce your dog to friends/family while out for a walk, and then return to your home as a group.

It's not just environment (where they are/what's around them) that can change your dog's sociability in a situation: the way they are introduced to people/dogs/etc. can change where they are on their sociability scale as well.

Timid dogs tend to be suspicious of people who immediately try to befriend them upon greeting, whereas they would be much more comfortable (social) with someone who initially ignores them and lets them approach at their own pace.

Likewise, the way you conduct dog-to-dog introductions can spark a change in behavior. Many dogs will take offense if an unknown dog rushes up to them and gets in their face - especially while on leash (commonly seen while people are out on a walk), whereas they would have been fine if that same dog had been slowly and carefully introduced to them.

These are just some examples of how a dog's sociability may change based on circumstance. Other things to pay attention to that can help tell you more about your dog:

How do they act when completely away from you?

If you send your dog to daycare/grooming/boarding, ask the staff about your dog's behavior. Many dogs that are reactive or resource guard their parents don't display these behaviors when the owner is out of the environment! Some dogs get very nervous in new situations and are more likely to show fleeing behaviors (which is important to know if you have someone watch your dog!) or sometimes will try to bite if the person they are nervous about reaches for their collar.

How do they act if they have to be at a distance from you?

If it's safe to do so, ask a friend or other family member to take your dog's leash and handle them at a distance from you, where they can see you but cannot get to you. Many people don't notice the subtle signs of separation anxiety or realize how much separation anxiety their dog has until they see this!

How do they act around children?

Young children usually move, speak, and behave much differently from adults, which can really affect how some dogs feel about them. No matter how calm/good your dog usually is, it's prudent to always use caution when introducing your dog to a child. If you have any doubt about your dog being comfortable around children, make sure to control the situation and take any necessary precautions (such as muzzling, or putting them in a separate area). Remember, you don't have to allow everyone (or anyone!) to interact with your dog. You are your dog's advocate, but more than that, you are responsible for keeping others safe if you are allowing them to interact with your dog.

Your Dog may be Different when You're Not Around

There are two situations in which you should take extra caution: leaving your dog with someone else in a different location, and leaving your dog with someone else in your home.

When leaving your dog in the care of a business (vet/groomer/etc.), be as honest as you can about your dog's behaviors. If you're not sure how your dog acts when you're not around - or when other people are handling your dog - it would be a mistake to tell the groomer that your dog 100% won't be a problem if left with them. Your dog may be fine when you mess with their teeth/ears/tail, but they may not feel the same way when a complete stranger does it.

In the past few years, there's been a significant rise in dogs mauling people, especially petsitters that are petsitting in that dog's home. Many of these petsitters knew the dog or met them beforehand and the dog was friendly with them... when the dog's owner was present.

Dogs almost always behave differently when they're not with their person. Owners frequently tell us of behaviors their dogs display at home or on walks that we never see at daycare. We believe them, because it's normal for dogs to behave differently here: it's a different place, different people, and different expectations.

Conversely, on more than one occasion when we've done an in-home lesson, a dog that adores a trainer at daycare will be extremely defensive when that same trainer comes to their home. Before you leave your dog alone with someone in your own home, make sure you really know how your dog will act in that situation!

How to Predict Change

Caution and situational awareness are the best policies. Every dog is unique: in every situation, watch your dog's body language and be familiar with signs that they are excited, over-stimulated, stressed, nervous or defensive. Over time, you'll learn to recognize your dog's unique 'tells'.

Be honest with yourself and your dog's other caregivers (vet, groomer, petsitter, etc): if you aren't sure how your dog will act without you around, say so. Introduce your dog to new scenarios (environments, people, and other animals) slowly, not suddenly. Enforce good manners/behavior in a variety of situations, so your dog is more likely to have good manners in new situations.

The goal is that your dog has a positive experience in new situations, and learns to be more neutral to the environment than they might have been in an uncontrolled introduction. A dog who learns to regulate their emotions and respond in a neutral manner around a variety of people, dogs, distractions, etc. is a dog that is a lot less likely to behavioral issues.

The Importance of Maturity, Genetics and Experiences

Dogs reach full maturity between the ages of 2-3 years. Before then, their personality is not 'set in stone' so to speak. Even the most social of puppies may change when they reach maturity. Puppies generally are submissive to older dogs and are inquisitive/curious because these behaviors keep them alive while they are young. As they get older, these traits aren't necessary for survival and their genetic predispositions kick in.

For example, many breeds who are prone to show protective behaviors or aggression (Dobermans, German Shepherds, Rottweilers, etc.) will typically begin to display this around adolescence and may develop more severe behaviors at maturity. Always use a little more caution than necessary with adolescent dogs until they have reached full maturity where you have a good idea of who your dog really is.

A dog's personality can change in their older years as well. As their body ages, older dogs may experience more pain. This pain may not be obvious at a glance, but it can cause older dogs to feel less social, or be less patient with other dogs, people or general handling. An older dog may also begin to lose their eyesight or hearing, which can affect their perception of the environment.

A dog's personality is also partly genetic. The 'sociability scale' we mentioned before is significantly affected by genetics, not just experiences. Ask your trainer, groomer or vet, "what are typical traits/habits you see from breed X?" Chances are they've seen at least a few of that breed and have seen similar traits across each one. Of course some individuals do not act like the majority of their breed, but it's good to know what's common. If you have never researched what your breed(s) of dog was created to do, finish reading this blog post and immediately go do so! It can explain why you may be seeing certain traits or behaviors in your dog!

Finally, it's good to remember that experiences can change your dog's personality. Be mindful about the situations you are putting your dog in and try to ensure that they are having positive experiences, learning valuable life skills, etc.

Some experiences are out of our control, such as a dog experiencing pain when sick or injured. Dogs have differing levels of pain tolerance, and differing 'thresholds' for responding to pain and frustration. For example, a dog with a moderate to high pain tolerance but a low threshold may ignore the pain for awhile and then react strongly (potentially biting). A dog with a low pain tolerance but a high threshold will show signs of being in pain, but will probably react more subtly to that pain and allow people to examine them without being likely to suddenly bite. Watch your dog closely if they might be in pain, and be patient with them.

Knowing Your Dog will Increase Your Bond!

Although there's a lot that goes into knowing your dog - and it's a lifelong learning process - it's a worthwhile pursuit that can really affect how you and your dog experience the world together. Learn their sociability scale, test them in controlled environments, and introduce new situations in a way that makes the experience enjoyable for your dog. Have a plan going into every new situation, but be prepared for things to change unexpectedly. With every new situation, keep your eye on your dog and watch their body language. The better you know your dog, the more you can ensure new experiences are enjoyable for both you and everyone around you!