Understanding Dog Temperament & Behavior

Understanding dog temperament and behavior can be a challenge but is a necessity if you wish to sustain a great relationship with your dog, not to mention a feasible one!

There are several aspects which distort a dog ' s temperament. Every dog is an individual so there is no blanket solution for behavioral problems. We can however address some of the various factors of dog behavior including:

Sex
Age
Breed
Past Experiences
Lifestyle
Diet
Health

Sex
There can be remarkable differences between male and female dog temperament and behavior. Males tend to be a little more aggressive ( although females of certain breeds are definitely not shy violets ) and dominating. Males like to mark their territory. You may desex your male dog to decrease this territorial behavior.

Age
The age of your dog remarkably much influences its behavior. Puppies will tend to be very playful and energetic whilst older dogs will prefer to sit around more. Regardless of age, exercise is an important part of every dog ' s life.

Breed
Certain breeds are simply more aggressive than others whilst other breeds may tend to be lazier or more coquettish. If you want a guard dog then opt for a German Shepherd whilst if you love active dogs then a Siberian Husky may be your choice.

Past Experiences
If you have adopted a pound dog then often you will not know what it has been through or why it ended up at the pound. Just like people, dog ' s may be scarred by negative past experiences and may take some circumstance to trust in humans again.


Lifestyle
Providing your dog with an ideal lifestyle for its breed and size is mandatory if you want to minimize anti - social behavior and maximize his happiness.

Diet
Your dog ' s diet can influence behavior. Just as people cope differently if they eat a lot of sugar for example, dogs may be affected by certain ingredients in dog food, particularly the cheaper supermarket brands.

Health
If your dog is suffering or in discomfort he may lash out, bark or act strangely. Always see a vet if you suspect any health problems in your dog.

By understanding the major factors in dog temperament and behavior we can really begin to understand why dogs act they way they do.