This article is part of a short series, if you haven't read part 1, you can find it here: https://www.thecaninecoachuk.co.uk/post/what-is-holistic-dog-training-and-why-is-it-so-effective
A couple of weeks ago we looked at the definition of holistic and learned that holistic training and care works to improve the external symptoms (or behaviours) by treating the root cause. The root cause could be any number of influences and the connection between the behaviour and the influence may not always be obvious. Sometimes it could even be a combination of factors. Such influences may include:
- Genetic influences
- Conditioned (learned) responses
- Environmental stressors
- Health and nutrition
In this article we will consider the first in the list; Genetic Influences.
Feelings and their resulting behaviours are derived from either ‘nature’ or ‘nurture’. Nature includes genetic influences and this is something holistic training takes into account. Non-holistic dog training often adopts a ‘one size fits all’ approach, if you have ever been to a puppy training class where each activity is the same for every dog but noticed some puppies grasp different exercises quicker than others, genetics could be to blame. Perhaps some puppies found it easier to concentrate, some were confident and outgoing, others were shy. At just a few weeks of age some learned responses may be present, however the majority of the behaviour you saw will be due to their genetic influences.
Every animal is made up of the combined DNA from two other animals – their Mother and Father. In the same way that physical characteristics transfer from parent to offspring, behavioural tendencies do too. This is one of a number of reasons it is so important for any potential puppy purchaser to meet the canine parents of their new addition. For the same reason they would not breed from a dog with physical health problems, reputable breeders (those who care about preserving the quality of their chosen breed) will not breed from a dog with behavioural issues.
Through selective breeding over many generations, each breed of dog has inherited the specially chosen behavioural tendencies of their ancestors. While it's true that "there is no such thing as a bad dog" and we should "blame the deed, not the breed", it’s a simple fact that all breeds have different characteristics and are pre-disposed from birth to be inclined towards certain behaviours. For example, a Greyhound is likely to have a higher prey drive than a Doberman and the Doberman will be more inclined to protect it’s territory. So before we expect our Greyhound to have perfect recall in a woodland full of rabbits and squirrels or our Doberman to stop barking at the people on the footpath the other side of garden fence, we must consider how much genetics play a part in this behaviour. That is not to say that these behaviours can’t be changed or improved, more that we must be realistic with the results we expect and the timeframe in which we presume to achieve them. It is also imperative to work with the dog’s genetic predispositions to ensure they have safe, constructive outlets for their natural desires to help avoid unwanted behaviours in the first place.
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