Understanding your dog’s behaviour is rewarding and necessary, to gain their trust and affection.
The modern dog originated from wolf-like canines in China, which began to interact with humans when they scavenged around their settlements. Succeeding generations of dogs became increasingly tame and evolved in the company in human beings.
As time progressed, there was a growth in diversity, and by the Bronze Age, it is possible to identify five majors groups of early dogs. Genetic mutations and selective breeding by humans for certain behavioural traits (e.g. herding, guarding, tracking) created lines with particular characteristics – the start of the development of different dog breeds.
Most modern breeds with their wide range of physical and temperament characteristics have been developed in the past 100 years by selective breeding. But at the molecular level little has changed and the DNA of wolves and dogs is almost identical. Relationships in a wolf pack are complex, but a study of these can help us understand the relationships in modern dog groups.
Understanding the behavioural interaction between your pet dog and yourself and becoming the ‘pack leader’ is essential in developing a happy and enjoyable pet relationship. Our vets deal daily with canine behavioural problems and can give advice on how to handle many of these problems.