are also found in the mother’s milk. Thus, depending on their mother’s diet, puppies acquire certain food preferences.
Social Relationships
At birth, a dog does not know that he is a dog. Identity construction, i.e., the way in which a dog defines and recognizes himself, develops in the initial weeks of his life, when he is in constant contact with his mother and littermates. If a young puppy is abandoned by his mother and is adopted by a cat, he will consider himself a cat; the same is applicable if he is adopted by humans. Therefore, some dogs prefer humans and refuse any contact with other dogs.
Experiences
From the third week of life, a puppy becomes sensitive to the stimuli of his environment and becomes curious; this is the socialization period. Each new experience generates fairly strong emotions. When the puppy feels overwhelmed, he seeks comfort from his mother. Thus, to successfully adapt to their future living environments, puppies must be immersed in a stimulating environment during their initial weeks, surrounded by the reassuring affection of a well-adjusted mother and, once adopted, by that of their owners, who will encourage them in their discovery of the world.
Training
The manner in which a puppy is trained will shape his perception of the world. Coercive training based on punishment will lead to distrust of humans, whereas positive training, which is based on encouragement and rewards, will establish a bond of trust between the puppy and his owner; it will facilitate the achievement of the puppy’s full potential. This is the essence of positive training!
The Brain Is a Sponge
A puppy’s brain is constantly active; it absorbs everything. Spontaneous activity formed by past experiences influences a puppy’s behavior and perception of the world. If subjected to several negative emotions, a puppy will have difficulty feeling positive emotions, and vice versa. Thus, a puppy can become either a shy and timid adult or one who is happy and open to the world and to others. The earlier the negative emotions start, the greater the damage.
The Breed Does Not Hake the Dog
A dog’s personality is not determined by outward appearance, and love at first sight never lasts. More important than the breed is the close relationship that you will build with your dog and the positive training that you will give him, which will make him a well-adjusted, happy, obedient, and loving companion. However, a dog’s skill set and physical makeup should correspond with his future tasks and environment. The following breed classifications are those of the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), the “world canine organization.”
THE DIFFERENT BREEDS AND THEIR SKILLS
All dog breeds were initially selected by humans to assist them in different tasks: big game hunting, pest control, game spotting, guarding, pulling, herding, companionship, etc. Thus, they were classified into groups according to their skills and physical makeup. Although dogs no longer work as much today, they do retain certain abilities that they happily demonstrate if given the chance.
SIMILAR YET SO DIFFERENT
A dog’s behavior depends on both genes and environment. According to recent studies, of the 20,000 genes in the canine genome, approximately only 50 determine physical appearance (height at the withers, shape of the head, carriage of the ears and tail, length of the tail, color and texture of the coat, and so on). Therefore, two dogs of the same breed have only 0.25% of common genetic heritage. This tiny percentage of the dog’s genetics does not make every dog of the same breed a carbon copy of the others. Between two lines of the same breed, there are sometimes more behavioral differences than between dogs of two different breeds altogether.
It is impossible to predict behavior based on physical appearance alone.
Dogs of the same breed are not clones, even though they may look very similar.
MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE
If you want your dog to perform a specific task (tracking, hunting, herding, protection, etc.), choose the breed that best meets your criteria, and then visit the breeder to evaluate the parents’ skills on the spot. This is by no means a 100% guarantee of your dog’s future aptitude for work, but it can be a good indicator.
If the dog is intended for companionship, choose a breed whose primary purpose is companionship or a breed that is far removed from its primary skill, such as the Yorkshire Terrier. There is nothing worse for a working dog than being idle. If you want a companion dog of a working, herding, or sporting breed, choose a descendant from a line of conformation (show) champions rather than from a line of working champions. A Border Collie from a working line may want to gather his human “herd” like he would sheep; it’s only natural!
How About a Mixed Breed?
By choosing a mixed-breed puppy, particularly if you do not know his parents, you will not have any idea of his eventual physical characteristics or potential behavior as an adult. Regardless, you can make your dog the most wonderful companion by providing positive training. If you adopt a mixed-breed dog from a shelter, you will make him happy, and he will be grateful to you.
WHO IS MY DOG?
A dog is a body, a heart, and a mind. His training and learning are carried out according to these three components. Development must happen gradually and harmoniously. It must take place in such a way that the adult dog has a healthy body; is a well-adjusted, confident, and well-mannered member of society; and trusts humans. Therein lies the challenge of positive training!
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