Chasing things that move, being cautious around strangers, or never seeming to get tired are just some of the many challenges that families can experience with their dogs. And while all of these behaviors can have negative impacts, it can be useful to know that they are the same traits that were purposely selected for in some breeds.
It’s not a bug; it’s a feature.
This quote from software development describes something that a user might complain about, without realizing the value or necessity of that element. In our dogs, there are many behaviors that a pet guardian might find frustrating, but that can be better understood through the lens of breed.
Breed Isn’t Fate—But It Can Matter
Breed, or breed type, can set some general boundaries on behavior. Especially for dogs who were historically bred for a purpose – herding, guarding, hunting and retrieving, ratting, or companionship – behaviors that were considered valuable in their ancestors can still influence how your dog interacts with the world today.
Learning about your dog’s breed or breed mix can give you a framework for understanding their behavior and help guide your expectations. That said, nothing is set in stone. Within every breed, there’s a wide range of personalities, individual needs, and preferences.
In the end, the most important dog is the one in front of you. Look at how your dog reacts, what they enjoy, and what stresses them. Breed is just one part of a bigger picture.
Exploring Breed
If your dog is a purebred, research the history of their breed. For dogs with unknown ancestry, consider DNA testing, use physical features (there are lots of limits to this), or focus on the behavioral traits your dog displays.
Why was this breed historically bred? Were they developed to hunt, herd, guard, or be a lap companion? For some breeds/types, you may also want to consider why your specific dog was bred (“show/pet bred” vs “working bred” labs can look and behave differently, for example).
Even without exact breed names, knowing breed type/group (e.g., terrier, herding, guardian) can be useful in understanding and working with your dog’s natural behaviors.
For more information, check out Meet Your Dog by Kim Brophey.**
Managing the “Bug”: Setting Your Dog Up for Success
Once you have a sense of your dog’s possible tendencies, you can set them up for success by managing potential challenges proactively. Here are some common breed-linked behaviors and ways to navigate them:
Chasing Things That Move
Many breeds were selected to chase: herding dogs, hounds, terriers. If your dog is one of them, plan ahead until you know what they can handle.
- Use a secure leash and harness during walks.
- Choose quieter areas for exercise where wildlife or skateboards are less likely.
- Skip bringing them to the kids’ soccer game, unless you can hang out at a distance or leave early if needed.
Difficulty with Unfamiliar Dogs
Some dogs, especially guardian or working breeds, may not be fans of meeting strange dogs.
- If you want your dog to have friends or get comfortable with a friend/family member’s dog, plan slow, structured introductions.
- Reach out to a skilled behavior consultant to help.
- Skip leash greetings during walks – these can be difficult for many dogs.
- Think carefully before inviting other dogs into your home.
- Do they really need to come over? Is your dog familiar and comfortable with them in other contexts?
Discomfort with Handling
It’s common for dogs to have opinions about being touched, especially by strangers. This is particularly true of “natural” or “primitive” types.
- Say no to random petting – your dog doesn’t have to be touched by every passerby.
- Help your dog say “yes” or “no” to petting by watching their body language and engaging in “petting consent” (stop touching if they aren’t saying “yes”).
- This goes for picking up small dogs too!
- Build cooperative care skills (like choosing to step into a harness).
- Seek out Fear Free vets and groomers who understand low-stress handling.
Struggles When Exercise Is Limited
Retrievers, herding dogs, and working mixes can really struggle if their exercise routine gets altered.
- Add mental stimulation: puzzle toys, training games, scent work.
- Learn indoor games, like hide-and-seek or DIY obstacle courses.
- Build a team – dog walkers, daycares, or trusted friends – to help when you need support (if you are sick or injured, for example).
Loving the “Feature”: Breed-Based Enrichment
Every dog deserves the chance to engage in natural behaviors that feel satisfying and fun to them. While it’s important to follow your dog’s individual interests, breed can give you ideas to start with.
Some enrichment ideas based on common breed drives:
- Chasing moving objects (herding dogs, sighthounds, gun dogs, terriers)
- Flirt pole
- Lure coursing
- Following, searching for, and picking up objects (gun dogs, some hounds, some herders)
- Fetch
- Jumping, grabbing, holding, shaking, tearing apart (terriers)
- Working collaboratively with humans (herding dogs, gun dogs, some toy breeds)
- Training (tricks, etc)
- Dog sports like agility, obedience, rally, etc
- Sniffing, tracking, searching (scent hounds, gun dogs, most dogs!)
- Scatter feeding (food scattered over a large area)
- Hiding treats
- Dog sports like nosework, tracking, or barn hunt
- Controlling movement or “managing” things (herding dogs)
This list doesn’t begin to include all the activities a dog could enjoy, such as socializing with people or other dogs. For many things, a dog’s unique self is more important than breed. This is especially true when the activity reflects more general “dog” behaviors, rather than purposely selected traits.
There are also breed groups that aren’t listed here. Some breed types, such as natural dogs (bred for less specific purposes) and toy breeds (bred for companionship, but not necessarily losing natural dog traits), are just too variable to be captured by a quick list.
Regardless of breed, if your dog enjoys the behaviors described, they might enjoy the activities listed.
Embracing Your “One and Only” Dog
At the end of the day, breed can be a helpful lens, but it’s just one tool in your toolkit. It’s a starting point to spark ideas and to better understand your dog’s behaviors. But always circle back to your individual dog’s needs, preferences, and limits. Use the ideas above to embrace them as individuals.
Learn what you can about breed, but mostly – learn your dog.
**The link is an affiliate link, meaning that I may receive a small commission if you purchase through it, at no additional cost to you. This in no way affects my recommendation of this great book!
If your dog has a behavior problem that you need help solving, consider scheduling a private behavior consultation.