January 23, 2012
Posted in Pet Supplies, Pet Training

When your dog snuggles up to you at night or follows you around the house, it may seem like an entirely different species than the wild wolves from which it has evolved. The vast majority of dogs are gentle and crave human companionship, while wolves are notorious for being shy and may become vicious if confronted. While domestic dogs have certainly changed to adapt to their lives among humans, there are a number of behaviors that they have that closely mimic those of their wild cousins.

Like wolves, domestic dogs have a natural pack instinct. While wolves have a strongly established pack mentality and sense of hierarchy in their groups, so do dogs. This is why it is important to teach your dog to see you as its pack leader. This also explains why some dogs, when their human does not establish him or herself as the pack leader, will become dominant, aggressive or simply stubborn. In addition, this pack mentality instinct will kick in if you have other pets – the dog will naturally establish a sense of hierarchy that all the canines will understand and will determine how they interact with one another.

Anyone who has owned or even just walked a dog knows how dogs tend to mark trees or other objects with their urine. This behavior is also inherited from their wild cousins. Wolves, foxes, coyotes and other wild canines mark their territory to claim the resources within. While strolling around the block on its Flexi Retractable Leash, your dog may lift its leg to leave its smell on a fence, bench or tree, simply to leave a message for other dogs. This is also why they stop to sniff similar objects, reading messages from others. While there is no way to tell exactly what your dog is reading when it stops to sniff, one thing is for sure – it is enjoying it.

Why does your dog bark when the mailman approaches your door? Once again, you can thank the instincts it has retained from its wild ancestors. One of the reasons dogs became domesticated in the first place was to offer a sense of protection to their owners, since they are naturally territorial. It may also get protective of its pet products, like its Max Donut Dog Bed or Soft Dog Crate. If your pooch gets too territorial, keep its instincts in check with certain training techniques or a calming aid like Comfort Zone For Dogs. 

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