Let’s Find Out Together What Canine Ethology Is
In this article we will talk about canine ethology, a branch of behavioral biology dedicated to the study of dog behavior, mainly with regards to instinct. Read on!
What should you know about canine ethology?
It is not news that the man wants to know more about “his best friend”. For several centuries, canine behavior has been analyzed and compared with the actions of its closest ancestor, the wolf.
Observing a dog when he sleeps, when he plays or when he moves in the park goes beyond discovering his habits and tastes and also serves to offer him what he needs and anticipate his reactions.
Canine ethology is the name given to a branch of biology dedicated to the analysis and description of dog behavior. Try to explain why he does things rather than others and if he has habits in common with others of his kind.
Surely you have asked yourself a lot of questions about why your dog behaves in one way or another. The best way to answer is by relying on a canine ethology expert.
The help of a canine ethologist
If we feel that our pet’s behavior is unacceptable or that he has behavioral problems, instead of having him go for a “general” veterinary visit, we should consult a canine ethologist.
The professional will first analyze the animal and then tell us if what he does is “normal” – from the point of view of the “dog” – or not. A canine ethologist will also be able to indicate when that action appears, with what frequency and intensity, and will provide you with the tools to reduce or modify it if he deems it necessary.
You should keep in mind that most pet behavior problems have similar origins: poor education, little or no socialization as a puppy, or the use of punishment systems.
There may also be dogs with mental or social problems that do not learn despite the efforts of their owners or a trainer, perhaps due to a previous trauma or in a kennel. In these cases it will be even more necessary to consult a canine ethologist.
What types of problems are solved by canine ethology? Although several issues can be addressed, this branch of behavioral biology focuses on:
- Aggression.
- Fears.
- Fatigue.
- Separation anxiety.
- Possessiveness.
- Socialization problems.
- Jealousy.
- Stereotypies (repetitive actions such as biting the tail).
- Coprophagia (eating one’s own excrement).
Once the ethologist performs a specific analysis of the animal’s behavior, he will indicate if it is a problem or something “instinctive” and “normal” of the dogs.
Choosing a good canine ethology expert is not an easy task, as in the case of a veterinarian, but in this case their work is not yet so widespread and not everyone knows about it. Therefore, we cannot always choose them on recommendation.
An ethologist is not always the solution to the behavioral problems of the animal, but the truth is that canine ethology can offer us a different perspective to understand what happens to our pet. Each dog will act differently depending on the treatment and techniques used, so there is no telling how long it will take to recover or change its behavior.
