A dogs character...

Hi all,

Just a discussion really. I wanted to know your thoughts.

I was on a walk this morning, walked past a huge husky who was howling and wanted to get to Bella, but the owner said she wasn't friendly so walked away (husky had a muzzle on)

Two minutes later we walked past a tiny dog, either side of the path who just lunged itself at Bella, growling and spitting. It was a ceaser doggy (not sure what breed sorry!)

Then we came across a working springer, which said hello, but wasn't interested much so carried on walking, but perfectly happy dog.

I was just wondering - what makes dogs this way?! Is it socialisation, is it the owners responsibility, dogs parents, or just that particular dogs attitude?

I think there are traits certain dogs have. I've met a lot of very antisocial terriers recently. My CKC is much like the springer you described, and he's just not really had much of an interest in other dogs, will say hello, and is very placid, we never trained him to be like that and it's not like he's not used to having other dogs around, he just prefers people!!

I think it's a sort of odd mishmash of the lot. I know a lot about breeding horses and not a lot about dogs, so i'll stay away from that! I think socialisation is important, but i think you will always have dogs that are in someway slightly DA, the vast majority of dogs IMO with proper training and socialisation will be able to meet other dogs happily.

Some nurture, some nature, but the biggest causes are lack of, or inappropriate early socialisation and dog on dog attacks.

A combination of nature and nurture factors, remembering that genetic traits (physical and psychological) can be there from birth but sometimes only kick in/express themselves at certain life stages, or under certain circumstances, so some dogs who were happy to play and/or socialise as puppies and youngsters, may not wish to continue to do so as they mature, despite good socialising and without any triggering negative social experiences.

In some this will change to be shown as passive disinterest, others may show active avoidance and still others may display active repelling behaviour

Its all very interesting hey! Bella gets on with every dog I have ever met, yet there is just one pup she doesn't seem to like too much.

I'm currently reading A Dogs Mind, so I'm hoping that will give me more of an insight into things x

interesting, our dog loved all puppies she ever met but one at dog club in the puppy class she growled at, we were shocked this was a 9 week old puppy, it turned out the puppy in question had hydrocephalous (sp!!) and when scanned had half her brain poor little girl.

I was at a lecture a long long time ago at Edinburgh Uni on inherited aggression in animals. The lecturer who was a researcher from the US said in their studies on rats it was found that the male rat tended to pass on his temperament to the pups ( ? ) but if the pups were raised by an aggressive female they could still become aggressive themselves. Fascinating stuff.

In my own limited experience I think it's nature and nurture. I've brought up all my dogs the same and they've all gone from very sociable to down right extreme aggression ( dog to dog ).
Daisy the aggressive one started off as being one of the most friendly and sociable pups I've ever had, she then had the misfortune to be attacked countless times when out on walks by various breeds, it was just too much and she's now of the "get them before they get me " mentality.

It's all very much a complex mixture of nature and nurture working together at all times.

Everything is based on some form of genetic pre-disposition, however, environmental influences, from the moment of conception in the womb down to every event in the animals life works on the underlying genetic traits and thus form the personality. The same goes for humans.

dogs are great ..no two alike! just like us and our infuences,,,some of are good and some not so good,lots of factors to think of.imo

one of my dogs has been socialised from birth and still is but.......... has been attacked whilst on and off lead and he can be wary of some breeds, he also had a go at a puppy lab id say was only about 5 mnths old, this concerned me so much i went to see the vet for advice, he explained its all about vibes some dogs give off, and especially a puppy may give off fear vibes, which he said the dog senses as aggression?