Getting to know your dog as an individual means learning who they are beneath the labels of “good,” “bad,” “obedient,” or “stubborn.” Every dog has their own genetics, nervous system, social preferences, coping skills, sensitivities, motivators, and communication style. The more we observe without assumption, the more clearly we can see the dog in front of us instead of the dog we expected to have.

Start by watching your dog in everyday life without trying to control or correct anything. What do they naturally gravitate toward? Do they enjoy sniffing, chasing, shredding, carrying, climbing, watching, digging, or staying close to people? How quickly do they recover from stress? What environments make them feel confident versus cautious? Pay attention to how they communicate discomfort, excitement, curiosity, or overwhelm. Many dogs are constantly communicating long before they bark, growl, shut down, or react.

It also helps to look at your dog through the lens of genetics and early development. A livestock guardian breed may naturally observe before engaging. A terrier may enjoy dissecting toys and moving quickly through the environment. A herding breed may struggle more with motion sensitivity. None of those traits are “wrong”; they are information about what your dog was biologically designed to notice and value. When we work with those traits instead of against them, dogs often become more emotionally balanced. READ MORE!

Understanding your Dog’s Behavior through an Ethological Lens

Herding breeds were selectively developed to observe, control, and influence the movement of other living beings. From an ethological perspective, many of the behaviors humans struggle with are not random “problem behaviors,” but expressions of deeply ingrained motor patterns tied to generations of selective breeding. These dogs were created to notice motion, react quickly to environmental changes, remain highly alert, and persist through mentally demanding work. Living in a modern household often means those instincts have nowhere appropriate to go.

Because of this, herding dogs commonly display behaviors that humans find frustrating or excessive. Chasing children, bicycles, cars, joggers, cats, or other dogs is often rooted in the same predatory motor patterns used in livestock work. Nipping at heels, body slamming during play, circling, stalking, and hyper-fixating on movement are all behaviors that may naturally emerge without any training at all. To the dog, these behaviors can feel instinctive, rewarding, and biologically fulfilling. To humans, they may feel chaotic, embarrassing, or even aggressive.

Many herding breeds are also highly environmentally sensitive. They tend to notice subtle movement, sound changes, routines, emotional shifts, and environmental inconsistencies far more than the average dog. This can create dogs that appear “high-strung,” reactive, vocal, or unable to settle in busy human environments. Excessive barking, window watching, pacing, shadow chasing, compulsive behaviors, and difficulty relaxing are often signs that the dog’s nervous system and behavioral needs are mismatched with their daily life.

Another challenge humans often encounter is the dog’s desire for control and predictability. Ethologically, these dogs were bred to influence outcomes and make decisions while working livestock. In pet homes, this may show up as barking at guests, controlling access to spaces, becoming frustrated when routines change, obsessively monitoring family members, or struggling when they cannot predict what is happening around them. Humans may label the dog as stubborn, anxious, manipulative, or dominant, when in reality the dog is often expressing traits that were intentionally strengthened through selective breeding.

This does not mean herding breeds are “bad fits” for modern life, but it does mean we should stop expecting them to behave like emotionally neutral companion animals. They thrive when their brains, instincts, and bodies are acknowledged rather than suppressed. Enrichment that allows problem solving, searching, movement control, scent work, structured play, decompression, and opportunities for agency can dramatically improve behavioral health.

Seeing these dogs through an ethological lens changes the conversation from “How do I stop this behavior?” to “What biological purpose might this behavior serve?” That shift creates more empathy, more realistic expectations, and ultimately better welfare for the dog living in a human world that often misunderstands exactly what they were bred to be.

Check out a sample of the talk Nikki had with Animal Medium, Sandra Larson with Lone Star Animal Medium. She can help you understand your dog, cat, or horse. Find her here!

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