Why ‘It’s All in How You Raise Them’ is Failing Dogs

 

Something seen frequently is the idea that a young puppy is a blank canvas, implying that how the dog will develop as they grow into an adult is the responsibility of the people raising that puppy. Anything that occurs with the dog that does not fit into the human idea of a ‘normal’ dog is the fault of those people who must have done things wrong. According to this thinking, if raised correctly, any dog should be able to fit into almost any home, any family. This insistence causes so many issues, for people and for dogs.

One of the most debated questions when it comes to biology and development is ‘nature or nurture?’ Which has more influence on the development, genetics or learning? If ‘it’s all in how you raise them’ then the answer must surely be learning, right?

The thing is what we know now is that it isn’t nature OR nurture, it’s nature AND nurture. Quite how much of each goes into the finished dog is unclear, and there are likely to be variations in each individual as to the exact amount of influence each factor carries. To look at only one of these factors does the dog a great disservice, as it implies the other has no little or no effect. If it is as these people say ‘all in how you raise them’ what of genetics?

Things we cannot change from before they're born will affect their entire lives

We cannot deny the influence of genetics. Why does a certain dog breed look the way they do? Because humans have selectively bred them that way, to strengthen traits that fitted the purpose or appearance that we wanted in that particular dog. As was said on a course I recently completed, with rare exceptions aside (because nothing is ever a total certainty, especially when dealing with living, breathing, sentient creatures), terriers are going to terrier. Herding dogs are going to herd. Pointers are going to point. Retrievers are likely to wander around at times holding something in their mouths. These are not things they have been taught; there are videos of pointer puppies demonstrating the point while still in the litter with their mother and siblings, before any training has taken place. We cannot train out instincts and genetic drives, which we have intensified and strengthened deliberately over hundreds of years – or even thousands of years in some breeds – and countless generations.

We must find ways to satisfy instinctive drives, including in non-working dogs

There is also an inescapable tie between behaviour and morphology, between the things a dog does and their physical appearance. If we breed to change a behaviour the appearance of the dog will also change, and many of us have a particular breed because we like the way they look (as well as perhaps other traits - I love the collie brain as well as their appearance). The wonder and mystery of genetics and particularly of polygenic inheritance where traits are under the influence of multiple genes means that we cannot say that we will change one thing and nothing else, no matter if that's what we intend at the start of the process.

I really love how collies look (I miss Red, the front boy, so much!)

The course I mentioned earlier is probably the most intense and interesting learning experience of my canine related career so far: the L.E.G.S. Applied Ethology Family Dog Mediation^® Professional Course by Kim Brophey, who also wrote the amazing book 'Meet Your Dog'. Admittedly, much of the intensity came from the fact I just could not put it down and stop - the content is absolutely amazing. This course is looking at how behaviour professionals and dog trainers can help the human-canine dynamic in families in a way that allows us to take everything about the situation and those involved into consideration. This approach factors in that there are a number of aspects that make up an individual dog and learning – or ‘how you raise them’ – is only one of those factors.

The environment that the dog is in (including the home, family, their schedule, where they live etc.) also has an effect. Whether that environment can meet the dog’s needs, if it contains stressors that make the dog’s life uncomfortable, whether the dog can receive enough exercise or have their breed-specific requirements met are all factors that can have a huge effect on a dog’s behaviour.

Genetics are, as mentioned earlier, a factor, and the one over which we have the least influence when presented with a dog who needs some form of training or help. Epigenetics, the way in which other factors can alter the expression of genes essentially switching them on or off, such as preparing the puppies of an anxious stressed mum to live in a scary world and making them prone to anxiety, can’t be altered by any amount of socialisation or training.

The final factor, one which is still not realised by too many people but which is becoming ever better known the more we talk about it, is ‘self’ or the individuality of that animal. Just as we are, all dogs are individuals with individual experiences. Every living creature is a unique individual with their very own mixture of DNA, their genetic material, their experiences in their life so far all combining to make them who they are. Each of the previous three factors have an influence on ‘self’ because the individual is formed and moulded by those factors.

The biggest thing that I have taken away from this learning backs up the direction that my thoughts have been heading in for some time – we have to meet dogs where they are. We have to start by looking at the individual animal, what makes them up, and whether where they are can work for them or not. Whether what the guardian wants is something that is ethical and right for that dog, or any dog. We can’t ‘fix’ behaviours to make life easier for the humans involved because those underlying factors are still going to be in play, and if we stop one ‘problem’ then another one is likely to arise.

Instead of spending all of our time putting sticking plasters on trying to fix the symptoms we have to look for the underlying issues, the reasons that are driving the dog to feel the need to do what they are doing. That might involve some difficult questions about whether a particular home is right for a particular dog or group of dogs (herding dogs in tiny inner city apartments with nowhere to run and guardians who can't cater for their exercise needs, for instance).

Again, no amount of socialisation or training is going to change the fundamentals of what makes up a dog. It’s not ‘all in how you raise them’ and it never can be. There are things humans cannot influence and it’s time we started to look at that, for the good of everyone involved, canine or human, guardian or professional (because it’s really draining fighting a losing battle trying to ‘train’ a dog to fit into a home that can’t meet their needs).

This is not to say that particular home isn’t right for any dog, it’s simply that often it may not be right for that dog – or even just not right for that dog in those current circumstances. When we can explain to guardians what their dogs need and that these things they feel they are struggling with are normal, natural dog behaviours and that there are ways to channel them into less problematic solutions, many times things can change to fit the dogs’ needs better. We need to start having these conversations with people, both those who currently have dogs and those who are thinking about getting dogs.

That way gives the best chance of creating a happy and healthy environment for everyone.

I'm proud of that certificate, really glad that I had the opportunity to take the course, and to be able to refer to myself as a Certified Family Dog Mediator. I know that I have the knowledge and tools to go forward and help families and their dogs to coexist in a way that will be to the benefit of everyone.