Ever wondered what your dog is thinking? Or why they behave like they do? Well, feeling inspired by the new Netflix documentary ‘Inside the Mind of a Dog’, we thought we’d do a deep dive into canine psychology and share some insights with our loyal Axels Pack followers on how your dog’s brain actually works.
Understanding the Canine Brain
Dogs are intelligent, emotional creatures capable of complex behaviours, communicating with us (and other dogs) through their actions, expressions and sounds. Understanding the psychology behind their behaviours may actually help strengthen your bond with them and provide a deeper insight into why they behave like they do.
The Boring Science Bit
The structure of a dog’s brain is remarkably similar to ours, with some key differences. While dogs have all the same major brain parts as humans (frontal lobe, cerebral cortex, etc.), their brains are generally smaller relative to their body size and are wired differently.
For instance, dogs rely heavily on their olfactory senses (smell), with their ability to process scents being far more developed than ours. Their brains are also finely tuned to read body language and subtle environmental cues - skills that would be essential for survival in the wild.
Pack Mentality and Social Hierarchy
Dogs are pack animals by nature due to their ancestral descendance from wolves. In a wild pack, there is always a clear hierarchy, with an alpha leader who makes the decisions and maintains order within the group. When you bring a dog into your home, they perceive you and your family as their new pack and they will quickly look to establish their place within this social group.
A good example of how this ingrained mentality manifests itself is separation anxiety. This is a common behavioural issue which occurs when a dog feels insecure or unsure of their role when left alone. They’re not being naughty by crying or whining, this is simply their way of communicating that they’re struggling with the absence of their pack.
Dogs are social animals that crave companionship, and being isolated from their pack, even for a short time, can cause them considerable stress. This is why it’s essential to create routines and use positive reinforcement to help your doggo understand that they are safe even when you're not there with them.
Dominant Behaviours
Similarly, some dogs may exhibit dominant behaviours, such as guarding food or toys (which their brain sees as resources). They could also challenge commands as a way of asserting their dominance. For example, your canine companion may not listen to you when you tell them to do something, but will instantly obey when your partner gives them that same command. This comes from them seeing your partner as the alpha and their resistance may be their way of challenging you for dominance within the household hierarchy.
Equally this can work the other way around, when your dog seems to listen more to you than they do your partner. Consistent training and clear rules can help your dog understand who the leaders of the pack are, which may help alleviate their need to assert dominance.
Eagerness to Please
If your dog is anything like Axel, then they likely get super-excited after being praised for successfully following a simple command. This is a direct result of how their brains are wired for social bonding. Dogs are one of the few species that have developed a close emotional bond with humans, a connection which motivates much of their behaviour.
So, the next time you tell your four-legged friend that they’ve been a good boy or good girl, the neurotransmitters in their brain's left hemisphere will be going wild, releasing dopamine (the feel-good chemical), thus encouraging them to repeat those same behaviours in the future.
Creating this positive feedback loop is crucial when training your dog. Positive reinforcement taps into their natural instincts and desire to please you. Consistency and clarity are super-important here, as mixed signals or inconsistent rewards can confuse your doggo. Hold that thought – more on that topic later!
Barking and Whining
Excessive vocalisation can often be frustrating for dog owners, however understanding the psychological reasons behind these behaviours can potentially help to address them.
- Barking: While barking is often associated with guarding or alerting the pack to a potential danger, dogs can bark for a variety of different reasons. Boredom, anxiety, excitement or good old fashioned attention seeking could be the reason your doggo seems to have found their voice. From a psychological standpoint, barking is a dog’s way of expressing their emotions and needs. If they are barking because they see someone approaching the house, this is their natural instinct to protect the pack. On the other hand, if they bark excessively when left alone, it might be due to loneliness or separation anxiety, as mentioned earlier.
- Whining: Whining can be a sign of submission or fear, however it is more likely to be a request for something, like attention, food or the need to go to the toilet. This whining begins at puppyhood, as a way to signal a desire to their mother. This innate behaviour persists into adulthood as a way of communicating with their human family.
If your dog barks or whines excessively, it’s essential to first determine the cause and understand why your dog is exhibiting these behaviours. Early intervention is important to help prevent the issue becoming engrained or getting worse. Addressing the root cause, whether through increased exercise, more mental stimulation, changes in routine or simply through positive reinforcement training, will likely help reduce these behaviours.
Desire for Routine
Going back to the earlier point around consistency, dogs love a consistent routine and their brains are wired to find comfort in predictable patterns. Knowing when they’ll be fed, walked, or engaged in playtime gives them a sense of comfort and security. This need for structure likely stems from their wild ancestors, who lived in packs that followed set routines for hunting, resting, and moving.
Changes in routine can often be stressful for dogs. When a dog’s routine is disrupted by changes in the household, moving to a new home or a shift in their owner’s schedule, this creates a sense of uncertainty in their brains which can manifest as stress, anxiety or a range of other behavioural changes.
Creating a stable environment with regular routines will provide your four-legged friend with the security and comfort they need, helping to reduce anxiety and any unwanted behaviours.
Love to Play
Play is an essential part of a dog’s life, not just for physical exercise but also for mental health and social bonding. Your dog’s brain releases endorphins when they play, which boosts their mood and overall well-being.
From a psychological standpoint, playing taps into a dog’s predatory instincts, as it often involves chasing, pouncing and tugging, which are all behaviours that mimic hunting.
Play also helps dogs develop important social skills, often using body language to communicate. For example, play bowing (lowering the front of their body while keeping their bum up) is a signal to other dogs that they want to play.
Love to Sniff
If there’s one thing dogs love more than playing, it’s sniffing. Jumping back to the boring science bit earlier, we know that dogs rely more heavily on their sense of smell than we do. In fact they actually experience the world primarily through scent rather than sight or sound. A dog’s nose contains up to 300 million olfactory receptors, compared to about 6 million in humans. This means their sense of smell is 50 times stronger than ours!
Sniffing is your dog’s way of gathering information about their environment, even if the information they’re gathering is from another dog’s bum! Whilst it’s not how we might choose to greet each other, in the dog world, this is completely normal and acceptable behaviour.
A dog’s olfactory system is so sophisticated that they can determine another dog’s gender, reproductive status, diet, health status and even temperament from sniffing their bum. They also remember scents and can therefore determine whether or not they’ve met that same dog before.
Allowing your dog time to sniff when you’re out and about is essential for their mental stimulation. It taps into their natural instincts and helps keep their brain active and engaged.
Conclusion
We may never fully know what goes on in a dog’s mind, however canine psychologists have provided some amazing insights into how their brains work and how so many behaviours are rooted in their ancestry and their unique sensory capabilities. That said, your dog’s brain is constantly processing, learning, and adapting to their environment. Armed with a better understanding of the psychology behind their behaviour allows us to become better owners and is key to forming a deeper connection with our canine companions.
For more helpful advice and guidance, check out our Blog Hub or contact us directly by emailing hello@axelselixir.com and we’d be happy to answer any questions you may have.