Dogs have some behaviors that, even if we want to, we cannot change. They are those that make them what they are- Animals as funny as they are endearing that are willing to do whatever it takes to make your family happy.
The instinctive behaviors of dogs are those that carry in the genes, and therefore, can be inherited. Thanks to them they have been able to reach our days transformed into one of the best friends of the human being. But, which are?
Pasture
Sheepdogs, as their name suggests, have been trained for a long time to precisely herd; that is to say, to guide the cattle. Whether they are border collies, German or Mallorcan shepherds, or any other dog that carries the gift of herding in its genes, from a very young age they will want to guide ... everything they can guide: sheep, children, other small animals, etc.
To avoid problems, it is highly recommended to make sure that they do all the exercise they need, and for that you have to take them for walks and runs every day. In addition, it is necessary to provide them with mental stimuli, such as those that interactive toys can give them, for example.
Make holes
All dogs - or practically all - love to make holes, especially terriers. But although today they do it more for pleasure than for any other reason, in the past they did it to find and hunt rats and other small animals that live in burrows.
With their fantastic sense of smell they could detect the body odor of their victims, and with their front legs they smashed their shelter in order to get hold of them.
Take things
How many times has your dog caught something and then there was no way to find it? This behavior of picking up and carrying things is also instinctive in these animals, especially if they are Labradors or Golden Retrievers. Why? Because their ancestors were taught to carefully mouth prey. As long as they did, that information little by little was 'introduced' into their genetic material.
So don't blame him for taking, for example, the TV remote. He doesn't do it out of malice  . However, it is important to ask yourself if he is going through a bad patch, since nervous and/or stressed dogs are more likely to pick things up and move them around than calm ones.
Point
Dogs that have long been used as hunters are animals that they point out where the prey are by raising one of their front legs. It is their way of telling their human that there is something there that may be of interest to him.
What to do in these cases? If the furry raises one of its front legs, you have to watch where it is pointing, since it may have found a possible prey. In the event that there was nothing, then it could be a sign of stress.
Different ways to play
Each dog is a world. Although they come from the same parents, each brother will have his preferences when it comes to playing- One will love to chase, another will hide to stalk and 'catch', another will like to gently bite the paws or other parts of the body.
You, as the caretaker and responsible for your dog, have to ensure that the game is not too rough, or in other words, the game does not turn into a fight. To achieve this it is important first socialize it with other animals (and people) when he's a puppy, and teach him some basic commands like 'sit' or 'stay'. You have more information in the links and here.
What did you think of this article? Do you know other instinctive behaviors of dogs?