Instinctive Behavior! by Claire Ting [STUDENT]

Instinctive Behavior in Dogs

claire_2107724 — 2018-04-19 18:10:59 UTC

Licking:

claire_2107724 — 2018-04-19 18:17:36 UTC

Characteristics

claire_2107724 — 2018-04-19 18:18:47 UTC

Dogs lick things for multiple reasons including cleaning their newborn + stimulating their breathing (if they're a parent). They also do it to show affection for their guardians because it releases endorphins. This is similar to how humans hug each other.
This is beneficial to them as endorphins aid in stress and anxiety found in some dogs.

Pulling on the Leash

claire_2107724 — 2018-04-19 18:32:47 UTC

Characteristics

claire_2107724 — 2018-04-19 18:37:52 UTC

Usually, dog owners will walk their dogs. This is to provide sufficient amounts of exercise for them. This process also helps in releasing endorphins. However, on some occasions, dogs will lead forward and pull on the leash.

Rolling Around

claire_2107724 — 2018-04-19 18:55:52 UTC

(in gross things)

Characteristics

claire_2107724 — 2018-04-19 22:36:10 UTC

With their extremely strong sense of smell, dogs can notice something's scent way faster than humans can. There's its benefits, but there's also downsides to that. It's disgusting, but some dogs have a tendency to roll around in gross things with a strong odor. This would generally be carcasses or something putrid-smelling.

Adaptation

claire_2107724 — 2018-04-19 23:10:09 UTC

Basically, dogs lick you because they love you!
They naturally see their owners as those who treat them well and often times view them as one of their own pack members. Since most dogs nowadays are domesticated, they're more trusting of humans.

Anxiety and stress can cause off-guard moments, and by licking other dogs, they create endorphins to relieve it. If a dog is off-guard or has an abnormal endorphin deficiency, it may cause depressive states. In a non-home environment, this trait may be trivial, but aids in it

Adaptation

claire_2107724 — 2018-04-19 23:13:12 UTC

This derives from an old natural instinct they have to roll in things with a strong odor in order to hide their scent. Once their prey could no longer smell their natural odor, they would let their guard down. This allowed them to hunt unsuspecting prey significantly better. However, pet dogs nowadays usually have pre-made pet food to eat, so hunting for food isn't necessary, although their base instinct kicks in when they see/smell something with a strong odor.

This trait helps them survive in a wild environment as it aids them in finding food, which is necessary for survival.

Adaptation

claire_2107724 — 2018-04-19 23:21:12 UTC

Dogs have a natural instinct in the wild to go towards either the front, the center or the back.
In the wild, these positions actually mean something. The center is for communicating messages to each other, and the back is for those who follow and warn of dangers.
When a dog pulls on a leash (while they're in front of you), it's because they think they're leading the way and protecting you from danger as they would in the wild. This occurs even if the dog in question has been domesticated their entire life since their environment is, well, home.

In the wild, dogs are usually in packs. This positioning helps them survive as there are two lookouts and one messenger to prevent facing potential threats.

Vocal Communication Paired With Tail Wagging

claire_2107724 — 2018-04-19 23:58:55 UTC

Characteristics

claire_2107724 — 2018-04-20 00:03:14 UTC

Dogs communicate with both body language and vocal cues.Vocal communication includes:
-Growling: This can be either playful or aggressive, based on which tail movement it is paired with. If it is an aggressive bark, it warns others to not mess with it.
-Barking: This could either be a joyful bark with their tail wagging back or forth, or a neutral bark, similar to a human conversation
-Whining: Usually whining signifies something negative, such as discomfort or anxiety.

Adaptations

claire_2107724 — 2018-04-20 00:04:23 UTC

These forms of communication are all innate behavior found in dogs. This helps them in their environment whether they're wild or domesticated because it shows how a dog is feeling at the given moment.
If a dog were unable to verbally communicate in the wild, its level of fitness would be slightly lower but not slim, as it still has ways to protect itself and survive. However, communication amongst itself and other dogs would be significantly harder.

References

claire_2107724 — 2018-04-20 00:53:20 UTC

Cesar's Way. "Strange facts about canine instincts." Cesar's Way. 8 Dec. 2015. Web. 19 Apr. 2018.

"compilation of him just kinda sitting down and not really doing much - YouTube." Youtube.com. n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2018.

"Gabe the Dog." Facebook.com. n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2018.

"L I C C | C&c Meme on me.me." me.me. n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2018.

"shiba pulling leash - Google Search." Google.com. n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2018.

"Social Behavior - Biology Encyclopedia - body, examples, animal, different, life, structure, make, first." Biologyreference.com. n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2018.

Personal Statement

claire_2107724 — 2018-04-20 00:56:21 UTC

Social behaviors beneficial to living things as it helps the species communicate to each other, whether it's courtship mannerisms, instinctive behaviors, or methods of communication. For example, species that work together as a group such as fish who school together to ward off a predator and wolves, who hunt in packs. Although it has its downsides (easier targets for predators), the benefits outweigh the somewhat negative factors. Overall, social behaviors are good because its thorough communication and understanding in species.