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Five Minute Dog by Personable Pets Dog Training
Quick, practical dog training tips in under 5 minutes—because training your dog shouldn’t take all day.
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With over 20 years of family dog training experience, this podcast delivers real-life advice you can actually use. From simple tips and clear explanations to common behavior scenarios, we’ll help you understand why your dog does what he does—and what to do about it.
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Five Minute Dog by Personable Pets Dog Training
SUBS Only - The Dog DNA Debate
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The 5 Minute Dog by Personable Pets Dog Training
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Have you caught yourself saying, "It's just in her breed" when explaining away your dog's behavior? You're not alone. The fascinating world of canine genetics has captivated both scientists and pet owners alike, with new discoveries constantly emerging about breed relationships and behavior-specific genes. But there's a growing problem with how we're interpreting this science.
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Welcome back and I hope you enjoy this subscribers-only podcast. It's just my way of saying thanks for supporting the show. So you've probably seen those headlines lately, for scientists are mapping dog DNA and finding out which breeds are related and even pointing to specific genes for certain behaviors. It's really interesting stuff, but I want to talk about something that I've also been hearing a lot of People using DNA as the only explanation for why their dog does something.
Speaker 1:You know, it's like he's a beagle. He has to pull on leash. She's a shepherd, so of course she's going to herd the kids. Nothing I can do about it, really, and my husky digs holes, but it's in her genes. That's what she's supposed to do.
Speaker 1:Now, sure, genetics can influence tendencies. A border collie might naturally be more likely to stare and stalk movement than a pug, but here's the thing that doesn't mean we're powerless to change their behavior. Training, socialization, environment and your daily routines they all matter just as much as DNA, because if we lean too hard on genetics as an excuse, we stop trying to train the dog in front of us. A pulling beagle can learn how to walk nicely and a herding dog can learn to greet kids without nipping their heels, and a husky can be taught where and when digging is okay or how to put that energy into something else. So, yes, dna can explain why a behavior might be easy for your dog, but it doesn't mean that behavior is permanent or untouchable. You've still got a lot of influence over the outcome.
Speaker 1:In a couple of weeks we're going to flip this podcast around. We'll talk about behaviors that are deeply rooted in your dog's DNA, where you can see those instincts in action and how to work with them instead of against them. Thanks again for subscribing and, you know, give your dog an extra treat from me today.