Can a dogs traits and/or instincts be curbed by training?

Question

...or is it kinda like Jurassic Park when they tried to feed the T-Rex a goat?

The reason I ask (a couple of you nailed it) I'm considering getting a Blue Heeler/Aussie Catlle Dog. I'm mainly concerned about the "nipping".

Answer 1

Training can supress instincts and traits to a certain extent

For example a border collie is a natural herder. It would be very hard to train a border NOT to herd. If the dog sees a bunch of children it is not uncommon for the dog to try to "herd" the children together.

Beagles are natural trackers and many beagle owners will tell you that a beagle can put it's nose to the ground and WHAMMO, they're GONE! They do not hear their owner screaming for them to COME!! (Been there, done that!) LOL

Bird dogs are naturals too. My girlfriend has a Visla that has had HUNDREDS of hours of training and once saw a flock of geese and whoosh he was chasing them without a care in the world for my girlfriend.

That is why it is so important to do research on certain breed characteristics BEFORE choosing a pet for your family.

Answer 2

We have a border collie puppy and we are currently working on training out the nipping part of the herding instinct. It's not aggressive by any means, just what they do when they herd. We don't mind if she herds, just want to discourage the biting/nipping aspect of it. We've lucked out and found an excellent trainer that was suggested to us by our local agility club.

Your best bet is to find a good trainer, take some classes and you will get the best advice on how to address bahaviors you don't want. As stated above, herding is natural for our Border Collie, but we can still discourage the nipping and take out that part of the instinct pretty successfully.

Answer 3

Yes, their natural instincts can be curbed somewhat by training, but it really depends on which instincts you're talking about. Some you can't train out of a dog. For example, breeds like border collies or bearded collies are always going to instinctually try and herd their "people" together if they're running off leash. Sight hounds have been bred for thousands of years to chase moving objects and they do not hear you when they're on the chase.

Answer 4

i imagine that each and every unmarried dogs in this international, from the comfy significant large Dane, to the yappy chihuahua, has a organic instinct to opt to guard its carry close. What do you imagine? i imagine in difficulty-free words particular breeds contain this organic instinct, or perhaps then, the dogs's personality comes into play too. some canines might want to study to guard, for sure...yet no, this is no longer a given with each and every dogs.

Answer 5

Most of the dogs instincts can be trained, what happened with the goat?

Answer 6

Of course. Dogs are pack animals, it is a lot easier to train a pack animal than one that is not. Being a pack animal takes certain mental capabilities so that they are capable of working together in a social environment. Case in point, it is easier to train a dog than a house cat. House cats are not pack animals and dogs are. People are pack animals as well.

Answer 7

That's the point of training, to teach them to control unwanted behaviors, and to promote wanted behaviors. Unwanted behaviors would be traits/instincts, so the answer to your question would be yes.

Answer 8

Yes, most undesirable behaviors can be curbed with training, in domesticated dog breeds.

Answer 9

ya, it'll take a lot of work if the dog is older.
think about like a dog's instincts are to pee on something soft right...carpet. but it doesn't take too long for them to learn thats not right

Answer 10

yes..but it can be very difficult. How about an Aussie instead? Not generally quite as nippy, usually a bit more biddable.