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Genetics matter - but what if you don't have any control over them?
- gretainglis
- Nov 28
- 3 min read
When people talk about choosing a puppy, genetics often come up. And for good reason - a dog’s genetic makeup plays a role in shaping not only their physical traits, but also their temperament, fears, drives, and preferences.
But what happens when you don’t get to choose your dog based on genetics?
Maybe your dog came from a rescue, or you’re fostering, or you simply picked the pup that needed you most. Where does that leave you in understanding your dog and helping them thrive?
Let’s explore what science tells us — and what you can do when you didn't have a choice in the matter.
Why do genetics matter?
A dog’s behaviour is influenced by a mix of genes and environment. Genetics affect things like:
Confidence vs. fearfulness
Energy levels
Sociability
Prey drive, guardian tendencies, herding instincts
Sensitivity to sound or touch
In a study by Foyer et al. (2013), maternal stress and fear in dogs were shown to impact puppies before they were even born. Puppies born to fearful mothers had higher baseline cortisol and a higher propensity for reactive behaviours in new situations. This kind of inherited or in-utero sensitivity can result in pups who are naturally more sensitive, anxious or fearful of novelty (neophobia).
This, combined with the powerful impact of early environment, helps explain why some dogs arrive in our homes already carrying fear, sensitivity or alertness in their bodies. Genetics can influence how reactive their stress system is, how quickly they recover, and how easily they become overwhelmed. When early experiences add stress - such as a lack of socialisation, noise, separation, or unwanted handling - it can amplify these inherited tendencies.
So where does this leave us?
You dog's genetic makeup may be unknown, but this doesn't mean you don't get to know who they really are. They will tell you - you just have to be paying attention.
Think about how your dog interacts with you, with other animals and the world around them. What do they tell you through their body language? What lights them up?
When it comes to your dog's genetic make up, this is where you come in...
You can influence how your dog's genetic traits are supported in the following ways:
Building trust
Environment, safety, routine, relationship, enrichment, and gentle training all have a powerful impact on how a genetically sensitive dog copes with the world.
Your dog’s relationship with you becomes the foundation for how they interpret the world. A dog who feels safe and supported by their human will slowly feel safer in new situations. Gentle handling, predictable routines, and relationship building exercises can help strengthen this bond.
Supporting traits that are hard-wired
While we can shape behaviour, we can’t erase instinct. Many dogs carry inherited drives that show up whether we asked for them or not. Herding breeds might stalk or try to control movement. Scent hounds often have strong tracking instincts. Guardian breeds may be prone to alerting to changes in the environment.
When a dog is offered a healthy outlet for their innate traits, this can increase emotional regulation and reduce frustration.
For dogs with herding traits, this may look like movement games, gentle herding outlets, or the controlled chasing of toys.
For our guardian mixes, this may involve creating predictable routines, safe "watching spots" and offering structured reassurance.
Terrier mixes often enjoy scent games, digging pits and interactive activities like destruction boxes.
Sighthounds may benefit from controlled sprinting opportunities or the use of a flirt pole in short bursts, whereas scenthounds prefer scent-work and tracking games.
For our village dogs and rescue mixes, we can support innate traits through foraging walks, problem-solving tasks, and by offering independence in safe contexts.
This is where behaviour support becomes joyful, helping them safely express what their genes prepared them for.
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