Every dog is unique, not just in personality, but in the instincts and behaviors they’re wired to perform. For some, that’s sniffing. For others, it’s chasing, digging, or herding. These natural behaviors aren’t quirks to be “fixed”, but essential expressions of who our dogs are.
From a scientific perspective, many of these behaviors are self-rewarding. When a beagle follows a scent trail or a border collie gives chase, their brains release feel-good neurotransmitters like dopamine. The act itself is reinforcing—they don’t need a treat at the end for it to be satisfying. That’s why ignoring these drives can leave dogs restless, frustrated, or even lead to behaviors that become a problem in the domestic house.
Some scientific insights into natural behaviors:
- Behavioral reinforcement loops – Behaviors like sniffing and chasing activate the brain’s reward circuits, encouraging dogs to repeat them.
- Enrichment and welfare – Studies show that dogs provided with outlets for natural behaviors display lower stress levels and fewer signs of frustration.
- Breed-specific drives – Selective breeding has enhanced certain behaviors (herding in Collies, scenting in Beagles, carrying things in mouths for retrievers), making them especially important for satisfying the dog when it lives in a human world.
I’ve seen this firsthand with my own dogs. My retired working beagle still has a strong drive to sniff everything in sight. To give him an outlet, I hide treats around the house or scatter them in long grass. He gets to do what he loves—use his nose—and the food at the end is a bonus.
My other dog, a schnauzer cross with a collie (affectionately shortened to schnollie), has an incredibly high prey drive thanks to his mix of breeds. For him, the same long-grass treat throwing game doubles as a safe outlet for his chase instinct. He wants to hunt and pursue, so I give him something appropriate to chase.
Beagles are natural sniffers, collies are natural chasers, terriers are natural diggers, retrievers are natural carriers, dachshunds are natural hunters, etc. The best thing we can do as dog owners is recognize these instincts and find safe, positive ways to let dogs express them.
Next time you think your dog has turned into a maniac, try giving them an outlet to perform whatever behaviour they were born to do. A dog that gets to 'be a dog' for some time each day is calmer, happier, and more fulfilled.