Seeking Novelty

Seeking Novelty (or curiosity) is an interesting variable response. Dr. Temple Grandin outlines this response in her book” Genetics and Behavior of Domestic Animal Behavior”.  Although the dog may be interested in strangers and new experiences, his reaction to them is not always predictable. This is why seeking novelty by being interested in a new smell, person, or situation may seem like an acceptable personality trait and if your dog has “normal” presets of reactivity. An interesting anomaly of a dog’s ability to seek novelty is at the opposite end of the spectrum. Of course, it is wonderful for a dog to seek new experiences and people with curiosity. Unfortunately, what lies on the other end of the toggle switch is what makes a friendly dog turn into the opposite.

Think of your dog as a light switch. The lights are either on or off. Although there are levels of reactivity, once the light is switched on the dog will act according to its nature. The reaction can be altered or mitigated but not always completely. Let’s say, for example, that your dog is interested in a particular stimulus such as a child holding a cookie in her hand. The novelty seeking portion of your dog will cause him to walk up in order to say hello and receive the treat. The child then moves her hand in a way that the dog is not comfortable with, and the dog snaps at the her hand. Once that switch flips, it flips. So the dog’s natural curiosity is also what causes its natural unpredictable response. Remember, we can not mold someone who is startled at stimuli into a perfectly calm person who will never react to anyone. But we can generally change the intensity, or the response, in accordance with proper behavioral modification.