What is the L.E.G.S.® Model?

Dogs have been our loyal comrades for thousands of years, but understanding why they do what they do can often be a challenge. Why do they bark at certain times? Why do they have a penchant for gnawing on furniture or chewing our favourite shoes? Why do they sometimes seem anxious or fearful? What makes them happy?

Introducing L.E.G.S.®

The acronym L.E.G.S.® stands for Learning, Environment, Genetics and Self. This framework, devised by applied ethologist Kim Brophey, organises insights from various scientific disciplines into a comprehensive and accessible model for all dog enthusiasts.

Learning

Your dog is learning every second of every day throughout his entire life. They are learning what is safe and what is not; what produces a reward and what a punishment; what works and what doesn't. You have the opportunity to help shape what your dog learns, but bear in mind that their DNA also provides information based on what their ancestors learned throughout their lives. Some of that 'pre-programmed' learning may go back a very long way – to the days when the ancestors of the fluffy puppy snuggling on your lap were guarding livestock from wolves, herding cattle or scavenging for food on the outskirts of a village. And some may be much more recent, which is why, for example, it's not uncommon for puppies bred from a nervous mother, especially one who's lacked proper care from humans, may grow up with a strong propensity for nervous behaviour (one reason why you should always do your research into the breeder before buying a puppy).

Your dog will predict and anticipate and then adapt to what will happen or what will not happen in new situations based on what they've learned in their lifetime and what has come 'hard-wired' from ancestral learning.

As our dog's handler, we have the opportunity to help shape the dog in front of us. A fearful puppy can be helped to become more confident through positive socialisation experiences. We can help a dog that was neglected or abused in the past learn to trust people (but it may take time). We can teach a dog who's so keen on meeting people they jump all over them some alternative methods of greeting simply by rewarding behaviours we prefer. Remember, a dog learns what works and what doesn't work through trial and error. If you teach your dog that keeping all four feet on the floor results in tons of yummy treats and attention, what do you think your dog's default behaviour will be in the future?

Environment

Environment is everything that your dog encounters and interacts. Is this place safe? What's happening? What should I do? I know what this means!  Our job as the human in this relationship – and the only one with the power to orchestrate their experiences – is to provide an environment to keep our dog safe and fulfils their needs.

For example, when your puppy is teething, they're going to look for items to chew that will help alleviate the pain and discomfort. Textures they're going to find helpful include wood and leather – which also happen to be the materials used to make furniture and shoes. So, rather than constantly monitoring and moving the puppy or getting cross, manage their environment. Don't give them access to these tempting items. Instead, provide appropriate chew toys of different textures.

Genetics

Genetics encompasses all the information that is already encoded in our dog's DNA when they arrive on earth. These are the essentials of what makes a dog a dog (eg furry, four legs, barks, digs, chews, chases). Genetics also includes all the specialisations that humans have selected for and against since we began breeding dogs over 10,000 years ago – that is, herding, guarding, retrieving, companionship and so on and, latterly, a focus on physical features such as length of coat, facial features, colours (whether or not they were relevant to the dog's 'job').

Genetics are hard-wired. Behaviourally, we can enhance or moderate some traits through training or by managing the environment, but we can't eradicate them completely. Terriers will almost always relish the thrill of digging – it's what we bred them to do. Sheepdogs will instinctively attempt to control the movement of groups. Our role is to redirect these inherent traits to suit our modern lifestyles, ensuring they find satisfaction in approved outlets. For example, we can teach a terrier to dig in a place of our choosing, or a border collie that herding games could involve large rolling balls rather than small children or people on skateboards.

Self

This considers the dog directly in front of us. Self refers to all the internal factors that make up a dog's unique personality and behaviour. This includes their age, sex and reproductive status, health and developmental history.

For example: did your dog get bullied at day care today; are they sick or have they hurt themselves? These circumstances are going to affect their response when the neighbour's dog jumps in their face on the way home from a walk. Similarly, a puppy who's still learning about the world around them will have different needs and behaviours than an older dog who has already had many life experiences. 

Understanding the self part of L.E.G.S. is important for interpreting your dog's behaviour and meeting their individual needs based on their unique characteristics and circumstances. We always need to think about our dogs as individuals.

Our own L.E.G.S.®

Of course, the L.E.G.S.® model isn't unique to dogs – every animal has its own L.E.G.S.® to consider, especially us! But we bear a special responsibility when it comes to understanding and accommodating the pet dogs we welcome into our lives. Unlike their ancestors, most pet dogs now live in environments vastly different from those they were originally bred for.

Huskies were bred to pull sleds across the arctic tundra. Today, we expect them to live happily in an apartment in town.

Border Collies were bred to control chaos – to notice that one sheep maybe a quarter of a mile away has taken a step away from the flock and act on impulse to bring them back. Today, we expect them to lie quietly while our young children run and scream through the house.

Great Pyrenees (Pyrenean Mountain Dog) were bred to live outside guarding the livestock. They were active at night and used their imposing presence and intimidating bark to scare away predators and thieves. Today, we expect them to lie around the house where opportunities to patrol are limited, and ignore accept random visitors.

Just as we navigate our own complex lives, they must adapt to urban apartments, suburban neighbourhoods and bustling cities.

Rather than choosing a dog on impulse, by colour, because it looked great in a movie or a friend just got one, we must examine our own L.E.G.S.® to honestly assess our lifestyle, living conditions and preferences in order to align them with the breed descriptions that resonate with our circumstances. That will help you make an informed decision when choosing a dog breed or mix to harmonize with your life.

Whether you're a dog lover or dog professional, if you're interested in learning more visit L.E.G.S.® Applied Ethology

From an article by Kerrie Hoar, Crimson Hound LLC