Sudden withdrawal or uncharacteristic aggression in a social dog often points to underlying metabolic diseases, dental pain, or vision loss.

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Animals exhibit both innate behaviors (instincts, imprinting) and learned behaviors (conditioning, imitation). Understanding the difference allows veterinarians to determine if a behavior is a healthy instinct, a behavioral problem, or a learned coping mechanism for stress.

The future of this dual discipline lies in technology and genetics. Researchers currently study behavior genomics to identify genetic markers for compulsive disorders and extreme aggression.