Does Dog Breed Influence Behavior? Yes, in a nutshell.





Based on community science data sourced from Darwin's Ark, a recent study published in Science investigated whether a dog's breed influences their personality. The expansive study's findings were framed by provocative headlines like "They're All Good Dogs, and It Has Nothing to Do With Their Breed," but is it really that simple?


"I believe it is risky to tell someone that it doesn't matter what breed of dog they get... "I'm worried about some of the messaging about this paper that's out there," study co-author Dr. Jessica Hekman said on the Cog Dog Radio podcast. She told the American Kennel Club that the study's original goal was to add to the scientific literature on dog behaviour rather than "provide guidance for people buying pets."

We spoke with dog training, health, and genetics experts, as well as study co-author Hekman, to learn more about why dog breeds and genetics matter, and how socialisation of any dog or breed is critical to bringing out the best expression of a dog's personality.


Do Dog Breeds Have Distinct Personalities?





Every dog is an individual. While one dog may rush to the door excited to greet visitors, while another dog of the same breed may simply lounge on the couch unbothered, the type of dog breed will most likely predict common traits, such as how energetic or stubborn your pet is. According to Dr. Jerry Klein, Chief Veterinary Officer for the American Kennel Club, when humans first began domesticating dogs, they chose dogs that were easy to manage and handle, as well as those that were useful for day-to-day activities like hunting, guarding, and companionship.

"Through selective breeding over many, many, many generations," he explains, "certain qualities and traits were continuously selected, refined, and became more ingrained in some dogs, eventually becoming a certain group of dogs (Sporting, Sighthounds, Scenthounds), and then becoming breeds."

Penny Leigh, CPDT-KA, AKC Canine Partners and AKC GoodDog! Helpline programme manager, agrees. "Purebred dog breeds have been developed for hundreds of years, some for cuddling on laps, hunting birds, herding livestock, or pulling sleds," she says. "They were chosen for characteristics that would result in the best dogs for their intended jobs—and those characteristics continue to define their personalities today, even if they are not used in their intended roles."

According to Dr. Jerold Bell, Adjunct Professor of Genetics at Tufts University's Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, there may be specific behavioural differences between similar breeds within a breed group, such as the Herding Group or Terrier Group, or within a subgroup, such as pointing breeds or setting breeds. The differences between these groups, on the other hand, are the result of hundreds of years of selection for specific behaviours.

"There is no doubt that 'instinct' plays a significant role in purebred dog behaviour when you see a weeks-old puppy frozen on-point, or a herding dog circling the family children, or all other stereotypical breed behaviours," Dr. Bell says.

Bringing a new dog into your life is exciting, but it is also a significant commitment. You must meet your new pet's physical and psychological needs for the rest of their life, not to mention train and socialise them so they can interact with people and other dogs. While every dog has a unique personality, if the breed you choose isn't a good fit for your lifestyle, the key behaviours that have defined that breed over generations can be a struggle, leading to frustration, disappointment, or an unhappy dog.