Nature or Nurture? There is no end in sight to this debate. Are our dog's personalities determined by genetics or their environment? I believe realistically it is a mixture of both, however, I would like to share a few personality types that are many times created by the owners actions. Many times I have jokingly heard the question, "How much of this is actually the dog and how much of it is the owner?". Usually its about 80% the owner and 20% the dog! Here are a few personality types that can hinder training, what causes them, and how to manage them. They can be genetic but are often caused by the dog's environment.
Opportunistic
Does your dog go through your house looking for things to get into? When in a new situation does he do the same? When he finds a novel item, does he automatically assume it is his to do with what he pleases?
If you said yes to the questions above, your dog may have an Opportunistic personality!
What causes it? Some breeds are naturally more curious than others (Terriers, for instance), making them more prone to this personality. However, many times this personality is fueled by a puppy not getting enough supervision. We may think it is cute when our tiny puppy runs into the living room from the kitchen with an empty pop bottle out of the trash and tosses it around, but it is learning how to be opportunistic. Not only is this puppy developing the habit to take any opportunity that its presented with to amuse itself, it will actually go looking for things to pass the time! That puppy isn't so cute when he finds your shoe in the closet and decides to toss it around and play with it, is he? Unfortunately by letting them play unsupervised and not seeing the harm in allowing him to find his own amusements, we are setting ourselves (and our dogs) up for harder times ahead.
How do we manage it? When you get a new dog, whether it be a puppy or an adult rescue, they will be developing their own picture of the world for the first 1-2 years they are with you. It is SO important at this time to not allow them to be unsupervised or leave things out you wouldn't want them to get into. Once they have developed their picture of the world, you can become more relaxed with your vigilance because once a picture is developed, it is much harder to change!
If you said yes to the questions above, your dog may have an Opportunistic personality!
What causes it? Some breeds are naturally more curious than others (Terriers, for instance), making them more prone to this personality. However, many times this personality is fueled by a puppy not getting enough supervision. We may think it is cute when our tiny puppy runs into the living room from the kitchen with an empty pop bottle out of the trash and tosses it around, but it is learning how to be opportunistic. Not only is this puppy developing the habit to take any opportunity that its presented with to amuse itself, it will actually go looking for things to pass the time! That puppy isn't so cute when he finds your shoe in the closet and decides to toss it around and play with it, is he? Unfortunately by letting them play unsupervised and not seeing the harm in allowing him to find his own amusements, we are setting ourselves (and our dogs) up for harder times ahead.
How do we manage it? When you get a new dog, whether it be a puppy or an adult rescue, they will be developing their own picture of the world for the first 1-2 years they are with you. It is SO important at this time to not allow them to be unsupervised or leave things out you wouldn't want them to get into. Once they have developed their picture of the world, you can become more relaxed with your vigilance because once a picture is developed, it is much harder to change!
Selfish
Does your dog insist on being first at everything? Does he push you out of the way to get out the door first? Do you feel like he sits "on" you and not "with you"? Does he seem to put his own wants and needs ahead of yours? If you answered yes to any of the previous questions, you may have a selfish dog!
What causes it? Once again, some breeds can be genetically predisposed to this personality type, usually breeds that are fast learners, highly intelligent, and like to be in control of the situation. However, owners can be just as guilty as genetics. Think about it, when we bring home that new bundle of fur, its so darn cute we would give it anything it could ever ask for, before it even asks for it! We leave food out for it to eat whenever it wants, we feed it treats "just because" and we abandon crate training and let it sleep in our bed because it is obviously "emotionally scarring" to be in that crate with all the horrible crying they do while they are in it! Wow, I wish someone treated me like we treat our brand new puppies! All of their hearts desires without asking anything in return! How do children turn out that have been treated this way? Selfish. So do our dogs!
How do we manage it? Don't get me wrong folks, my dogs are S-P-O-I-L-E-D, however, they are spoiled in the ways I choose, not in the ways they demand. For more on this topic check out another blog I wrote: How to Spoil Your Dog. You can still give your dog MOST everything he wants (the neighbor's cat is OUT OF THE QUESTION, right?). Just make sure he does something to earn it. It can be as simple as requiring him to sit in order to get petted, or sit to get the leash put on, or sit politely so you will open the door for him, (get the pattern? :p).
What causes it? Once again, some breeds can be genetically predisposed to this personality type, usually breeds that are fast learners, highly intelligent, and like to be in control of the situation. However, owners can be just as guilty as genetics. Think about it, when we bring home that new bundle of fur, its so darn cute we would give it anything it could ever ask for, before it even asks for it! We leave food out for it to eat whenever it wants, we feed it treats "just because" and we abandon crate training and let it sleep in our bed because it is obviously "emotionally scarring" to be in that crate with all the horrible crying they do while they are in it! Wow, I wish someone treated me like we treat our brand new puppies! All of their hearts desires without asking anything in return! How do children turn out that have been treated this way? Selfish. So do our dogs!
How do we manage it? Don't get me wrong folks, my dogs are S-P-O-I-L-E-D, however, they are spoiled in the ways I choose, not in the ways they demand. For more on this topic check out another blog I wrote: How to Spoil Your Dog. You can still give your dog MOST everything he wants (the neighbor's cat is OUT OF THE QUESTION, right?). Just make sure he does something to earn it. It can be as simple as requiring him to sit in order to get petted, or sit to get the leash put on, or sit politely so you will open the door for him, (get the pattern? :p).
Perseverant
Does your dog seem to be very strong willed? Does he always seem to outlast you on matters where you disagree? Is he so determined to get what he wants in a certain situation that he will turn down motivators that usually work (like food)? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might have a Perseverant dog!
What causes it? Some breeds are more prone to perseverance, once again it depends on the job they were originally bred to do. However, I have seen many, many owners unfortunately foster this personality type within their training program. When we talk about getting rid of behaviors that we don't like, we call it extinguishing behaviors. We remove the reward, the behavior goes away. Sounds simple enough, right? Unfortunately, we often experience what is called an Extinction Burst. When a behavior has worked for a dog in the past, once you remove the reward, it WILL try the behavior harder before giving up on it. Some owners mistake this reaction as a sign that their training methods are lacking, not necessarily! It may mean the dog is showing its frustration at not getting rewarded. Some owners decide to give in at this moment, fearing they are making the behavior worse. Unfortunately, if this is you, you just taught your dog what perseverence is! "If I tell you to stop doing something that you really want to do, just try a little bit harder and then I will give in."
How do we manage it? Make sure you are always patient and consistent with your pup. When you decide to give something new a try, stick with it long enough to make sure it isn't working before giving up on it. Otherwise you run the risk of letting them think they won!
What causes it? Some breeds are more prone to perseverance, once again it depends on the job they were originally bred to do. However, I have seen many, many owners unfortunately foster this personality type within their training program. When we talk about getting rid of behaviors that we don't like, we call it extinguishing behaviors. We remove the reward, the behavior goes away. Sounds simple enough, right? Unfortunately, we often experience what is called an Extinction Burst. When a behavior has worked for a dog in the past, once you remove the reward, it WILL try the behavior harder before giving up on it. Some owners mistake this reaction as a sign that their training methods are lacking, not necessarily! It may mean the dog is showing its frustration at not getting rewarded. Some owners decide to give in at this moment, fearing they are making the behavior worse. Unfortunately, if this is you, you just taught your dog what perseverence is! "If I tell you to stop doing something that you really want to do, just try a little bit harder and then I will give in."
How do we manage it? Make sure you are always patient and consistent with your pup. When you decide to give something new a try, stick with it long enough to make sure it isn't working before giving up on it. Otherwise you run the risk of letting them think they won!
Scaredy "Cats"
Does your dog seem to be more fearful than curious about new situations? Does he tend to be anti-social and hide behind you in new social settings? Does he seem to need your constant reassurance to cope with new situations? If you answered yes to any of these questions, than your dog might be a Scaredy "Cat" (pardon the pun!).
What causes it? Many of the smaller breeds lean towards this personality type naturally. It's a dog eat dog world out there and they might as well be wearing Milkbone Underwear with as small as they are! It's no wonder that without the proper socialization and support from their owners they become menaces to society that are only comfortable in their owners arms (hence the name, "Armpit Piranhas"). However, is it more than just their size that can cause this type of personality? Absolutely, I have seen dogs as big as German Shepherds relegated to a glorified puddle on the floor because their owners made a very easy mistake to make. As humans, we tend to want to comfort something that is scared or worried. Unfortunately, many times dogs are confused by our coddling. They do not understand the words we are saying, only the our body language and tone. Our body language and tone minus the words, sounds a LOT like praise! Many times , even though we are simply trying to make them feel better, we are accidentally encouraging and fostering the emotions they are feeling!
How do we manage it? Most important: TONS of early socialization, especially for the toy breeds. Group training classes, play groups, doggie day care, whatever it takes. While doing the socialization, make sure you are doing all you can to encourage them to face unfamiliar situations instead of hide from them (read: do NOT pick them up and coddle them every time they are worried unless the situation is unsafe for them!). NOTE: make sure the places you take them to are SAFE and provide STRUCTURED socialization. Taking them to an off leash park where they may get picked on by another dog will only teach them not to trust your judgment.
What causes it? Many of the smaller breeds lean towards this personality type naturally. It's a dog eat dog world out there and they might as well be wearing Milkbone Underwear with as small as they are! It's no wonder that without the proper socialization and support from their owners they become menaces to society that are only comfortable in their owners arms (hence the name, "Armpit Piranhas"). However, is it more than just their size that can cause this type of personality? Absolutely, I have seen dogs as big as German Shepherds relegated to a glorified puddle on the floor because their owners made a very easy mistake to make. As humans, we tend to want to comfort something that is scared or worried. Unfortunately, many times dogs are confused by our coddling. They do not understand the words we are saying, only the our body language and tone. Our body language and tone minus the words, sounds a LOT like praise! Many times , even though we are simply trying to make them feel better, we are accidentally encouraging and fostering the emotions they are feeling!
How do we manage it? Most important: TONS of early socialization, especially for the toy breeds. Group training classes, play groups, doggie day care, whatever it takes. While doing the socialization, make sure you are doing all you can to encourage them to face unfamiliar situations instead of hide from them (read: do NOT pick them up and coddle them every time they are worried unless the situation is unsafe for them!). NOTE: make sure the places you take them to are SAFE and provide STRUCTURED socialization. Taking them to an off leash park where they may get picked on by another dog will only teach them not to trust your judgment.
Bully
Does your dog seem to get an idea in his head and demand it? When he plays with other dogs, does he ignore if the other dog signals that they need a break from play? If you had a treat in your hand that your dog wanted would he try to intimidate you into giving it to him? This personality profile deserves a special note: the label "Bully" personality in no way refers to any of the specific breeds that are commonly referred to as Bully Breeds (i.e. Pit bull, bullmastiff, mastiff, etc.) rather, it is meant to refer to the type of bully your child may experience at school.
What causes it? Some breeds which were originally bred for guardian or protection work tend to take on this personality type quite easily ( if you had a guard dog, you would probably want him to demand things be his way, right?). However, this personality can easily be fostered by rewarding this type of behavior. I cannot tell you how many times I have seen the following scenario in one of my classes: Owner is holding a treat in its hand getting ready to ask the dog to do something, trainer comes over to explain something, dog gets impatient and wants the treat, dog shoves his nose into owners hand, owner (who is preoccupied with what the trainer is saying) gives treat to the dog. Dog just got rewarded for Pushy, Bully-like behavior!
How do we manage it? Be careful not to reward your dog in instances where he DEMANDS to get something. Even if it would make life a lot easier in the moment, realize that by rewarding that you are creating an entire personality that will need to be addressed eventually. Watch your dog when he is playing with other dogs (or children) make sure he honors requests to take a break, don't expect the other dog to take care of it.
What causes it? Some breeds which were originally bred for guardian or protection work tend to take on this personality type quite easily ( if you had a guard dog, you would probably want him to demand things be his way, right?). However, this personality can easily be fostered by rewarding this type of behavior. I cannot tell you how many times I have seen the following scenario in one of my classes: Owner is holding a treat in its hand getting ready to ask the dog to do something, trainer comes over to explain something, dog gets impatient and wants the treat, dog shoves his nose into owners hand, owner (who is preoccupied with what the trainer is saying) gives treat to the dog. Dog just got rewarded for Pushy, Bully-like behavior!
How do we manage it? Be careful not to reward your dog in instances where he DEMANDS to get something. Even if it would make life a lot easier in the moment, realize that by rewarding that you are creating an entire personality that will need to be addressed eventually. Watch your dog when he is playing with other dogs (or children) make sure he honors requests to take a break, don't expect the other dog to take care of it.
Needy
Does your dog constantly nag you for attention? Is it impossible for your dog to entertain themselves? Do they seem to constantly need reassurance or physical contact with you? If you answered yes to any of these questions, your dog might have a needy personality!
What causes it? Many breeds that were bred for a job that required them to work side by side with a human 24/7 are prone to this type of personality. A needy personality can quickly morph into a case of separation anxiety. For more on separation anxiety, check out my previous blog: Separation Anxiety: What is it, what causes it, and what to do about it. Unfortunately, we can be guilty of fostering a needy personality unbeknownst to us. When we first bring home our new bundle of fur, its hard NOT to take it everywhere with us. It is so cute and cuddly that it is with us nearly 24/7. Fast forward to a few weeks down the road, our puppy isn't quite so small anymore and it's ACTIVE. It becomes much harder for us to take it with us so we leave it at home. What we don't realize is that, while we may have spent the first few weeks religiously working on potty training, sit, and come when your called, we have not spent much time at all on separation. Another scenario I see a lot in this category is this: Owner is sitting in class trying to pay attention, dog starts to whine, owner puts hand on dog to stop the behavior, behavior stops! But the behavior only stops because the dog got what he wanted, ATTENTION! This response is misleading because while the behavior stops in the moment, you have actually unknowingly made the behavior stronger!
How do we manage it? Start off on the right foot with your new puppy, even though it is hard to part from that cutie, spend as much time crate training as you do with his other areas of training. It will teach him how to be alone and how to entertain himself. Trust me, you will thank me later!
What causes it? Many breeds that were bred for a job that required them to work side by side with a human 24/7 are prone to this type of personality. A needy personality can quickly morph into a case of separation anxiety. For more on separation anxiety, check out my previous blog: Separation Anxiety: What is it, what causes it, and what to do about it. Unfortunately, we can be guilty of fostering a needy personality unbeknownst to us. When we first bring home our new bundle of fur, its hard NOT to take it everywhere with us. It is so cute and cuddly that it is with us nearly 24/7. Fast forward to a few weeks down the road, our puppy isn't quite so small anymore and it's ACTIVE. It becomes much harder for us to take it with us so we leave it at home. What we don't realize is that, while we may have spent the first few weeks religiously working on potty training, sit, and come when your called, we have not spent much time at all on separation. Another scenario I see a lot in this category is this: Owner is sitting in class trying to pay attention, dog starts to whine, owner puts hand on dog to stop the behavior, behavior stops! But the behavior only stops because the dog got what he wanted, ATTENTION! This response is misleading because while the behavior stops in the moment, you have actually unknowingly made the behavior stronger!
How do we manage it? Start off on the right foot with your new puppy, even though it is hard to part from that cutie, spend as much time crate training as you do with his other areas of training. It will teach him how to be alone and how to entertain himself. Trust me, you will thank me later!
While it is true that some dogs seem more prone to certain types of behavior, we can choose to manage and minimize that personality or foster and grow it, make sure you make the right decisions with your dog!
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