When I am assessing any dog or puppy that has, let’s say, an undesirable characteristic, such as aggression, the first thing I consider is the dog’s overall temperament. In my opinion, a dog’s temperament is the single most important factor in what makes a dog a good or bad one.
Temperament in a dog is their innate personality — who they are and what makes them unique. Some believe that a dog’s temperament is purely biological, based on genetics and not on learned behavior, while others feel that a puppy’s life experiences shape their temperaments.
What is clear is that a puppy’s predisposed temperament does have strong genetic components based on their breed. However, temperament is also influenced by environmental factors that start shaping your puppy while they are still in the womb. How healthy a mom is during her pregnancy and, equally important, how she is maintained during nursing of the puppies from birth will play a huge factor in temperament. For example, Amish puppy mill dogs have become genetically predisposed to fear and anxiety based on their parents living such sheltered lives.
In the world of purebred dogs, breed type and temperament are based on what a particular breed was meant to do. For example, Scottish Terriers were bred to be independent vermin killers. They needed to be fearless when ridding a farm of vermin and “going to ground,” burrowing into holes to catch rats, groundhogs and whatever else the farmers didn’t want around. While most Scotties I know aren’t living on farms anymore, they do retain that spicy temperament that makes a Scottie a Scottie; They openly have a bit of an attitude when asked for compliance with rules. On the flip side, golden retrievers were bred to listen to commands and retrieve things for their humans all day. They possess an innate work ethic that is mixed with just the right amount of joy. They would never dream of insulting their owners like a Scottie by simply walking away from them with zero guilt for not listening. Most toy breeds were literally bred to sit on your lap and be pleasant companions. They may be a tad more difficult to train as they were not designed to have a work ethic like the German Shepherd or the Border Collie. All of these breeds, when produced by a reputable breeder, have their own unique temperaments that make them what they are.
In my bull terrier breeding program, I also assess the temperament of the people who want one of the puppies. Are they the type of person who can handle the bull terrier intensity? I know what the temperament of each and every one of my puppies is based on generations of breeding. I am very hesitant about my puppies going to busy homes where the owners won’t have the time to attend training classes because they will not survive owning a bull terrier puppy without those classes.
For mixed breeds, it may be a bit harder to nail down what well the dog’s temperament is springing from. It is particularly difficult with the doodle mixes to determine which side the genetic coin will land when mixing a golden retriever, known for their social nature, with a poodle, who should have an air of distinction about them, making them appear aloof to strangers. I also know dozens of pit bull mixes who have absolutely lovely temperaments with people and would never dare bite a human. However, they hate other dogs down to their souls. Remember, sadly, pit bulls were originally bred to fight. While hopefully that is happening less in today’s society, depending on the dog’s bloodlines, some may retain that innate prey drive that is simply who they are.
When looking for a puppy, either purebred or mixed, consider temperament first, particularly if you have children. A herding dog or herding mix may never lose that desire to keep the children in one place in the household.
I will talk next time about what I consider a poor temperament and how to set realistic training goals in response to that. If you have any questions, please email me at heidi@fouronthefloordogtraining.net.
Heidi Clayton started Four On the Floor Dog Training to provide positive, reward-based dog training in South Jersey. She breeds, trains and shows bull terriers under the SoraBully’s Bull Terriers kennel name. Email questions to heidi@fouronthefloordogtraining.net or learn more at https://fouronthefloordogtraining.net
