Dog Breed Has Nothing To Do With Personality
On the 29th, the international academic journal ‘Science’ featured various types of companion dogs on the cover. There are 11 types of dogs, including border collies, bulldogs, beagles, and pit bulls. In common sense, it is often believed that there are personality differences between dog breeds. Beagles have a lively personality, bulldogs have a gentle personality even they have tough faces, and pit bulls are aggressive but they also have patience at the same time.
A research team led by Kathleen Morrill, a professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, published an analysis in “Science” this week. There is a funny discovery. It found that differences in dog breeds are not decisive in making differences in personality. Regardless of their breeds, personality is determined randomly.
Before this discovery, you may have heard stereotypes about certain breeds—some, like labs, are more lovable, while others, like chihuahuas, are more aggressive. The research team analyzed 18,385 companion dogs. A survey was conducted to ask dog owners about their dog’s personality and behavior. Genetic data analysis was conducted on 2155 animals.
As a result, it found that there was little correlation between the dog’s species and personality. For example, by observing 100 dog’s behaviors, it was confirmed that only 9 behaviors show similarities depending on the species. “It is a much smaller number than most people expected,” Morrill said. “There wasn’t even a single breed-specific behavior.”
However, behavior like howling was more common in beagles, and pit bulls, while retrievers tended to get along easily with people. However, it is concluded that it is difficult to predict the dog’s behavior based on the breed because there is a large variation among individuals even in the same species.
In conclusion, the science is in: No matter its breed, any canine companion can be a good pet. The research team pointed out that the reason for this phenomenon is that the breeds of companion dogs that people currently keep a lot have been bred recently. The team said, “From about 200 years ago, dog lovers in the UK began to create breeds by selecting aesthetically pleasing dog characteristics.”
