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By Zazie Todd, PhD
Do you lot always hollo back much virtually the unlike personalities of dogs? New inquiry looks at the personality profiles of dogs (and their owners) in addition to finds that domestic dog personality seems to alter with age.
As well, the owner’s personality is linked to the dog’s personality. The study, past times medico William Chopik in addition to medico Jonathan Weaver (both Michigan State University) is published inwards Journal of Research in addition to Personality.
The results demonstrate that or thus personality traits are to a greater extent than pronounced inwards dogs inwards middle historic catamenia (6-8 years).
This was the illustration for responsiveness to training, which peaked at historic catamenia 7.44. Younger dogs were rated equally less responsive to training, in addition to older dogs were non much unlike from middle-aged ones. As well, dogs scored higher on this trait if they were trained past times their owners.
Aggression towards people was lower inwards immature dogs, but peaked betwixt half dozen in addition to vii years (age 6.69) in addition to and thus remained steady. Aggression towards people was lower inwards woman someone dogs, dogs that had been spayed/neutered, in addition to purebred dogs.
Older dogs are less aggressive towards other animals. Aggression towards other animals peaked betwixt vii in addition to 8 years (age 7.74) in addition to and thus began to spend upwards with increasing age. This trait was lowest alongside dogs that had been spayed/neutered in addition to that are purebred.
As you lot mightiness expect, immature dogs tended to endure to a greater extent than active in addition to excitable. Dogs who had been to obedience degree and/or were trained past times their possessor were to a greater extent than probable to endure active in addition to excitable.
There was no termination of historic catamenia on fearfulness, which could touching on dogs of whatever age. Dogs that had been to obedience class, were spayed/neutered, in addition to were purebred, were less probable to endure fearful.
Not surprisingly, when the researchers looked at whether or non the dogs had bitten a person, this was to a greater extent than probable inwards dogs that were rated equally aggressive towards people. It was to a greater extent than probable inwards dogs that had been trained past times the owner, which may endure surprising but perchance agency the possessor tried to develop the domestic dog next the seize with teeth (this is non clear from the data). Older dogs in addition to manly someone dogs were equally good to a greater extent than probable to convey bitten someone.
The results for aggression are interesting because before inquiry has shown that aggression towards people in addition to aggression towards animals are distinct. In other words, a domestic dog that is aggressive towards other dogs is non necessarily aggressive towards people in addition to vice versa. The novel study did non distinguish betwixt aggression towards solid unit of measurement members in addition to aggression towards strangers.
As well, the finding that or thus personality traits vary with historic catamenia is inwards job with a previous study that suggests at that spot is a developmental onslaught to or thus direct problems inwards dogs, at to the lowest degree inwards Guide dogs.
The novel study equally good compared the personality traits of owners with the personality traits of the dogs. Of course of study the Big 5 personality traits for people create non just tally with the 5 personality traits for dogs. However, at that spot were or thus similarities.
The scientists write,
“Some of the most intriguing results constitute were instances of personality “compatibility” betwixt owners in addition to their dogs. For example, extraverts rated their dogs equally to a greater extent than active/excitable; conscientious owners rated their dogs equally to a greater extent than responsive to training; agreeable owners rated their dogs equally less aggressive; neurotic owners rated their dogs equally to a greater extent than fearful.”
Earlier inquiry has equally good constitute a link betwixt the personality of dogs in addition to of their owners. One study published terminal twelvemonth had broadly similar results for personality; it equally good constitute that choice of domestic dog grooming methods does non mediate the link betwixt domestic dog in addition to possessor personality, but that at that spot is a link betwixt depression inwards men in addition to the likelihood of using aversive methods.
Finally, the scientists constitute that reports of a ameliorate character human relationship were linked to people who scored highly on agreeableness, in addition to equally good higher for women than for men. Canine characteristics associated with a ameliorate human relationship character were beingness to a greater extent than responsive to training, to a greater extent than active in addition to excitable, in addition to equally good if the domestic dog was older.
As with other such research, this novel study is simply a snapshot inwards fourth dimension in addition to thus it does non say us whether people are choosing dogs with personalities similar to theirs, or if, past times sharing their lives together, dogs operate to a greater extent than similar their people.
1,681 people completed a questionnaire that included the Big 5 personality questionnaire for themselves equally good equally ratings of their dog’s personality. As well, they were asked virtually the dog’s health, whether the domestic dog had always bitten someone, in addition to their human relationship with the dog.
Dogs aged 1.5 weeks to sixteen years were included inwards the study, in addition to virtually one-half of them were purebred.
The results of this study are fascinating, in addition to it would endure prissy to run across or thus longitudinal inquiry to follow this up.
The scientists write that inwards future, they would endure interested to aspect at how unlike grooming experiences touching on canine personality traits.
What sort of personality does your domestic dog have?
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Zazie Todd, PhD, is the writer of Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy
. She is the founder of the pop weblog , where she writes virtually everything from grooming methods to the human-canine relationship. She equally good writes a column for Psychology Today in addition to has received the prestigious Captain Haggerty Award for Best Training Article inwards 2017. Todd lives inwards Maple Ridge, BC, with her husband, 1 dog, in addition to 2 cats.Useful links:
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Reference
Chopik, W. J., & Weaver, J. R. (2019). Old dog, novel tricks: Age differences inwards domestic dog personality traits, associations with human personality traits, in addition to links to of import outcomes. Journal of Research inwards Personality, 79:94-108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2019.01.005
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