How to Choose a Dog That Matches Your Personality

1 Choose at the Right Time

The time you pick affects your read. At feeding, the fitter dog rushes to the front and, once full, returns to its bed and ignores visitors; a dog that missed out looks extra eager and begs, which can mislead you about its true nature.

In truth, if you want a brave, sturdy dog, a food-rusher fits, but it may keep the grabbing habit and need training that is hard work, so be ready. A non-rusher may be underfed and malnourished, so after choosing, take it for a full inside-out vet check first.

2 Test the Dog’s Personality

Experienced owners can read a one- to two-month-old from its behavior. For an objective read, take a lively two-month-old to a strange quiet place and run these tests:

Social ability: in silence, squat 1 to 2 meters away and call. A dog that lifts its tail and runs straight to you is confident, outgoing, and social, suiting an owner with time to spare. No response means hearing trouble or an independent, aloof dog that dislikes people and training. A hesitant, fearful approach shows a timid dog that will lean hard on its owner.

Following: stand and walk slowly while calling. A confident brave dog follows willingly; a strong, leader-type may run ahead to lead or leave you behind; a soft dog may ignore you and wander off.

Obedience: roll the pup on its back, hold a hand on its chest, and hold eye contact for half a minute. Constant struggling with a steady, unflinching gaze marks a tough dog for experienced handlers. Struggling with a slowly wavering gaze trains more easily into high obedience with the right method. A dog that lies still throughout with shifting eyes is a ‘coward’ that rarely causes trouble but is unfit as a guard dog.