The 5 Most Common Dog Personalities

1 Overview

Take the gentle Pit Bull, or the Chihuahua that picks a fight with anyone. Environment also shapes character – the living conditions, how the owner treats it, and how its nature is guided.

Take police dogs: shy, introverted ones aren’t suited, nor are those naturally wary of people. Only calm, confident dogs are chosen.

So today we look at the kinds of dog personalities, and how to train each.

Confident

This dog is a born leader and more likely to become top dog.

Never train it with violence or shouting – that only makes it more aggressive. A confident dog shows strong dominance and needs the owner’s correct guidance.

Shy

Like people, some dogs are born reserved.

Don’t force it to do what it dislikes; even if you get the result, you pay with its lost trust.

Shy dogs respond well to praise and encouragement. Forced training easily makes them fearful, insecure, and aggressive.

Independent

They think for themselves – a trait clear in some hunting breeds.

Strongly independent dogs answer only to their leader and prefer talking with them or chosen people; they treat others poorly.

No need to push it to meet new friends – it picks its own. Heard of this before? Right, many mastiffs and terriers are fiercely independent.

Friendly

Ever heard of a dog that wags its tail while helping a thief carry things?

Right – it befriends any dog or cat. Such a dog almost never attacks; it craves new friends and human affection.

Great as a family pet, but if it’s large and this friendly, the owner must keep a firm grip.

Eager to please

This type differs a bit from the fiery-friendly one above.

It makes an ideal companion, loves praise, but knows limits and does what pleases you. Easiest to train – calm, loving, with a strong desire to please.