Labrador Retrievers are consistently amongst the top five most popular dog breeds in the US. A big part of their appeal is that they’re often described as having outgoing, friendly, intelligent, adaptable and eager-to-please temperaments.
But what does temperament in dogs really mean? How is it measured, and how important a factor is it if you’re welcoming a new pet into your household?
What Is the Definition of Temperament in Dogs?
“Temperament in dogs” is an expression widely used to describe an animal’s personality. For example, you might hear characteristic terms like steady, outgoing, friendly, protective, independent, etc.
Jessica Perry Hekman, DVM, PhD, is a member of the Canine Brains Project, a research program at Harvard University aiming to improve our understanding of dog neuroscience and evolution. She also founded the Functional Dog Collaborative. She says that it gets tricky when it comes to a more detailed explanation of temperament. “There’s no one agreed-upon definition in the community of researchers who study personality in humans and animals,” she says.
Some experts refer to temperament as biologically-based (not learned) behaviors affected purely by genetics and not environmental factors. “For me, as someone who studies how personality develops biologically, there is no behavior without environment,” Hekman says. For many experts, temperament in dogs is determined geneticall. Then, it can be modified to some extent based on environmental factors.
What Influences Temperament and Behavior in Dogs?
Genetics play a significant role in the temperament of dogs. However, it’s difficult to measure what genes influence particular behaviors and why. Plus, genetics aren’t the only factor that plays a part in shaping canine personalities.
Breed Type
It’s common when searching for a pet to select a dog based on the temperament you expect a specific breed type to have. For example, it’s no wonder Border Collies excel in agility and make excellent partners for owners leading active lifestyles. They often have intelligent, intense, alert and loyal personalities. However, these traits also mean that undesirable behaviors can develop if you don’t have the time to offer enough exercise and mental stimulation.
Although breed is an important factor when selecting a companion animal, Sophie Barton, M.A, PhD Candidate, and member of the Canine Brains Project, explains it shouldn’t be the only one. “Even within a breed, there can be a fair amount of variation in temperament,” she says. In other words, every dog is an individual, and other factors can also shape their temperament.
Dog Size and Brain Structure
The size of a dog can also influence temperament, and it could possibly be a better predictor than breed type. Some of this could be attributed to your dog’s brain.
“The structure and function of the brain produce an animal’s cognition, temperament, and behavior,” Barton says. “Dogs show great diversity in these traits, probably because their brains vary considerably in size, shape, and connectivity.”
Barton explains that bigger dogs have bigger brains. As their brains scale, they grow a proportionally expanded cerebral cortex. This is the wrinkly outer layer of the brain involved in sensory processing, complex thought, and movement. It makes them more trainable. “On the other hand, ‘problem behaviors’, like separation anxiety and dog-directed fear, were associated with a reduced cerebral cortex,” she says.
Barton has also published a paper showing that selection for head shape alters dog brain anatomy. “Dogs with dolichocephalic, or long and narrow heads, have a reduced cerebral cortex,” she says. “They also have a smaller hippocampus, which is involved in memory formation, and amygdala, which processes fear.”
Could this be why Sighthounds are often described as having sensitive temperaments? Barton explains that these anatomical differences possibly underlie differences in temperament or cognition. They didn’t have behavioral data for the study to test this yet.
Environment
Many experts agree that a dog’s environment can affect their temperament, and that starts at conception. “The environment in the uterus is very important to how it develops,” Hekman says. The first few weeks after birth are also extremely important. “[It matters] how the mom takes care of the puppies and how the puppies interact with each other.”
If you are buying a puppy, finding a responsible breeder who provides appropriate care and socialization is vitally important to help form a well-rounded temperament, as is ongoing appropriate socialization once they’re home with you.
Breed Lines
Another reason to obtain a puppy from a reputable breeder is because temperament can be inherited. Barton says that learning about a dog’s family lineage can offer valuable insight. “For example, a dog from a line bred for calm, relaxed companionship may be an ideal match for a sedentary retiree,” she says. “In contrast, a dog descended from energetic working or sporting lines would likely thrive with an active owner who can provide plenty of physical and mental stimulation.”
Hekman says it’s not just about finding the right breeder on paper. “It’s important to talk to the breeder that you’re working with and see what they are breeding for. Meet their dogs, ask if they can live the life that you want your dog to live,” she says.
She goes back to the Labrador Retriever. There are lots of lines bred for different things and the genetic elements contributing to their temperaments will vary. “There’s the working line, pet line, show line, and those bred to be assistance dogs,” she says.
What Role Does Temperament Play When Training Dogs?
The intelligent, eager to please working breeds show us that temperament can greatly affect how trainable dogs are. Barton explains she has a paper under review that found that dog breeds developed in recent history (during the Victorian period), like Labrador Retrievers, have a larger cerebral cortex and are more trainable than ancient dog breeds, like Siberian Huskies. “We think this is a result of intensive artificial selection on modern breed dogs for close cooperation with humans,” she says.
We also know that bigger dogs with larger cerebral cortices are often regarded as more trainable. However, that’s not to say that your big dog will automatically be more trainable than a Chihuahua. For example, “guardian breeds tend to be a lot less biddable or more independent,” Hekman says. This independence can make training more of a challenge.
Much of your success depends on your training methods and motivating your dog in the right way. This can be based on their innate drives and overall individual temperament.
Considering Temperament When Breeding Dogs
There is a lot of emphasis, quite rightly, placed on the importance of careful breeding to reduce inheritable health conditions. However, a good breeder will also focus on producing puppies for temperament.
While some behaviors result from the environment dogs are in, many temperament traits are heritable. “If you have a dog with a particular trait that you don’t want to have passed on, you shouldn’t breed that dog,” Hekman says.
How Is Temperament Assessed?
Animal rescues often use temperament tests to assess if a dog is suitable to join a family. Breeders also sometimes use them when puppies go to new homes. Although these tests can be helpful, they have limitations. They shouldn’t be the sole determining factor when deciding if a dog is the right fit for you.
“While they do provide some objective insight into a dog’s behavior, they don’t always accurately predict how a dog will respond in different contexts,” Barton says. “For example, in a paper I’m currently drafting, we found that canine attachment-seeking behavior measured in a laboratory environment does not predict attachment-seeking behavior at home.”
Hekman also points out that personality is behavior displayed over time. “We don’t tend to give the behavior assessments tests more than once,” she says. “You’re getting a snapshot of how the dog behaves in a specific situation.”
Some dogs that are fearful in a behavioral assessment may be the opposite in a calm environment. Other dogs may do the opposite. A dog’s environment can greatly change how they behave and where they feel comfortable and relaxed. Sometimes, temperament tests won’t be an accurate reflection of the dog.
Hekman says that puppy temperament tests are also a one-day snapshot. “Puppies are very young when we do these tests. They’re going to change a lot as they grow and mature,” she says.