Six Dog Personality Traits-Which Personality is Your Dog

Dogs fall into specific personality groups just like we do. Some are more independent with a mind of their own. Some are sensitive and get their feelings hurt and others practically smile from ear to ear when they are with their owner. It doesn't matter which personality trait they have, all dogs can learn, but some will learn at different speeds than others and some may not be able to learn more complex tricks depending on who they are as an individual dog. A dog's personality traits make him who he is and is one reason why you picked him in the first place. It's important to know who your dog is to help him learn to the best of his ability and understand behavioral problems that could develop before they become a issue. How a dog feels about himself, breed, up bringing and environment all play a role in his development and his personality.

The happy and outgoing dog personality is eager to meet anyone whether they know them or not. They do well meeting new dogs and think cats are funny looking dogs, but they accept them anyway. This type of personality may be more prone to jumping up on people and getting under foot and they can become too excited and out of control. A happy personality can get into trouble if the dog is large because he can easily scare small children or knock someone down with his excited greetings.

The aggressive and dominant dog personality requires a firm hand that is understanding, patient and gentle. Trying to match an aggressive personality with equal force can backfire and cause the dog to become more aggressive. A dog who shows aggression needs an owner who is the dog's leader to keep better control over him to avoid unnecessary encounters that don't need to happen. Any dog with an aggressive personality, regardless of whether he's large or small, needs regular exercise and training to redirect his focus and help keep his state of mind balanced. A dominant dog isn't necessarily aggressive, but the two can go hand in hand, so it's important to recognize aggressive tendencies and dominance as early as you can to keep him out of trouble. Positive reinforcement works well with this type of personality. However, a dog who displays aggressive tendencies should never be left unsupervised around small children or people who don't know how to handle the dog's responses to them. Treat this dog personality with care and responsibility because he can easily get into trouble with someone who doesn't understand him.

The confident dog personality is comfortable in his own skin and may also be a dominant dog. This dog is a natural leader of other dogs because he doesn't let little things bother him. He knows how to work together as a team to get things done and isn't shy about taking charge of a situation. Like the aggressive dog, it's wise not to use force with this dog personality to avoid aggressive tendencies that you could unknowingly create. A confident dog will follow an owner who has earned the dog's respect and trust.

The shy and insecure dog personality needs an owner who is sensitive to the dog's feelings. Sudden or loud noises and uncomfortable stimulus can send this dog cowering under a table. Using heavy handed training techniques can make this dog aggressive or create a more insecure and fearful dog who shuts down and won't respond to his owner at all. Positive reinforcement should be used with this type of dog. A shy, insecure dog usually develops a close bond with his owner that can become obsessive. He needs an owner who stimulates him and rewards his successes with lots of praise to reassure the dog so he feels secure and safe in his surroundings.

The independent dog personality is a dog who doesn't see a need to form an attachment to his owner. He's more aloof and doesn't like to cuddle or even sit close to his owner, unless he chooses to do so. If there's other pets in the home, he may or may not form a bond with them. He's comfortable away from the crowd. This dog needs an understanding owner who accepts the dog for who he is and helps the dog bond by spending time with him while giving the dog the space he desires.

The adaptable dog personality is a dog who is one of the easiest personality types to train because he's eager to please his owner. This dog gets along with people and other pets, but he's not as outgoing as the happy dog who rushes to greet anyone entering the home. He sees his owner as his leader and is just waiting for instructions on what to do. This is a dog personality that is great around small children and older people.

Understanding your dog's personality is just like getting to know your best friend or your spouse. We do things and react according to who we are. Dogs are the same and his/her personality traits give you an idea how they will act in certain situations, how they will react around people, small children and other pets. Being a responsible dog owner means having control of your dog at all times and understanding who he is will make it easier to do.

Understanding Your Dog's Personality, i-love-dogs.com

Dog Personality Characteristics, Florida Dog Training School
Know Your Dog, Beginners Dog Training