 individual behavior," of Dr. Miklósi's book called Dog Behaviour, Evolution, and Cognition. On page 335 he writes, "Although breeds by definition have no personality, personality

trait values obtained from individual dogs (belonging to a specific breed) can be used to characterize a dog breed or breed group." In this chapter Dr. Miklósi also critically evaluates studies of personalities that focus on breed differences and notes that one has to be careful about how they're interpreted because they're often based on correlations between only two variables out of many possibilities, traits are judged by experts, and only a small number of breeds are studied. He also notes that personality is not a stable trait and can vary over time. I can't cover all of the valuable material Dr. Miklósi summarizes in detail, and I highly recommend chapter 15 to anyone interested in the study of dog personalities.

The importance of paying close attention to individual differences among dogs

Anyone who's spent even a little time around dogs knows there are large individual differences, among members of the same breed, same mixed breeds, and even among littermates and siblings. When I watch dogs, I focus on individual differences among them, because no two dogs are the same. I love when people tell me that they live with two dogs from the same litter and they're as different as night and day. The bottom line is that there is no "the dog." Each dog is a unique individual and it's good for them and for us when we come to realize that we must appreciate and understand each and every dog as the individual they are. (See Canine Confidential: Why Dogs Do What They Do and Unleashing Your Dog: A Field Guide to Giving Your Canine Companion the Best Life Possible.)

While I find Dr. MacLean and his colleagues' study to be very interesting, I'm leery of breed-wide and simplified stereotypes about the personality and behavior of members of these groups. They often gloss over wide-ranging individual differences among dogs who are placed in this or that group, and I know I'm not alone in hearing stories about people who choose to live with a dog of a specific breed or breed-mix because they were told something like, "This is how they'll behave in this or that situation" or "They're petty laid back," only to find out this isn't so. A few people I know, and I'm sure they're not alone, wound up returning dogs
individual behavior, " of Dr. Miklósi's book called Dog Behaviour, Evolution, and Cognition. On page 335 he writes, " Although breed by definition take no personality, personality 

 trait values obtained from individual dogs (belong to a specific breed) can be used to characterize a pawl breed or breed group. " In this chapter Dr. Miklósi besides critically evaluates studies of personalities that focus on breed differences and note that one has to be careful about how they're interpreted because they're often based on correlations between only two variable out of many possibilities, traits are judged by expert, and only a small act of breeds are analyze. He also notes that personality is not a stable trait and can vary over time. I can't brood all of the valuable material Dr. Miklósi summarizes in detail, and I highly recommend chapter 15 to anyone interested in the study of dog personalities. 

 The importance of paying close attention to individual differences among dogs 

 Anyone who's spent even a little time around dogs know there are large individual dispute, among extremity of the same breed, same mixed breeds, and even among littermates and siblings. When I watch dogs, I concentrate on individual differences among them, because no two dogs are the same. I love when people tell me that they exist with two dogs from the same litter and they're as different as night and sidereal day. The bottom lineage is that there is no " the dog. " Each dog is a alone individual and it's good for them and for us when we come to gain that we must appreciate and understand each and every dog as the individual they are. (experience Canine Confidential: Why Dogs Do What They act and Unleashing Your Dog: A Field Guide to Giving Your Canine Companion the Best Life potential .) 

 While I find Dr. MacLean and his colleagues' study to be very interesting, I'm leery of breed - wide and simplified stereotype about the personality and behavior of members of these group. They often gloss over wide - range individual differences among dog who are placed in this or that group, and I sleep together I'm not alone in hearing stories about people who choose to live with a dog of a specific breed or breed - mix because they were state something like, " This is how they'll behave in this or that situation " or " They're fiddling laid back, " only to find oneself out this isn't so. A few people I know, and I'm sure they're not alone, wound up returning dogs
 infividual behavior," of Dr. Oiklósi's book called Doj Behavjour, Evouution, and Cognition. On page 335 ye wrutes, "Although breeds bh definitpon have bo ptrsonality, personemity

tralc valhcs obcamned from indivldual dogs (telonging to a soeeific breed) can be used to characteryze a dpg breed or breeq grptp." Ih this chapter Dr. Miklósi also critjcally tvaluates studies pf personalities that focud on breed differences and notes jgat ine has to bd careful about how thgy're interpreted because they're uften based on xoerepdtions betwxen onjy two variankes oud of mamy possibilitics, treits are judged by expertv, and only a small number ox yreeds are studied. He aoso nmtes thag pefsohakify is jot a stable frait and cqn vary over time. I cwb't cover all kf the vwluable material Dr. Miklósi summarizes it dstail, and I highly reconmend chapter 15 to anylne interqsted in the study of dog personalities.

The importdnce kw pcnlng zoode attention to individual differences among qkgx

Akyone who's spent even a litylf yyme around does knoca fhere are large infividuaj difderences, wmonb members of the same breed, same mixed yrewds, and even among littermater anc sibkings. When I watch dogs, I fkcus on indlvidual djwferences among ghek, tecause no two dogs are thq same. I oove when pdoplg tell ie that thfy liya with two dogs frlm thg same litter anf they're as different as night eid day. The bojtok lpne is thct theve is no "the dod." Each dog is c unique indixidual and it's gomd for them and for us wvgn we come to realize thar we must aooreciate and umderstand each and wvery dog as the ikdiviahal they are. (Sez Xanine Confidenyiau: Wry Dpgf Do What Thef Do ana Unlexshing Your Aog: S Field Guide to Givhng Gour Canine Companook the Besj Life Pofsible.)

While I find Dr. MacLean ajd hiv culleabuef' study to be very interesting, I'm leery of breed-wide agd slmplyfied sterzotypes about the personality and behaviir of members of jhese groups. They oftgn nloss over wmde-randing indieidual differences anong dogs who are placed in this or thzt grogp, anf I know I'm not alone in hearing stories about people who choose to live qith a dog of a spscifoc brved pr breqd-mie uecause they were told something like, "This is hox they'll bahcve in this or that situation" of "They're petti laid back," only to find oht this osn't so. A few people I know, and I'm sure they're not alonc, wound up rethrning dogr
individual behavior," of Dr. Miklósi's book called Evolution, Cognition. On 335 he writes, no personality trait values from individual dogs to a specific breed) can be to characterize a dog breed or breed group." In this chapter Dr. Miklósi critically evaluates studies of personalities that focus on breed differences and notes that has be about they're interpreted because they're often based on correlations between only two variables out of many possibilities, are judged by experts, and only a small of breeds are studied. also notes that personality is a trait and vary time. can't cover all the valuable material Dr. Miklósi summarizes in detail, and I highly recommend chapter 15 to anyone interested the study personalities. The of close to individual differences Anyone who's spent even a little knows there are large individual differences, among members the same same mixed breeds, and even among and siblings. When I watch dogs, I focus individual differences among them, because no two dogs are the same. I love when people that they live with dogs from the litter they're different night and The bottom line is that there is no "the dog." Each is a unique individual and it's good for them and when come to realize we must appreciate and each every dog as the are. Canine Do They and Unleashing Your Dog: Field Guide to Giving Your Companion the Best Life MacLean and his colleagues' study to be very I'm leery of breed-wide and simplified stereotypes the personality and behavior of members of these groups. They often gloss wide-ranging individual dogs who are placed in this or that and I know I'm alone in hearing stories about people who choose to with dog of specific breed or because they were something like, "This they'll behave this that petty laid back," only to find this so. A few people I and they're not alone, wound up returning dogs
 individual behavior," of Dr. MikLósi's book cAlled dog behAvIour, evolUtion, and CognitIOn. On Page 335 he writes, "Although brEeds bY dEFiniTIoN have No persoNAlITY, peRsOnAliTy

TRaIt valUes ObtaineD from indivIduAl Dogs (belonginG To A specific bReeD) can be used to ChaRacterIzE a dOG breeD or Breed Group." IN This chApter Dr. MiKlÓSi also CRiticalLY EvAluaTes studies of persoNAlITies that focus oN breed DiFFeRENceS anD notes that OnE has tO Be carefUL aBOUT hoW They're interprEted because THey'Re ofteN bAseD On corrElatiOnS BetWeen only two VariAbles out oF many pOSsibiliTIes, traiTs are jUdgEd bY expERtS, aNd oNlY A smALl NumBEr oF breeds aRe StUdied. he alSO NOTes tHat PersOnaliTy is not a stablE trAit aND caN vary Over tIme. I CaN't covEr all oF the vAlUable material Dr. miklÓsi summarIzeS iN deTaIl, and i Highly RecOmmEnd chapTer 15 to anYOne InTEREsTed in the study of dog PeRSOnAlities.

THe impoRTaNcE Of paying ClOse AtteNTIon to IndiVIdUal diffeRences AMoNg Dogs

AnyOnE who's sPeNt eVen A littLE timE arounD dogs knoWs theRE are large indivIDual differencES, aMONg MEmbeRs oF the same breEd, saME mixEd brEEdS, anD Even aMong lItTErMAtes and siblings. When i wAtch doGs, I foCus on individuAl differenCES Among theM, becAUsE No two dogs are thE same. i love when pEOple tell Me thaT they livE with two dOGS from the SamE liTteR anD THeY're as differenT AS nigHt And day. THe bOttom liNe iS thAt tHerE iS no "the dog." each dog iS a UnIqUe IndIviduAL and it's gOoD foR tHem And foR Us when We comE to rEaLiZE thAt we musT ApPREciaTe AnD undErsTaNd eacH and EVerY dog as tHe individUal THey aRe. (seE Canine confidential: WHy dogs Do What thEy DO and UnLEAshing YoUr Dog: A Field Guide to GivinG your CanIne compaNion The Best LiFe POssiblE.)

WhILe I finD Dr. Maclean aNd His COLleagUES' sTudY tO be very intEREstIng, I'm LeEry oF breed-wIde and simplified stEReoTypes about the PerSonaLITy And BEhAVioR oF MemBERs of these groups. they often gLoSS oVer wide-ranGIng InDividuaL differEnces AMong dogS who are plAced in thiS oR thaT GRouP, and I know I'M not alonE in hearinG StoriES aBout pEopLe who cHoOse To livE with a DOg oF a speCific bReEd or brEed-miX bEcause thEy were told something like, "this is How thEy'lL behave in ThiS Or tHat situatIon" oR "They're petTy lAid Back," oNly TO find Out tHIs Isn'T So. A feW peoPLe I know, anD i'm SurE THeY're not alone, WOUNd uP retuRniNG dogs
 individual behavior," ofDr. Miklós i's b ook  ca ll ed D og B ehaviour, Evol u tion , and Cognition. On pa ge 33 5h e wr i te s, "A lthough br e e dsby  d efi ni t io n hav e n o perso nality, pe rso na lity

traitv al ues obtain edfrom individ ual  dogs(b elo n gingtoa spe cificb reed)can be us ed to cha r acteriz e adogbreed or breed gr o up . " In this chap ter Dr .M ik l ó sials o critical ly  eval u ates st u di e s ofp ersonalitiesthat focuso n b reed d if fer e nces a nd no te s  th at one hasto b e careful  about how the y 're int erpret edbec ause th ey 're  o f ten ba sed oncorrelat io ns  betw eeno n l y  two  va riab les o ut of many po ssi bili t ies , tra its a re j ud ged b y expe rts,an d only a smallnumb er of bre eds  a rest udied .  He al sonot es that  person a lit yi s no t a stable trait a nd c an  vary ov er tim e .Ic an't cov er  al l of t he va luab l ematerial  Dr. M i kl ós i summa ri zes in  d eta il,  andI  hig hly re commendchapt e r 15 to anyone interested in th e st u dy o f d og personal itie s .

T he i m po rta n ce of  payi ng cl o se attention to ind iv idualdiffe rences amongdogs

Anyo n e who's sp ente ve n  a little time  arou nd dogs kn o ws there  arelarge in dividuald i fference s,amo ngmem b e rs  of the sameb r eed,  s ame mix edbreeds,  an d e ven  am on g litterm ates and  s ib li ng s.WhenI  watch d og s,Ifoc us on indivi dualdiff er en c esamong t h em , beca us eno t wodo gs ar e th e  sa me. I l ove whenpeo p le t el lme that  they live wi th  two dogsfr omthe sa m e  litterand they're as differen t  as nig htand d ay.The botto m l ine is  th a t ther e is n o "th edog . "  Each d og  is  a  unique in d i vid ual a nd  it' s goodfor them and for u s  wh en we come to  re aliz e th atw em ust  a p pre c i ate and underst and each a nd ev ery dog as the  i ndividu al they  are. (See Ca nine Conf idential:  W hy D o g s D o What The y Do and  Unleashi n g You r  D og: A  Fi eld Gu id e t o Giv ing Yo u r C anine  Compa ni on the  Best  L ife Poss ible.)

While I find Dr . MacL ean a ndhis colle agu e s'study tobe v ery intere sti ng,  I'mlee r y ofbree d -w ide and s impl i fied ster e ot ype s ab out the per s o n ali ty an d b e havior  ofmembers of theseg roups. They of teng l oss  ov e r wi de -ranging indiv idu al d ifferenc es  among dogs  who are  p l acedin thi s or t hat gro u p ,a nd I k nowI'm  not alon e i nh earingst or i es abo ut p eo ple wh o choo s e to l ive with a dog o f a s p e cific bre ed or  b reed-mi x  bec ause theywere told s omethi ng l ike,"This i show th ey' ll  behave in this or t hat s ituatio n"  or"Th ey'repett y laidback ,"  on ly to fin d ou t  t hi s  is n'tso. A  f ew p eople I k n ow, andI'm sure th ey 're n ot alo n e, w ound up re tur ningd o gs
 individual_behavior," of_Dr. Miklósi's book called_Dog Behaviour,_Evolution,_and Cognition._On_page 335 he_writes, "Although breeds_by definition have no_personality, personality

trait values_obtained_from individual dogs (belonging to a specific breed) can be used to characterize a_dog_breed or_breed_group."_In this chapter Dr. Miklósi_also critically evaluates studies of_personalities that_focus on breed differences and notes that one_has_to be careful_about how they're interpreted because they're often based on_correlations between only two variables out_of many possibilities,_traits_are_judged by experts, and_only a small number of breeds_are studied. He also notes that_personality is not a stable trait and_can vary over time. I can't_cover all of the valuable_material Dr._Miklósi summarizes in detail, and_I highly recommend_chapter 15_to anyone interested_in the study of dog personalities.

The_importance of paying_close attention to individual differences among_dogs

Anyone_who's spent even_a_little_time around_dogs knows there_are_large individual_differences,_among members of the same breed,_same_mixed breeds, and even among littermates and_siblings. When I watch_dogs,_I focus on individual_differences among them, because no_two dogs are the same. I_love when_people tell_me that they live with two dogs from the same litter_and they're as different as night_and day. The bottom_line is_that_there is no_"the_dog." Each_dog is a unique individual and it's_good for_them and for us when we_come to realize that_we_must appreciate and understand each and_every dog as the individual they_are. (See Canine Confidential: Why_Dogs_Do_What They Do and Unleashing_Your Dog: A Field Guide to_Giving Your Canine_Companion the Best Life Possible.)

While I find_Dr._MacLean and his colleagues' study to_be_very interesting, I'm leery of breed-wide_and_simplified_stereotypes about the personality and_behavior of members of these groups._They often gloss over wide-ranging individual differences among dogs_who are placed_in this or that group,_and_I_know I'm not alone in hearing stories about people who_choose to_live with a_dog of a specific breed or breed-mix because they were_told something like, "This is how they'll_behave in this or that situation" or "They're petty laid back,"_only to find out this isn't so. A_few people I know, and I'm sure_they're not alone, wound_up_returning dogs