07/22/2025
Understanding the Temperament of Dogs
Dogs, like people, are individuals. While breed tendencies play a role, every dog has its own temperament, its natural disposition, energy levels, and emotional makeup. Understanding this temperament is not only essential for training and behaviour management, but also for building a strong, respectful relationship.
Knowing your dog’s temperament helps you set realistic expectations, tailor your training, and support your dog’s emotional and physical wellbeing. And if you’re hitting a wall with a particular behaviour, don’t hesitate to seek professional guidance, sometimes a fresh set of experienced eyes makes all the difference.
Willingness to Engage – The Canine Work Ethic
A dog’s willingness to engage, sometimes referred to as their work ethic, is shaped by how rewarding they find the task at hand. A Labrador may fetch a ball all day with tail-wagging enthusiasm because it taps into their innate retrieving instincts. But hand that same ball to a sighthound or a terrier, and you may be met with a blank stare or an “is this it?” expression.
What’s often labelled as “stubborn” behaviour is frequently just a mismatch between the task and the dog’s internal motivation. To them, the effort doesn’t feel worth it.
Tip for owners:
Before labelling a dog as lazy or difficult, ask: What’s in it for the dog? Does this task feel purposeful or fun to them? Try swapping the activity or reward: food, tug toys, chase games, or scent-based challenges can often reignite interest. A dog’s drive isn’t about obedience, it’s about relevance.
Dependence vs Independence – Clingers and Lone Rangers
Some dogs are velcro-like in their attachment, rarely straying far from your side. Others are more autonomous, happy to explore or problem-solve without looking back.
This spectrum often reflects their breed purpose. Collies and shepherds, bred to work closely with people, tend to be more dependent. Huskies, livestock guardians, or scent hounds often lean towards independence, bred to make decisions at distance or without supervision.
Why it matters:
An independent dog isn’t being disobedient, they’re simply wired to think and act for themselves. Dependent dogs may need help with building confidence and learning to cope with separation.
Practical takeaway:
With an independent dog, find rewards that compete with the environment, high-value food, scent work, or controlled freedom. With a dependent dog, work on gradually increasing their independence to avoid separation-related behaviours.
Mental Sensitivity – Feeling What You Feel
Some dogs are emotional barometers, sensing and reacting to your mood before you’ve even opened your mouth. These mentally sensitive dogs might cower when you raise your voice (even if not directed at them) or withdraw when there’s conflict in the room.
On the other end of the scale, mentally resilient dogs may barely register a change in tone or body language, making them less reactive to tension, but sometimes harder to motivate or redirect.
Why it matters:
Sensitive dogs need stability. If they frequently experience confusion or emotional highs and lows from their humans, they may become insecure, anxious, or overly submissive.
Trainer’s insight:
Mentally sensitive dogs do best with calm, structured training, clear markers, consistent tone, and predictability. For more robust dogs, you may need to dial up the energy, make training fun and dynamic, and get creative to hold their attention.
Dominance – Misunderstood Confidence
The term dominance is often misunderstood. A dog that jumps on the sofa uninvited, guards toys, or charges through doorways isn’t trying to dominate you, they’re likely doing what has worked for them before.
What’s often seen as “dominant” is simply a confident dog taking control of a situation because the human hasn’t. In fact, many “dominant” behaviours are created (and reinforced) by the owner, often without realising.
The better lens:
Rather than viewing your dog as trying to “take over”, ask: Is my dog seeking comfort, predictability, or opportunity? A dog that seems bossy may actually be unsure and trying to self-soothe through control.
Solution:
Provide leadership, not through force, but through clarity. Be consistent with rules, boundaries, and rewards. Teach the dog what works, and what doesn’t, through consequence, not conflict.
Submissiveness – The Quiet Communicators
Submissive dogs often display body language that signals appeasement: ears back, tail low or tucked, lip licking, belly up, or averting gaze. These aren’t signs of weakness, they’re survival strategies that say, “I’m no threat.”
These dogs may have had negative experiences or simply be genetically more cautious. Their biggest need? Safety and structure.
What helps:
Avoid overly harsh corrections or pressure. Instead, use confidence-building exercises such as trick training, nose work, or calm exposure to new environments. Let them earn small wins and celebrate them.
Handler’s note:
Your role is to be a calm, guiding presence. If they trust you, they’ll start to trust the world a bit more too.
Energy and Drive – The Engine That Powers Behaviour
Energy is the fuel behind everything a dog does. A high-energy, high-drive dog is like a sports car, quick off the mark, reactive, and always raring to go. Without proper outlets, this energy can spill over into destructive or hyperactive behaviour.
Conversely, a low-energy dog may prefer a gentle plod and a comfy bed to a game of fetch.
It’s not about better or worse, it’s about compatibility.
If you have a high-drive dog, you need to work with that energy, not suppress it. Mental stimulation, scent work, agility, structured play, and even obedience sessions can all serve as outlets. But equally important is teaching them how to switch off, rest is as vital as stimulation.
Balance is key:
Don’t fall into the trap of thinking more exercise will fix behaviour. Over-exercising can create an adrenaline addict. Train the off switch as deliberately as the on switch.
Final Thoughts
Understanding your dog’s temperament isn’t just about labelling them, it’s about learning how they see the world. When you take the time to observe and tailor your training to their natural tendencies, you unlock their potential and deepen your bond.
Every dog is different, and that’s exactly what makes working with them so rewarding.
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