Find Your Match
Some people are able to form lasting and
warm relationships with their dogs. But, others don't get much joy from their pets.
Stanley Coren, professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia, believes
that this occurs because people are not matched correctly to their dogs. The best matches
happen when the personality of the person fits to the behavioral traits of the dog. The following system is Dr. Coren's way to look
at dog breeds, illustrated in his 1998 book,
Why We Love The
Dogs We Do: How To Find the Dog That Matches Your Personality (published by The Free
Press). Here are
all the dog breeds grouped by behavioral characteristics and temperament.
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Group 1. FRIENDLY DOGS (includes affectionate and genial dogs) Friendliness and approachability are the defining traits of this group. All of these dogs
like people and tend to seek them out. They tend not be be particularly dominant or
protective, and thus useless as guard dogs.
Bearded Collie |
Collie |
Flat-Coated Retriever |
Portuguese Water Dog |
Bichon Frise |
Curly-Coated Retriever |
Golden
Retriever |
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier |
Border Terrier |
English Cocker Spaniel |
Keeshond |
Vizsla |
Brittany |
English Setter |
Labrador Retriever |
Welsh Springer Spaniel |
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel |
English Springer Spaniel |
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling
Retriever |
Cocker Spaniel |
Field Spaniel |
Old English Sheepdog |
|
Group 2. PROTECTIVE DOGS (includes territorial and dominant dogs) This group is the opposite of the Friendly
group. These dogs make pretty good watchdogs, and the larger ones make good guard dogs.
They tend to establish a territory, which is usually their home, and act quite protective
about it.
Akita |
Bullmastiff |
Giant Schnauzer |
Rhodesian Ridgeback |
American Staffordshire |
Bull Terrier |
Gordon Setter |
Rottweiler |
Terrier |
Chesapeake Bay Retriever |
Komondor |
Schnauzer (Standard) |
Boxer |
Chow Chow |
Kuvasz |
Staffordshire Bull Terrier |
Briard |
German Wirehaired Pointer |
Puli |
Weimaraner |
Group 3. INDEPENDENT DOGS (includes personable & strong-willed
dogs) This group is quite accepting when it comes
to interacting with people. However, they don't seek out human companionship the same way
that the dogs in the Friendly Group (1) do. They also may be a bit pushy or dominant
around other dogs. These are dogs with their own minds, who will appear to be often more
interested in their own plans than in those of their human masters.
Afghan Hound |
Borzoi |
Pointer |
Otterhound |
Airedale Terrier |
Chinese Shar-Pei |
Greyhound |
Pointer |
Alaskan Malamute |
Dalmatian |
Harrier |
Saluki |
American Foxhound |
English Foxhound |
Irish Setter |
Samoyed |
Black and Tan Coonhound |
German Shorthaired |
Irish Water Spaniel |
Siberian Husky |
Group 4. SELF-ASSURED
DOGS (includes spontaneous,
sometimes audacious dogs) This group's dogs are mostly compact in
size, yet quite sure of themselves. They make good watchdogs since they will readily sound
the alarm when anyone approaches their home. Spontaneous and outrageous in their
behaviors, they are often amusing to watch.
Affenpinscher |
Miniature Pinscher |
Cairn Terrier |
West Highland White Terrier |
Australian Terrier |
Miniature Schnauzer |
Irish Terrier |
Wire Fox Terrier |
Basenji |
Norfolk Terrier |
Shih Tzu |
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon |
Jack Russell Terrier |
Norwich Terrier |
Silky Terrier |
Yorkshire Terrier |
Lakeland Terrier |
Schipperke |
Smooth Fox Terrier |
|
Manchester Terrier |
Brussels Griffon |
Welsh Terrier |
|
Group 5. CONSISTENT DOGS (includes self-contained and home-loving dogs) This group's dogs are very predictable.
Whether timid or pushy, calm or jumpy, their behavior from day to day will be the same
regardless of the time or situation. Small, self-contained dogs, they will allow you to be
affectionate, but can live happily with little caressing. They like being at home &
are often content to rest quietly across the room from you.
Bedlington Terrier |
Dandie Dinmont Terrier |
Sealyham Terrier |
Lhasa Apso |
Tibetan Terrier |
Boston Terrier |
English Toy Spaniel (King
Charles) |
French Bulldog |
Maltese |
Whippet |
Chihuahua |
Pomeranian |
Italian Greyhound |
Pekinese |
|
Dachshund |
Pug |
Japanese Chin |
Skye Terrier |
|
Group 6. STEADY DOGS (includes solid, good-natured and tolerant dogs) This group's dogs vary in size but all tend
to be quiet indoors and will settle in easily and not fuss if confined for long periods.
Agreeable around people, they like human company. They are also somewhat predictable in
their day-to-day behavior, as seen with the Consistent Dogs (Group 5).
Basset Hound |
Bloodhound |
Clumber Spaniel |
Irish Wolfhound |
Saint Bernard |
Beagle |
Bouvier des Flandres |
Great Dane |
Mastiff |
Scottish Deerhound |
Bernese Mountain Dog |
Bulldog |
Great Pyrenees |
Newfoundland |
|
Group 7. CLEVER DOGS (includes observant and trainable dogs) These intelligent dogs have a serious work
ethic and willingness to learn. This makes them the easiest breeds to train for most
tasks. Always scanning their environment for new things, they make good watchdogs. And
being people-oriented, these dogs make good workmates and companions.
Australian Cattle Dog |
Belgian Tervuren |
German Shepherd |
Shetland Sheepdog |
Australian Shepherd |
Border Collie |
Papillon |
|
Belgian Malinois |
Cardigan Welsh Corgi |
Pembroke Welsh Corgi |
|
Belgian Sheepdog |
Doberman Pinscher |
Poodle (Toy, Miniature &
Standard) |
|
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