Temperament. What is it? Why does it matter?
A dog is born with their temperament—a natural response to the world around them. This is not a learned behavior, but an inborn way of behaving.
Knowing a dog’s temperament goes a long way to successfully training them because different methods can be applied to fit a dog’s personality. When a trainer knows a dog’s temperament, they can tailor learning to overcome or compliment a part of their personality that may otherwise make certain skills harder to master.
A dog’s temperament also gives an indication as to how they’ll interact with other dogs. It’s important for pet parents to know their dog’s temperament when taking them into public spaces like parks and other recreational areas.
Discovering Temperament
The best way to find out your dog’s temperament is through a test. You can do this through organizations like the American Kennel Club or through another test developed by trainers and dog experts. Temperaments range from an alpha dominant leader to a timid follower and other personalities in between.
Certain breeds can tend to show certain temperament types more frequently, so you may want to check this out before adding a new member to your family.
Temperament at A Ruff Day Bark Club
At A Ruff Day Bark Club, we temperament test every member so we know how to provide the best environment for every four and two-legged member. We use a specific test developed to help us understand your pup and administer it in an initial meet and greet with all prospective members.
Dogs with agreeable temperaments provide a safe space for each member and can be put into playgroups to maximize their learning and fun. We believe in socially grouping pups so they can learn to properly interact and have fun with their own kind. This also helps our trainers guide your pup in our individual learning time that is part of our customized dog daycare.
Getting to know our four-legged members is important to us at A Ruff Day Bark Club. Learning your dog’s temperament is a part of that process.