Sirius Tips

Dog Traits
Written by Caroline Haldeman

Dogs have many traits. The following are 20 of the most common traits that make up a dog's character and define their temperament. A dog either has the specific trait or they do not. Although most are inherited, a few are solely influenced by the environment and life experiences.

Traits coincide with the Dog's drives.

Amicableness - This trait is characterized by a friendly, outgoing, and social attitude along with a state of peace. A disposition to live on good terms with others. It is the absence of antagonism.

Stubbornness - The lack of servitude in a dog. They are generally independent and are hard to motivate. They like to do things on "their" terms. They are defiant and are difficult to handle. A stubborn dog has a low need for human companionship.

Servitude - The willingness and eagerness of the dog to want to work for their owner. Train-ability and compliance are two good words to define this trait. They are driven to please.

Sharpness - A sharp dog will utilize aggression as a means to try and cope with a fearful or stressful situation. They react without thinking or considering the consequences. It takes very little stimulation to bring out aggression in a sharp dog and for them to bite. A sharp dog is in defense drive. Their stress threshold / tolerance is very low. They are insecure.

Courage - A dog that has courage is mentally very strong and confident. They will not back down when most dogs would flee the stressful situation in fear. A courageous dog must also be a hard dog. It takes courage to face a stressful, dangerous, or life-threatening situation without hesitation. This can not be developed. A dog either has this trait or it doesn't. Just as in people, this is not a common trait.

Laziness - Dogs with the lazy trait have low energy are calm and easy-going. They are laid-back and it takes quite a bit of coaxing and encouragement to get them going. They do not have a lot of endurance and quickly lose interest. They prefer to just lay around. It is difficult to motivate them as they are sluggish and lethargic.

High Energy - Dogs with high energy are always ready and willing to do something. They are "hyper". It is difficult for them to relax and patience is not their best virtue. Dogs with this trait need an outlet to channel all their energy. If not given an outlet, they will be destructive. High energy dogs love exercise and enjoy working.

Fearfulness - A lack of confidence and courage. The softer the dog, the more fearful it is. It is a state of suspicion. Fearful dogs are in defense mode and rely on 'fight or flight' instincts. A fearful dog is insecure and nervous and is usually shy and timid. Extremely fearful dogs can "freeze" in fear from high levels of stress. They can also react to stress with extreme passivity in order to avoid the situation.

Endurance - The dogs ability to handle strenuous physical activity for extended periods. Endurance relates to the dog's physical conditioning and general build and structure. The more a dog is exercised, the longer they can work and play. They also recover quickly from strenuous activity.

Softness - A dog that is considered soft does not have a high pain tolerance. Mentally they have weak nerves and are submissive. They do not handle stressful situations well and do not recover from stressful experiences quickly. Dogs that are soft are insecure, sensitive, and tend to be "drama queens". They have a low threshold / tolerance for pain and stress.

Hardness - The ability of the dog to persevere through challenging circumstances. This is both mental and physical. The tougher the dog, the harder they are. Mentally, a hard dog can handle very stressful situations without it effecting the dog's confidence. They have solid nerves and are resilient and forgiving. Physically, a hard dog can work through pain and discomfort and even injuries. They have a high threshold / tolerance for stress and physical pain.

Viciousness - A vicious dog will suddenly show aggression for no apparent reason. The dog can be relaxed and calm one minute and then suddenly attack wildly without warning the next. Its as if the dog has a split personality. It is an extremely dangerous trait. This is uncommon fortunately.

High Distractibility - A very low threshold / tolerance to environmental stimuli. Dogs with high distractibility easily become stressed, distracted, and anxious. They often are 'whiners' and are very vocal. They are impatient and have difficulty focusing on a task when faced with a new or 'busy environment'. Dogs with this trait are often considered high-strung.

Low Distractibility - Dogs with this trait are not easily stimulated by their environment. They have strong nerves and a calm and confident temperament. They can easily work through distractions and are adaptable. They have good focus. They generally have a passive response to stress.

Dog Fighter - A dog fighter will fight at every opportunity. This is genetic and bred into the dog. They seek out to battle with another dog or animal. This aggression is directed only towards animals. Dogs with this trait are loving, tolerant and social with people. They will attack another animal regardless of sex, age, and size. They will fight to the death and have an instinct to kill other animals. It warrants mentioning that a dog that attacks another dog or animal but releases it once it establishes dominance and that can also be around another dog or animal in its pack, does not have the Dog Fighting trait.

Athleticism - A dog that is naturally quick, and has good balance, jumping, as well as turning ability. Good coordination and obstacle negotiating skills are key identifiable traits of Athleticism.

Intelligence - The ability to adapt to and understand new situations easily. Dogs that are intelligent learn new behaviors quickly and with little repetition. They can figure out how to open doors and take the quickest and safest route to a particular destination without having to be shown. They look before they leap and are "thinkers". Dogs that are intelligent are clear-headed and possess self-control and patience. They show inhibitive skills and qualities.

Confidence - A confident dog relies on positive experiences it has had in the past to pull it through a stressful or threatening situation in the present or future. Dogs are not born with confidence. It is only through positive experiences that they can gain mental strength and self-assuredness. To develop confidence in a dog, it is important to take it out of its comfort zone, and while it is in the stressful situation you let the dog 'win' just before it gives up or backs down. With each winning experience, the dog gains more mental strength, as a result, it can then handle more stress and pressure in the future. The harder and more courageous the dog, the easier and faster you can develop their confidence.

Dominant - Dogs that have this trait are always looking for an opportunity to move up in pack status. They often challenge their owner and 'test' the waters. A dominant dog needs an assertive leader. When it meets a new dog, it will try and pin the dog to the ground and climb on top of it. They often hump other dogs, people, and objects to establish hierarchy.

Feral Tendency - In short, this is when a dog turns into a wild animal. Dogs with this trait will display wild and out-of-control behavior. They will do anything to try and escape or avoid a situation that frightens or stresses them. It appears to be a state of complete panic and fear with no self-control.

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