Ah, puppies. They’re just like us! They have different personalities that can be organized into personality types. And like people, a puppy can have a wonderful mix of various personality traits. Most puppies have one trait that’s more noticeable than the rest. All puppies start to have a noticeable personality when they reach 7 to […]
Ah, puppies. They’re just like us! They have different personalities that can be organized into personality types. And like people, a puppy can have a wonderful mix of various personality traits. Most puppies have one trait that’s more noticeable than the rest. All puppies start to have a noticeable personality when they reach 7 to 8 weeks of age. You’ll notice it especially when they’re playing with other puppies or interacting with strangers. Knowing your puppy’s personality can help you train and bond with them!
You’ll be able to understand what makes your puppy happy, what upsets them, and how they may respond to some of the activities you make them do. For example, if you try to get your shy puppy to socialize with other dogs, it may backfire and cause them to go on full attack mode. This can also force your furry friend to feel resentment towards you.
Make the most of your relationship with your furry friend by learning what personality type they fall under. To help you get started, here are 5 different personality types that puppies have so that you can bond with them today!
Self-assured and a natural-born leader, the confident puppy is comfortable with their surroundings…and with others! They’re hardly ever shy—working in teams is how they thrive throughout their life span. Having a confident puppy has numerous upsides, but sometimes, confident puppies can take it a little too far. Some confident puppies, for example, may express their confidence through aggression. This happens a lot during play sessions. You may notice your fur-baby try to overpower others, especially submissive pups, which can lead to fights.
Many owners think that dominant, aggressive behavior is normal or even permissible, but this is far from the truth. While many dogs attempt to show off their alpha status through aggression, they don’t need to do this to maintain themselves as leaders. Yes, dogs may have descended from wolves and still share some behavioral similarities, but the truth is that the wolf pack mindset no longer applies to our furry friends anymore. As a puppy owner, it’s highly recommended that you train your confident puppy as soon as possible. This prevents your puppy from developing any further aggressive tendencies towards other people and dogs. Just make sure to use positive reinforcement during training so that your puppy learns quickly.
Most puppies are independent in their own way. However, there are some puppies that take it to the next level. These puppies love bonding with loved ones and especially with the ones they view as their leaders. Some free-spirited puppies will bond with one person for their whole life while not displaying much interest in other people. Because of their love for independence, puppies with free-spirited personalities may not open up to strangers right away.
That’s completely normal for these puppies. Don’t try to force them to become social butterflies right off the bat. Doing so can cause your little fur-baby to become aggressive, leading them to resentment. Your puppy may even turn their aggression towards you if you continue to force them into socializing with other puppies. A free-spirited puppy may be difficult to train, especially if you use the wrong approach to training. Some puppies may even try to “train” and boss you around. Therefore, to train these fur-babies, you need to have the right kind of motivation, preferably one that emphasizes rewards. Some famous examples of free-spirited puppies include Yorkies and Chihuahuas. They have the common reputation of being small but bossy dogs. Their stubbornness can be incredibly frustrating for new pet owners. Be smart and creative with your approach to training, and always use positive reinforcement.
While most dogs are friendly, the laidback puppy is your bestie! Apart from being friendly, puppies with a laidback personality are the type to love everyone they meet. These little fur-babies would greet you with puppy kisses and a happy grin! Because they get along with most people, they’re a great companion to have on vacations, trips to the store, and other activities. Laidback puppies also mesh well with other people and even pets like cats. Of course, there’s a bit of a downside with laidback, friendly puppies. Some puppies may not know that their excitement can be too much, and may jump on people. This can easily turn into a behavioral problem when they reach adulthood.
Some well-known laidback breeds are the Labrador Retriever and Golden Retriever. These dogs, with their large size, can easily knock over people if they aren’t careful. This can be dangerous with young children. When you train your laidback puppy, you help them learn to control themselves so that they behave appropriately with other people.
Puppies with an adaptable personality type are friendly just like laidback puppies. The only difference is that these puppies are more in control of their emotions and how they express them. For adaptable puppies, their eagerness to please their owners is their first priority above everything else. This trait makes them incredibly easy to train and socialize with others. They also calm down and rarely exaggerate their excitement when meeting others. They get along well with everyone, including other pets. This makes them incredibly therapy and emotional support animals.
Soft and big-hearted, these puppies are often meek and submissive in nature. They have an eager-to-please temperament, which makes it easy to train them. When they’re young, these puppies tend to stay close to their mothers for comfort and protection. Sweet-natured puppies make great pets for owners who prefer to shower their puppies with kisses and affection. Because of their meek nature, these little ones aren’t the type to explore unfamiliar territory for long periods of time. Instead, they prefer cuddling next to their favorite humans. Some famous examples of sweet-natured breeds are Goldendoodles, Cockapoos, and other designer dog breeds.
Puppies have various personality types so if your puppy doesn’t fit any of these categories, that’s okay! Some puppies will have a combination of different traits from each personality type. If you want to test your puppy’s personality type, try using a few assessments online. You can also discuss any questions you have with your vet so that you can pinpoint your furry friend’s personality. Knowing your fur-baby’s personality type will help you grow closer to them. As such, we hope you and your fur-ever friend become best buddies for life!
