Puppy Temperament Guide

Most families want to adopt a puppy because they are loyal companions, but there are several health benefits too! One study found that pet owners were significantly more happy, meaning they had higher life satisfaction, positive emotions, and lower negative emotions.

After answering these questions, you can begin searching by breeds. Although personalities may differ across individuals, certain breeds are purposely bred for specific temperaments. English labs, for example, are bred for their patient and loyal temperaments, which makes them perfect pets for families of any size.

All puppies need training so they could adapt to adulthood confidently, with essential skills and training such as:

• Social skills
• Positive training
• Basic commands
• Playtime with other puppies

Aside from basic training, it’s incredibly crucial that you also learn to adapt to your dog’s personal preferences, energy levels, likes, and dislikes. Keep in mind that when you’re trying to identify your puppy’s temperament, there are five dominant personality traits that it might fall into:

1. Playfulness
2. Curiosity/fearlessness
3. Chase-proneness
4. Sociability
5. Aggressiveness

Here is a helpful guide based on each of these temperaments so you can better learn typical behaviors and helpful training techniques. Playful dogs will possess a happy-go-lucky personality where they think playtime is all the time, and everything can turn into a game. Playful dogs will play no matter the toy or location, even if it means begging to play with your shoe!

A playful dog has typical behaviors such as:

• Always eager and willing
• Barks a lot to communicate
• Energetic and playful
• Requires a lot of mental stimulation
• Has a bouncing, bowing stance

Dogs with a playful temperament usually have a good work ethic and are willing to please, also meaning that they are very trainable. However, these temperaments also require a lot of stimulation, so it’s best to connect playtime with basic training.

Install a bell at your door so that your dog can communicate when it wants to go outside. This auditory cue allows your puppy to tell you when it wants to run and play outside. When it’s time to use the crate at night or during the workday, place his favorite toys and treats to keep him busy all day long. Since these dogs are playful, it’s best to get them socialized in classes where they can safely exert their energy before they are capable of spending hours at the dog park. Curious and fearless dogs are investigators who always want to know what’s going on around them. They’re the first to run towards a strange sound in another room or spend several minutes following a scent that seemingly goes nowhere.

Typical signs of this temperament include:

• Inquisitive
• “Leader of the pack” alpha mentality
• Sniffing around a lot
• Loyal, but might have difficulty with off-leash recall
• Adventurous
• Thrives on mental stimulation

Due to their natural curiosities, these types of dogs might not recognize boundaries — meaning they can get caught up in a potentially dangerous situation, which is why proper training is essential for curious and fearless dogs. By rewarding behaviors you want and working on recall, your dog will strive to perform desired actions and are more likely to listen to you when you call its name. Like the curious and fearless temperament, dogs who are prone to chase are curious and excitable. The world is their playpen, and their natural desire to chase kicks in heavier than other dogs. Sighthound dogs like greyhounds and whippets are especially chase-prone since they were bred to hunt after smaller animals.

Chase-prone dogs usually exhibit these types of behaviors:

• Excitable and unruly at times
• Loves to chase squirrels, cats, cars, and bikes
• Ears perk up at the slightest sound, with curiosity getting the best of them

Although these behaviors are part of your pup’s instinct, it can get frustrating and dangerous — but there is good news. By training your dog to comprehend and respond to verbal cues, you can help steer away from its natural chase-proneness.

Focusing on auditory cues is going to be essential since your dog might be looking elsewhere during recall sessions. To better enhance these lessons, find out if your dog is toy- or treat-motivated, and combine that with clicker training. With these tools, you’ll show your dog when it is — and isn’t — okay to react to its chase-prone instinct. Social dogs are perfect family dogs since they thrive on interaction and playtime. They are excellent around other children, dogs, and even other species, like cats. Considered a combination of curious and playful, social puppies are usually outgoing with tons of personality. One of the best examples of a naturally social dog is an English lab, who loves to spend time with just about anybody.

Here are typical behaviors of a social dog:

• Unafraid and curious
• Welcoming to strangers, including children and foreign animals
• Willing to please with an excellent work ethic
• Loves one-on-one playtime or with another dog

Although there is usually good intent, social dogs might want to push boundaries. It’s not uncommon for them to jump excitedly when you walk through the door, jump on furniture, or tug on the leash during a walk.

These are also qualities of an alpha dog’s personality, so it’s key to train your social puppy that you are the boss through basic obedience commands. After the basics are covered, give into your dog’s desire to socialize by taking it to puppy classes, frequent walks in public places, and the dog park when they are older. Although this temperament sounds intimidating, it’s essential to know that “aggression” is a blanket term used to describe dogs who fall to aggressive tendencies and behaviors in certain situations. Although all dogs are capable of acting aggressive, dogs with this specific temperament are usually taught to work this way or inherit it from their parents. They might greet strangers with a growl since it is the only way they know how to respond.

FEARFUL	DOMINANT & AGGRESIVE
Ears back Pupils dilated Nose wrinkled Lips slightly curled Tail tuckled Body lowered Hackles raised	Forehead may show vertical wrinkles Nose wrinkled Lips curled, mouth open, teeth and gums are visible Sliff - legged stance Hackles raised Tail is stiff, may be quivering

Some typical signs of an aggressive temperament include:

• Guttural barks like warning sounds
• Baring teeth and gums
• Shows teeth, growls, snaps or bites

There are several types of aggression in dogs, such as territorial, protective, possessive, fear, and defensive. Training an aggressive dog might be a bit of a challenge since you have to recondition the way they think. But first, you have to grasp what is fueling your dog’s aggression.

If it’s fear-based, then you’ll know to recondition him to respond to frightening situations. Knowing the root of the problem will help you show your dog the appropriate way to respond to specific situations. Often, these dogs crave safety and will do well with consistent leadership from its owner.

Everybody wants to live a fulfilling and happy life with their dog, and the good news is that this is entirely possible! Through a symbiotic relationship that requires you and your dog to work cohesively together, you’ll find that you both can become a perfectly-made match for one another.

Upon adoption, your puppy will readily adapt to your lifestyle and desires with the right training — but the key is all in the style. How you decide to work with your puppy needs to be presented in a way that it understands. If you take the time to learn about your puppy’s temperament, you’re able to give them the appropriate tools that they need to strive in your household.

Some breeds are bred for their excellent temperaments, making them ideal family dogs. One of the most popular well-tempered dogs is the English Labrador, who are close cousins to the American Labrador and Golden Retriever. Labs are all-time household favorites because they possess the most-desired traits, like playfulness, friendliness, and curiosity.

Bread	2017 Rank	2016 Rank	2015 Rank	2014 Rank	2013 Rank
Retrievers(Labrador)	1	1	1	1	1

In fact, the Labrador has been the top contender as America’s favorite dog for 28 consecutive years! Thanks to its naturally calm temperament, playfulness, friendliness, and curiosities, labs are the best breed when it comes to companionship in any size family.

That’s why Snowy Pines White Labs is dedicated to producing the best English white labs in the United States. We are committed to providing an excellent environment for our parents and puppies with the opportunity to train basically and extensively. But above all, Snowy Pines is dedicated to three main priorities when it comes to breeding pure white English lab puppies:

• A calm temperament
• Genetically true English labs
• Always white in color

If you’re prepared to add a companion for life to your family, then you don’t have to look any further.
Visit us today or contact us for more information about our available puppies!