Welcome!

Recently, I was sitting on a large sun bleached log watching my swimming daughter appear and disappear into the blinding sun’s sparkle on the ocean. Zoom, my miniature poodle, was nosing around checking out the smells among the rocks and logs, as usual not too far from me. He’s a one-person dog – I’m the recipient of all his affection even though he was intended for my daughter.

After awhile, a couple arrived with a small dog – it looked like some small terrier mix. They planted themselves at the far end of the curved beach, and the terrier proceeded to jog along the beach edge, back and forth for the next half hour. Maybe he was in training for some doggie marathon.

That got me thinking. Do dogs have personalities? For example, friends have a labradoodle and he is the friendliest, most trusting dog on the planet. He comes to you to offer his affection, even if he hasn’t met you before. One of our video editors, who got swept up into the world of dogs while editing one of our series, got a greyhound. He had the most gentle, calm demeanor. You could meditate with him.

People usually speak of dogs’ temperaments, which it seems, is a combination of behavior characteristics of the breed, combined with a few other attributes such dominance versus timidity, sociability vs. a loner, playfulness vs. ‘lumpishness’. But, do individual dogs have personalities in the same way people have personalities? For example, we use many descriptors to describe people; moody, arrogant, jolly, easy-going, high strung, controlled, to name just a very few.

Is there such a thing as a charismatic dog, like a charismatic leader or performer? Do dogs have a sense of humor? Do dogs know that they are looking at themselves when they look in a mirror? If so, are they conscious of what they do, or is it all instinct?

Are dogs’ natures shaped by their owners? How about their environment? It’s pretty clear a traumatized or abandoned dog will bear scars for life, but what about dogs, who are wanted and loved. Do they become neurotic living in a chaotic environment? If they have edgy owners, will the dog become edgy? Or will the dog’s basic temperament prevail? Will two dogs from the same litter, who grow up together in the same family, have the same “personalities”? How about in different families?

Some people get the same dog breed throughout their lifetime. Can you tell me, did these dogs each have quite different personalities? What were breed characteristics, and what were unique to the individual, do you think? What about those of you who had a series of different breeds or mixed dogs? To what extent do you think that their individual characteristics were related to their genetic heritage vs. their personal makeup? Did any of your dog’s attributes change when personal circumstances changed?

I want to hear from you. Please upload your thoughts.

Cheers, Sue