Temperament and personality

This chapter discusses the difference between temperament and personality in dog behaviour. Although both concepts assume context independent aspects of behaviour, the former is believed to relate more strongly to inherited factors whilst the latter is associated with the adult animal reflecting the influence of experience and learning. There are various ways to measure both temperament and personality in dogs, which has resulted in confusing results. The chapter critically examines the methods used and proposes a more ethologically-oriented approach. Finally, both physiological and genetic correlates of personality are presented, which could promote understanding of the biological factors underlying personality in dogs.