Often confused with personality, TEMPERAMENT is the most important trait to consider when adding a new furry family member.
After decades of working with dogs and helping families choose the perfect puppy, I’ve learned that one of the most misunderstood aspects of puppy selection is the difference between personality and temperament. Most people use these terms interchangeably, but they’re actually quite different – and understanding the distinction can mean the difference between finding your perfect match and ending up with a dog that doesn’t quite fit your family.
Let me break this down for you in a way that will change how you think about choosing your next four-legged family member.
Temperament is what a dog is born with; personality is what it becomes through life experience.
Temperament: The Foundation You Can Count On
Think of temperament as your dog’s genetic blueprint – the basic, biologically inherited traits that form the core of who they are. Temperament is largely determined by genetics and breed characteristics, and it’s relatively stable throughout a dog’s life. It’s the foundation that everything else is built upon.
Temperament includes traits like:
Confidence levels – Is this dog naturally bold and outgoing, or more cautious and reserved?
Stress tolerance – How does this dog handle new situations, loud noises, or unexpected changes?
Social drive – Does this dog naturally seek out interaction with people and other dogs, or are they more independent?
Reactivity – How quickly and intensely does this dog respond to stimuli in their environment?
Energy baseline – What’s this dog’s natural activity level when all their needs are met?
Here’s the crucial point: temperament is largely fixed. You can work with it, manage it, and help a dog reach their best potential within their temperament, but you can’t fundamentally change it. A naturally anxious dog can learn coping skills and become more confident, but they’ll likely always have that underlying tendency toward anxiety.
Personality: The Individual Sparkle
Personality, on the other hand, is how your dog’s temperament expresses itself through their experiences, training, and environment. It’s the unique combination of learned behaviors, preferences, and quirks that develop as your dog grows and interacts with the world.
Personality traits might include:
Learned preferences – Does your dog prefer tennis balls or rope toys? Do they love car rides or hate them?
Social skills – How well does your dog read other dogs’ body language? How do they greet new people?
Problem-solving style – Does your dog think through puzzles methodically or just throw themselves at the problem?
Communication style – Is your dog dramatic and vocal, or more subtle in how they communicate?
Habits and routines – Does your dog have specific rituals or preferred ways of doing things?
As Stanley Coren, PhD said, “Temperament is what a dog is born with; personality is what it becomes through life experience.”
The beautiful thing about personality is that it’s much more malleable than temperament. Through training, socialization, and positive experiences, you can heavily influence how your dog’s personality develops.
Why This Distinction Matters When Choosing a Puppy
When you’re selecting a puppy, you’re primarily looking at temperament, not personality. At 8-12 weeks old, a puppy’s personality is just beginning to emerge, but their basic temperament is already evident if you know what to look for.
This is why breed research is so important. Different breeds have been selected for different temperament traits over hundreds of years. A Border Collie’s high energy and intense focus isn’t a personality quirk – it’s temperament. A Golden Retriever’s gentle, people-pleasing nature isn’t just good training – it’s built into their genetic code.
But here’s where many people go wrong: they fall in love with a puppy’s adorable personality moments (the way they tumble over their siblings, or how they immediately come for cuddles) and forget to evaluate the temperament underneath.
What to Look for in Temperament vs. Personality
When evaluating temperament in a puppy, look for:
- How they react to new people (confident approach vs. cautious observation)
- Their response to sudden noises (recovery time and intensity of reaction)
- How they handle being alone vs. being with others
- Their natural activity level when calm and content
- How they respond to gentle handling and restraint
Personality traits to enjoy but not base decisions on:
- Specific play preferences (these will change)
- Immediate bonding with you (puppies are naturally social)
- Cute behavioral quirks (these may or may not persist)
- How they interact with toys in that moment (preferences develop over time)
The Bottom Line: Match Temperament, Develop Personality
Here’s my advice after years of successful (and some not-so-successful) puppy placements: choose a puppy whose temperament matches your lifestyle and experience level, then commit to helping their personality flourish through training, socialization, and positive experiences.
Our remote selection process is helpful in finding the puppy with the right temperament. We take much of the emotion out of the process so you get the puppy that's the very best fit.
A high-energy, confident puppy from working lines won’t become a calm lap dog no matter how much you want them to. But they can develop into a well-mannered, responsive companion if their temperament matches your ability to provide appropriate outlets for their energy and drive.
Conversely, a naturally cautious, lower-energy puppy can develop confidence and social skills through patient training and exposure, but they’ll likely always be more of a “thoughtful observer” than a “social butterfly.”
The perfect puppy for you is one whose natural temperament you can not only live with, but actually appreciate and enjoy. Their personality will develop beautifully from there, shaped by your love, training, and the experiences you share together.
Remember: you’re not just choosing a cute puppy – you’re choosing a temperament that will be with you for the next 10-15 years. Choose wisely, and you’ll have a partner whose basic nature aligns with your life, making every aspect of training and living together so much more enjoyable.
