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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 14, 2026

The Other End of the Leash: An Experimental Test to Analyze How Owners Interact with Their Pet Dogs

The Other End of the Leash: An Experimental Test to Analyze How Owners Interact with Their Pet Dogs

Published on: October 13, 2017

Personality consistency in dogs: a meta-analysis.

Jamie L Fratkin¹, David L Sinn, Erika A Patall

¹Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America. fratkijl@utexas.edu

|February 2, 2013

Summary

Dog personality shows substantial consistency over time, with higher reliability in older dogs and shorter assessment periods. Puppy tests can be less predictive for certain traits in adult dogs.

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Area of Science:

Animal Behavior
Canine Psychology
Behavioral Genetics

Background:

Consistent individual differences in behavior, known as personality, are well-documented in dogs.
Predictability of dog behavior is crucial for human-dog relationships, including working dog selection and family placement.
Anecdotal evidence from dog experts suggests 'puppy tests' may not accurately predict adult behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

To conduct the first comprehensive meta-analysis on the temporal consistency of dog personality.
To evaluate factors influencing personality consistency in dogs.
To assess the predictive validity of puppy tests for adult dog behavior.

Main Methods:

A systematic literature search identified 31 relevant studies for meta-analysis.
Statistical analysis was performed to estimate the overall temporal consistency of dog personality.
Subgroup analyses examined consistency based on dog age, assessment intervals, measurement tools, and behavioral dimensions.

Main Results:

Overall, substantial temporal consistency in dog personality was found (r = 0.43).
Consistency was higher in older dogs, with shorter assessment intervals, and identical measurement tools.
In puppies, aggression and submissiveness were most consistent; responsiveness to training, fearfulness, and sociability were least consistent. No dimension-based differences were found in adult dogs.

Conclusions:

Dog personality demonstrates significant temporal consistency, though influenced by factors like age and assessment methodology.
The predictive accuracy of 'puppy tests' for adult behavior varies by trait, with some dimensions being more stable than others.
Findings have implications for understanding human-dog interactions, working dog selection, and guiding future research in canine behavior.