An interesting study in the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science. The owners of 12 408 UK KC registered labradors were sent a questionnaire about the health, physical characteristics and management of their dogs. Of these owners, 1978 returned the canine behaviour and research questionnaire, originally developed to assess the potential of puppies to become guide dogs. Coat colour was found to be associated with several aspects of personality. Chocolate dogs were more agitated when ignored than black dogs, and chocolates were found to be more excitable, less scared of noises, have lower trainability and a higher incidence of "unusual behaviour" than black or yellow dogs. Exercise was also important. Dogs exercised for less than 1 hour per day were more likely to be agitated when ignored, barked more often, were more likely to show fear of people or objects, had more separation anxiety, were more likely to exhibit unusual behaviour and were more excitable than dogs exercised more. Lofgren, Wiener, Blott et al, Applied Animal Behaviour Science (2014) 156, 44-53 Interesting stuff, and is a study based on owner responses to questionnaires rather than controlled scientific experiments. But it seems to confirm what a range of studies have shown - that the personality of pet dogs is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Puts hard hat on and hides from chocolate owners now.....
Re: Factors influencing personality in labradors I think perhaps some of it may be based on owners expectations too - if you expect a chocolate to be nutty then that's all you will see in your and can shape how you raise it, at the same time people generally expect yellows to be more placid and laid back because it's the stereotypical image of a yellow lab so you will consciously or unconsciously try to raise your dog this way.
Re: Factors influencing personality in labradors I think the study confirms owners' stereotypes to some degree... Interesting about the impact of exercise though. I'm on the email list for that journal too. Lots of interesting articles about all sorts of domestic animals, though you have to subscribe to the journal to get the full articles rather than just the abstract.
Re: Factors influencing personality in labradors [quote author=Penny+Me link=topic=7016.msg95617#msg95617 date=1405721587] I think perhaps some of it may be based on owners expectations too - if you expect a chocolate to be nutty then that's all you will see [/quote] Meh - maybe. I have to say I didn't expect my chocolate to be nutty. I expected to be able to train him to a high standard and for him to be as good as any other labrador. I still rebel against sweeping statements about (eg) retrieving drive in chocolate pet line dogs (come see my boy do fetch!). But my chocolate is nutty. Even I have to admit that now. I refuse to let it be an excuse though - I just have to work harder - and that will make me a better trainer for the next chocolate I own (I will never own anything else - a good chocolate lab is beautiful to me, which matters to me). Then, once I've worked super hard, I'll have a dog that is pretty fearless, a ferocious retriever, and suffers from no nerves or phobias. That's what I tell myself on the tough days, anyway.
Re: Factors influencing personality in labradors i think it is true on owners expectations, i expected my puppy to come trained, what a shock i have had, he was as nutty as a fruit cake, we are getting there with a lot of hard work
Re: Factors influencing personality in labradors Don't worry, Julie, chocolate is much better a little nutty, anyways.... I don't know that I would characterize Simba as nutty...mainy when it comes to food, I guess.... :
Re: Factors influencing personality in labradors I have no comparison to black/yellow labs but definitely +1 here on the choc lab excitability, not always a bad thing but think it does sometimes impact trainability around distractions. In terms of general trainability, would be interesting to know what methods were used, I.e food reward based or not because mine is ruled by her stomach & high energy which definitely helps in the training. I'd also be curious what counts as unusual behaviour and also if there's any deviation in results within a colour based on breeding lines, I.e show vs working.
Re: Factors influencing personality in labradors [quote author=skooch link=topic=7016.msg95651#msg95651 date=1405749092] I'd also be curious what counts as unusual behaviour and also if there's any deviation in results within a colour based on breeding lines, I.e show vs working. [/quote] That's interesting. I suppose it's safe to assume that most chocolates would be from show/pet lines I think, since so very few work. I do have to say though, I've met Charlie's chocolate family, and keep in touch about the progress of his black sister. None of them are nutty. They all have successfully done their gundog training without any trouble. I do find it hard to say that Charlie's black sister is not nutty, yet Charlie her chocolate brother is nutty, and this can be due to genetics associated with colour of coat....
Re: Factors influencing personality in labradors How do you define nutty and excitable? Molly went straight over the top when she was on the lead and someone brought the cutest little 13 week Pointer to meet her. I guess she was "flooded" ( from last week's Facebook article). She is always thrilled ( feet off the ground) to see visitors, but is generally fairly steady. Another question. Do you think there are people who 'wind up' dogs.? Certainly I know of a couple of men that Molly reacts to, my 40 year old son especially she seems to want to roughhouse with him (as I think she would with another pup) which I discourage and she is generally on high alert when he visits. I would describe my son as large, nosy and affable, so remarkably like a Labrador puppy Most assistance Labs seem to be Yellow, is this because they are intrinsically calmer (would give me hope) or is it because they are easier for visually impaired people to see.
Re: Factors influencing personality in labradors [quote author=Mollly link=topic=7016.msg95660#msg95660 date=1405754416] How do you define nutty and excitable? [/quote] Yes, very fair point - it's subjective, isn't it?
Re: Factors influencing personality in labradors [quote author=Mollly link=topic=7016.msg95660#msg95660 date=1405754416] Another question. Do you think there are people who 'wind up' dogs.? [/quote] Having spent so many years working in rescue, and having seen so many dogs with all sorts of behavioural problems and personalities, plus all sorts of people through staff and visitors I absolutely agree with the statement. I think there are some people that seem to just have an 'aura' about them which is either a calming influence on the dogs, or can wind them up. I've had several dogs with behavioural problems that has made incredible progress with their training plans and yet one certain member of staff was always certain to make them regress when he interacted with them. It was nothing he did, he would follow the training plans word for word, yet the dogs just seemed to know that they could play him up. On the other end of the scale there was another of the carers who even the most delinquent of dogs would behave for. She was naturally a very calm and quiet person and I think the dogs picked up on that and it helped them.
Re: Factors influencing personality in labradors Guide Dogs (UK) use yellow and black Labs, Golden Retrievers, Flatcoats and German Shepherds. They often use first crosses of any of these too. But there are only one or two chocolate Guide Dogs. I imagine they must have their reasons for not using chocolates. The pups go through tests before they are even six weeks old, for personality and temperament. Then those who pass go on to puppy walkers for 14 months. Even then, some don't pass for 'Big School' training and go on to train to be other types of assistance dogs or buddy dogs. Tatze's Mum is chocolate - she must get her nutty streak from her Mum!
Re: Factors influencing personality in labradors [quote author=Mollly link=topic=7016.msg95660#msg95660 date=1405754416] Another question. Do you think there are people who 'wind up' dogs.? [/quote] My brother is one. He's a very calm, relaxed, quiet person who loves dogs - but Tatze goes nutty in his presence! He stays with us two days a week and she is now beginning to settle when he's around, but it's taken weeks!
Re: Factors influencing personality in labradors In the survey was age taken into account? Lady (black working lines) was as nutty as a fruitcake until she was over 3 years old when she calmed down quite quickly. Re reacting to certain people, my son-in-law used to rough house with her when she was a tiny puppy against our advice not to do it and now pays the price. As soon as Lady sees him she's up for rough housing again and as a full grown dog that's a bit of a challenge especially when she boffs him with her front paws at waist height if you get my drift.. I just let her get on with it - it's his punishment for ignoring advice earlier. ;D
Re: Factors influencing personality in labradors [quote author=Penny+Me link=topic=7016.msg95666#msg95666 date=1405755574] I think there are some people that seem to just have an 'aura' about them which is either a calming influence on the dogs, or can wind them up. [/quote] There is one vet I see time to time (for Charlie's ear troubles) and he has an incredible calming influence over Charlie. He thinks Charlie is a lovely, well behaved dog. : This vet moves slowly around Charlie. He speaks very calmly. If he approaches Charlie with an instrument (say to look in his ears) he'll let Charlie have a sniff at what he is holding. If Charlie sniffs his hand or lick his arm, he lets him and stays still for a few seconds. He also obviously likes dogs, and is pleased when Charlie asks for a tummy rub from him. It's a combination of a lot of things, I think. I have completely failed to copy any of them successfully!
