What Do You Mean By "excellent Temperament"?

[Pillow]

When raising puppies my first consideration is what I need to do with these pups to produce dogs with excellent temperament.

Today I was thinkiing about what I mean when I say "this dog has an excellent temperament". I usually give examples of that dogs behaviour under many different situations ( e.g. he's an entire dog who can be put in a park with 20 others and avoid trouble; or he remains steady and calm when presented with a new experience in a stressful situation) and the list goes on. I realised I describe temperament in behaviouable terms. Had not consciously thought about this before.

I went to the dictionary and found a simple definition of "temperament as being a person's or animal's nature esp.as it permanently affects their behaviour".

I pondered for a short time on breed specific temperament and what I would call excellent temperament in a pet.

What do you mean when you describe a dog as having an excellent (or similar word) temperament?

Do you think pet dogs need to display behaviours that may cross the breed barrier to be labelled as having an excellent temperament?

[Miss B]

To me, excellent temperament = typical temperament, which will vary from breed to breed. A correct/typical temperament in my breed may be incorrect in another.

[Pillow]

That was what I pondered about. An excellent or typical breed temperament may not be what is ideal in a pet.

[Bjelkier]

To me, excellent temperament = typical temperament, which will vary from breed to breed. A correct/typical temperament in my breed may be incorrect in another.

Agree.

You would not want the temperment of my Samoyeds in something like a guarding breed.

That would totally ruin the purpose of the breed.

That was what I pondered about. An excellent or typical breed temperament may not be what is ideal in a pet.

I think that really comes down to the person who is buying the dog.

What makes a wonderful pet to some dosnt for others

[Gayle.]

Interesting question. Out of my dogs, I'd say Benson has the best temperament....he takers everything in his stride, he's friendly, outgoing and approaches life with a curious, joyful attitude.

However, his temperament isn't what I'd call correct for the breed. The other three are probably more typical of the breed in that they can be stand-offish and wary and take a while to warm up to strangers. The girls more so than Isaak.

[Crisovar]

That was what I pondered about. An excellent or typical breed temperament may not be what is ideal in a pet.

That is why it is so important for people to choose their breed carefully.

I can see the day coming when it is not going to be acceptable for dogs to be "typical of their breed" and I find that sad.

[Pillow]

I agree totally regarding the example you gave and the purpose of the breed.

What makes a pet desirable to some may not be for others. I also thought of things like "aloofness" and hearing some one say the other day "I wish my dog would get in and play not ignore everyone. Now if that aloof dog gets pressured enough from other dogs who try to encourage it into a game that aloof dog may have a go (I told you ping off and leave me alone). Iit's breed specific temperament coupled with dominance when hassled by another dominate dog may not be a nice outing for the pet dog and it's owner. We could say that the owner in that case has set the dog up for failure.

I guess I might say how much more ideal would it be if that aloof dog was also passive and calm in that situation. I understand that owners choose the place and circumstance of their pet's outing. I'm just thinking as I go here.

[TrinaJ]

I refer to it as typical temperament as dictated in the breed standard of the Rottweiler. If mine Rottweilers show the temperament in the breed standard then its excellent temperament for that breed.

Our breed standard is : Good natured, placid in basic disposition and fond of children, very devoted, obedient, biddable and eager to work. His appearance is natural and rustic, his behaviour self assured, steady and fearless. He reacts to his surroundings with great alertness

Edited April 9, 2011 by TrinaJ

[Pillow]

Good examples Gaylek. It's what I am thinking really. In your breed then Benson may have more of an ideal temperament as a pet "that is if you are an owner who wants to take your dog to a dog park for example".

Crisover, yes choosing the right breed to match your circumstances I agree is critical but lots of us learn that latter rather than sooner.

What I think I'm getting at is in Gaylek's example. If I was a breeder of that breed knowing 9 out of 10 of those pups are going to be in pet homes would I be looking at doing specific things with those pups to increase the qualities that Benson has. Not breed specific but temperament more ideal as a pet. Maybe?

[Pillow]

Good examples Gaylek. It's what I am thinking really. In your breed then Benson may have more of an ideal temperament as a pet "that is if you are an owner who wants to take your dog to a dog park for example".

Crisover, yes choosing the right breed to match your circumstances I agree is critical but lots of us learn that latter rather than sooner.

What I think I'm getting at is in Gaylek's example. If I was a breeder of that breed knowing 9 out of 10 of those pups are going to be in pet homes would I be looking at doing specific things with those pups to increase the qualities that Benson has. Not breed specific but temperament more ideal as a pet. Maybe?

[Pillow]

TrinaJ the Rottweiller breed temperament sounds ideal.

Have you ever been in the social/pet outing circumstances e.g. park and have you ever thought there is something more you would like to see in your breed?

[B-Q]

Like others have said, I think it varies breed to breed.

Quinn's temperament is great in some ways, she's reserved with strangers, very watchful of me, active. She's easy to take anywhere and incredibly intelligent although her biggest vice is that she can be incredibly shy with other dogs and to an extent people, she hates being held onto by any strangers.

Edited April 9, 2011 by B-Q

[raineth]

As others have said it does vary according to breed.

But one thing that is fairly consistent is for a dog not be of a fearful/anxious disposition.

Fearful/anxious dogs can be really difficult. and i don't think there is any breed that states the temperament should be fearful/anxious.

I think for most breeds a healthy level of confidence is an important part of having an excellent temperament

[Andisa]

I wish dogs who are weak in nerve were removed from breeding programs regardless of their breeds.

[OSoSwift]

Is there any breed standard though that has they can be weak of nerve or fearful in their standard??

I can't think of any myself.

I think an excellent temperment is as close to breed standard as possible. If I do not like they type of temperment of a dog I won't own it. I would hate to think someone got say a Dobe and breed only those with a Whippet like temperment as that is just not how Dobe's are supposed to be.

[Andisa]

Is there any breed standard though that has they can be weak of nerve or fearful in their standard??

I can't think of any myself.

I think an excellent temperment is as close to breed standard as possible. If I do not like they type of temperment of a dog I won't own it. I would hate to think someone got say a Dobe and breed only those with a Whippet like temperment as that is just not how Dobe's are supposed to be.

Unfortunately dogs are being bred with weak nerves regardless of the breed standard...sadly some will still put beauty before all else....

[Greytmate]

When raising puppies my first consideration is what I need to do with these pups to produce dogs with excellent temperament....

Ok, take a step back. When breeding puppies the first consideration is what I need to do with these pups to produce dogs with excellent temperament.

All you can do with raising them is to socialise or neutralise them to their environment, and to start a bit of training. You don't do anything after they are born which will make a huge difference to their temperament at all, unless you really under or overstimulate the puppy, neglect it, or give it negative reactions to things that should have positive associations.

Good temperament is a combination of the appropriate level of different drives, a sound solid nerve, and how extroverted or introverted the individual dog is.

Out of these three things it is only the third that can be really enhanced by environment, the first two are determined when you do the mating. They are qualities most like to be found within lines of dogs within breeds.

What is Good Temperament? It depends on what you want the dog to do. It's the reason we have different breeds. Breed with temperament in mind and understand what good temperament is in your breed.

Then socialise or neutralise the pups, and raise them according to the normal good advice given here for the critical socialisation phase of 5-16 weeks.

It needs to be done in that order, because you cannot really remove basic genetic temperament faults caused by careless breeding, you can only manage them or accept them.

[OSoSwift]

Is there any breed standard though that has they can be weak of nerve or fearful in their standard??

I can't think of any myself.

I think an excellent temperment is as close to breed standard as possible. If I do not like they type of temperment of a dog I won't own it. I would hate to think someone got say a Dobe and breed only those with a Whippet like temperment as that is just not how Dobe's are supposed to be.

Unfortunately dogs are being bred with weak nerves regardless of the breed standard...sadly some will still put beauty before all else....

I definately agree, there are some dogs being bred from that shouldn't be, but if they were only bred from if there temperment was correct as per breed standard then it wouldn't be an issue as no breed standard allows it. I have seen some myself in my own breed.

I wish dogs who are weak in nerve were removed from breeding programs regardless of their breeds.

This to me sounded a little like some breeds standards allow dogs to have that sort of temperment, so just because a dog is of a breed with a softer temperment for example doesn't mean that fearful or weak nerves are correct.

Nort sure I am getting out what I mean..... I guess to me breed does not come into it, any dog of any breed that is like that is incorrect.

[Pillow]

Good reading, thank-you. Very good explanation Greytmate. I should have said in my post that it was a given that dogs used in any breeding program be of excellent temperament. Genetic temperament faults were not a part of the conversation I was having with myself, but I didn't make that clear.

I agree totally with socialising and neutralising pups to their environment but would not put that low on a list of priorities. If temperament is observable in behaviourable terms (behaviours can form life long habits)I think that "socialising and neutralizing" requires thought as to like I said originally "what I need to do with these pups to produce dogs of excellent temperament". From the responses given I'm assuming that the actualities of socialising and neutralising to their environment may be different from one breed to the next, although I had thought the desired end result would have been similar for a pet.

It appears from the responses that the general view is that excellent temperament is what the breed standard calls for. I understand that, it's why we breed to a standard and choose the purebred dog.

My question regarding ideal temperament in a pet (crossing the breed barrier) is moot it seems. I can't quite let it go though as I think some breed temperament traits may not be "the ideal" in a pet and what one does with pups in those first 8 weeks may determine outcome. If selling pups into pet homes there is a huge responsibility to provide or in fact breed a "pet quality dog". Now there's a notion!!

Not sure if I've got my head around what I'm trying to say.

I'd love to hear from Greytmate what you do to socialise and neutralize your pups. Do you think the things you do are generic to all breeds or particular to yours?

[Greytmate]

I should have made it clear that I am not a breeder.

But if I was, I would do basically the same with greyhound pups as with any other pup. Allow it gentle and positive exposure to all the scenarios it might encounter in the future. A lot of things, too numerous to mention here, but basically the same as any breed, working or pet.

I think there are differences in the way that different breeds will act as baby puppies. Mostly noticeable when you see them playing with toys and each other in different ways. Greyhounds often like to play snatch and grab games, other types of pups are more into chewing, stalking, herding or wrestling games. You can give them the toys, but the way each puppy will play is individual and instinctive. You can't teach a baby greyhound to act like a baby kelpie.