Animal personalities?

[Barbara]

Breeding animals is not only about how they should look but also about the character.
Shepherd dogs have a different character than hunting dogs- obviously.
This is why it is so difficult to have these "working dogs" now in small city apartments. Actually they would need a job on a farm to be much happier.

With cats it's the same- everyone who had an Aby sit on the shoulder or on top of the door or on the cupboard knows they have a character different from let's say a Ragdoll that has been bred to be much more quiet.

As in humans there are of course always individuals who do not fit- lazy GSDs and active Persians

[Freedom]

I'm with you, Richard. Growing up, at one point next door neighbors had a GSD. Something about her eyes . . . she was never a good pet for them. They had several other dogs (I'm talking over 25 years time), most were GSD or mix. But this one female, oh dear.

I believe that in the past 30 years, breeders and maybe even AKC have focused on making dogs good pets, focusing on personality traits for some to make them more family friendly. For some reason, the (formerly called) Spitz comes to mind.

By the way, with bichons, there are bumper stickers, magnets etc. with this saying on them: Death from the Ankles Down. Fortunately ,none of mine have that tendency!

[RICHARD]

Here's another thought about animal personalities....

Have you ever met an owner who will defend an oddball pet-one who bites, chases or ?- by saying, "oh, that's just the way they are..."

Then you look at the owner and see where that behavior comes from?