New research has found that certain personalities are drawn to different breeds of dogs.
A survey carried out by The Kennel Club has aimed to uncover the dominant personality traits in the owners of some of the UK’s most popular and well-loved breeds.
The dog health, welfare and training organisation looked at the Big Five personality traits among owners and their pets to see if there was any crossover. Surprisingly, the statistics may suggest that people unconsciously select breeds that match their own personality.
Bill Lambert, spokesperson for The Kennel Club, said: "It appears that we can often tell a lot about a person from the type of dog that they own, with the dominant personality traits of Jack Russell owners – owned by the likes of King Charles – being their loyalty, generous spirit for helping others and their trustworthiness.
"Each breed has distinct characteristics, traits and care needs, which helps would-be owners understand more about whether they might be a good fit for them.
"It is quite striking to see how many people unconsciously select dog breeds with personalities that match their own character, showing that birds of a feather really do flock together."
Here are the top breeds and the corresponding personality traits in their owners.
What your dog's breed says about you
- Springer Spaniel – Most traditional, reserved, and punctual
- Border Terrier – Most charming, lively and exuberant
- Cocker Spaniel – Most creative and family-orientated
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier – Most affectionate and trustworthy
- Jack Russell Terrier and Miniature Schnauzer – Most loyal and faithful
The Kennel Club also found that those who enjoy new experiences, have lots of hobbies and enjoy taking risks, suggesting they rank the highest within the ‘openness’ personality trait, owned Whippets.
Those owners who ranked most emotionally stable, stating they were positive and happy, had Golden Retrievers. Pomeranian owners ranked highest for traits relating to agreeableness and traits relating to extroversion.
Their research also showed similarities between owners and their breed, indicating people unconsciously select dogs that reflect their own personalities:
- Golden Retrievers are known to be happy in temperament, and their owners ranked as the happiest and most positive, compared to owners of other breeds
- Staffies have affectionate personalities, much like their owners who ranked as the most affectionate
- Jack Russell Terriers are described as friendly, the third most dominant characteristic owners recognise in themselves
The research comes ahead of the Discover Dogs event, which The Kennel club is running. Those who aren't quite sure about the breed that they want will have an opportunity to get up close and personal with almost 200 different breeds, to find their perfect match for them.
If they do find that perfect dog, they'll have to name it. Recently, the most popular pet names of 2022 were revealed.
After examining over half a million pet owners, Luna took the top spot on the list, followed by Bella and Teddy.
Do you think that certain personality traits make people more attracted to certain breeds? Let us know in the comments.
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