What Is Temperament?
TEMPERAMENT: Your German Shepherd’s genetic makeup
Temperament is defined as the part of your German Shepherd’s behavior that is present at birth. It is biological and instinctive and a function of genetics. It is not developed. Since temperament is present at birth, it is the aspect of behavior that is seen first in developing puppies. Breeders of working dogs, like German Shepherds, breed for dogs with working temperaments. Those born with an innate willingness and natural ability to work. This is why early temperament testing of German Shepherd puppies at or before 8 weeks of age is so important and why reputable breeders temperament test all of their puppies BEFORE they leave for their new homes.
Temperament is the part of your German Shepherd's behavior that is genetic (i.e., prey drive).
Because temperament is genetic, it can be very difficult to modify, manipulate or change. Even with expert training and behavioral modification, these genetic tendencies will always be present. In many cases, temperament can be managed, but adjustments more often are made “around” the dog as opposed to “to” the dog. A good analogy would be to think of your dog’s temperament as an iceberg. What you see on the surface is only a tiny fraction of what lies hidden underneath. When working with—or living with—a dog with a temperament issue, you must always be mindful of what lies below the surface and know when—and how—to prevent the unwanted behavior from surfacing. EX: If your dog does not like children, do not put them in the position of being around children. If you have children, then the dog should be placed into a home that does not have children. Win for the children, win for the dog. If your German Shepherd does not show interest in chasing a ball, no amount of training is going to teach your dog to enjoy chasing a ball.
CHARACTER: Your German Shepherd’s temperament + environmental influences and life experiences
Character is the second component of behavior that includes temperament (inherited traits) plus behaviors and habits that your German Shepherd learns. Character is both nature and nuture. Because is not innate, character is not as stable as temperament and it can be changed and modified—especially during early stages of development. EX: If a puppy falls into a bucket of water, it can become fearful of water. This fear is a learned behavior based on environment or life experience and can often be changed or modified. Character is unique to each German Shepherd because their environments and life experiences are unique. A dog can have a individual character trait (i.e., love of water)—whereas a line of German Shepherds can have the same temperament trait (i.e., high prey drive). Character can influence temperament (strengthen or weaken it) if the experience is powerful enough, but the dog’s core temperament will remain intact.
Character is a unique part of your German Shepherd's behavior that is learned and what makes them different or unique from other German Shepherds (i.e., love of water).
PERSONALITY: Your German Shepherd’s temperament + character + social response
Personality is a subtle blend of temperament, learned habits and social response. In other words, personality is how your German Shepherd responds to it’s genetic makeup, learned habits and life experiences. Personality is a combination of thoughts, behaviors, attitudes and habits—all of which are unique to your dog. German Shepherds can be extroverts (love to be outside and enjoy the company of others) and they can be introverts (stay primarily indoors and prefer the company of just one person). An example of personality trait might be the love of riding in a car. It is a direct reaction to something in the dog’s environment. A dog’s personality usually remains stable over time regardless of situation.
Personality is the part of your German Shepherd's behavior that is a response to genetics, learned habits and life experiences. It's their unique way of thinking, feeling and acting.
Since temperament can be influenced by a dog’s environment and life experiences, most breeders cannot guarantee temperament. However, there are things you can do to reduce your risk of getting a puppy with a faulty temperament. Don’t look at temperament as solely a product of genetics. Look at how a dog or puppy has been raised, its environment and life experiences.
Since temperament can be influenced by environment and life experiences, most German Shepherd breeders cannot guarantee temperament.
Six Tips for Avoiding Temperament Issues
There are things you can do to reduce your risk of getting a German Shepherd with a temperament issue. First, if purchasing a puppy, look for a reputable breeder—someone experienced who has references and good reviews—and ask them about their policy on temperament. Make sure their policies are in writing. Second, know and understand the type of puppy you are looking for—high-drive working dog or family companion. Third, don’t purchase a puppy that has not been formally temperament tested by the age of 8 weeks. If your breeder does not perform temperament tests, does not supply you with written results of these tests, and does not thoroughly explain to you how to interpret the results—find a different breeder. Fourth, do your homework and find a good training facility for you and your new puppy. German Shepherd puppies must be socialized and trained early if they are to grow into well-adjusted, family companions and/or working dogs. Fifth, if possible, ask to meet the sire and the dam or at least speak to a third party who has met the parents and ask for opinions on their temperament. And finally, DO NOT think that you can “fix” a problem that you see or one that is brought to your attention. Many puppy buyers fall into the trap of thinking they are experienced enough to change the behavior of a dog. This almost NEVER happens. If the puppy you want shows signs of a temperament issue at 8 weeks, most likely, that the problem will be there at 8 years.
Litter Evaluation (LE). At 8 weeks of age, or just before puppies are selected and sold to their prospective new owners, reputable breeders perform a Litter Evaluation or LE. The degree and level of evaluation varies among breeders, but the minimum required testing consists of ten basic exercises that are designed to help identify desirable and undesirable traits in puppies.
Adult Temperament testing. There are several accepted, readily available temperaments tests to choose from when evaluating an adult German Shepherd for temperament. While the level of testing varies between these tests, their purpose is the same—to evaluate a dog’s ability to deal with people, stress and the unknown. They are also used to determine which dogs are more suitable as working dogs or companion animals. To learn more about temperament tests, see related articles in Reebok’s blog.