Nature vs nurture – how much of your pet’s personality do you control?

One of the most common questions I’m asked is: “Is my dog’s behaviour just their breed… or is it something I’ve done?”

The answer is both – but probably not in the way you think.

Research consistently shows that while genetics (nature) absolutely influence a dog’s temperament and tendencies, the way you raise, socialise and train your dog (nurture) plays the bigger role overall. That means what you do with your dog every single day has enormous power to shape who they become.

Breed Influences Are Real – But They’re Not Destiny

There’s no denying that breeding has a significant bearing on the temperament and qualities of dogs today. Over generations, humans have deliberately selected for certain traits and abilities, effectively hard-wiring them into different breeds. Retrieving, pointing, herding, guarding, hunting, fighting, gathering, companionship – these are not accidents, they’re part of each breed’s genetic blueprint that we have selected through artificial selection.

Each breed has its own kind of behavioural DNA signature. Alongside behavioural traits, we’ve also selected for physical characteristics such as size, coat, colour and body shape.

However, these genetic predispositions are tendencies, not guarantees.

A Labrador may be predisposed to love retrieving – but that doesn’t mean every Lab will automatically bring the ball back.

A Border Collie may be wired for herding – but without guidance and training with the right conditions and timing, that instinct might instead show up as chasing kids, bikes or cars instead.

A guarding breed may be naturally more suspicious – but that doesn’t mean they must become reactive or aggressive.

Which leads us to an important truth: breed traits explain behaviour – they do not excuse it.

All Breeds Are Capable Of The Full Behavioural Spectrum

This is where many people get misled by stereotypes.

The reality is:

• ALL dog breeds can be sociable – and ALL dog breeds can become aggressive or poorly socialised.
• ALL dog breeds can be confident and resilient – and ALL dog breeds can become fearful.
• ALL dog breeds can be obedient – and ALL dog breeds can be disobedient.

Breeding may make a particular training job easier or more difficult depending on what you want to achieve, but what makes the difference isn’t just the breed. It’s the experiences the dog has during their critical early development, the consistency of their training, and the quality of the relationship they have with their humans.

The Formative Period: Where Nurture Really Matters

If there’s one window of time that shapes a dog more than any other, it’s the Formative Period – roughly 2 to 4 months of age.

This is when puppies are biologically primed to learn:

• What is safe and what is scary
• Who belongs in their world (people, children, dogs, other animals)
• How to cope with novelty
• How to regulate their emotions
• How to communicate and bond with humans

When puppies receive thoughtful socialisation, gentle exposure to the world, and positive training during this period, we see the development of confident, relaxed, sociable and resilient adult dogs.

When this window is missed, or when puppies experience chaos, fear or isolation instead, behaviour challenges are far more likely to develop later.

The best lifelong experience with a dog will come through both choosing a breed or breed mix wisely, then investing the effort into raising that dog intentionally!

Choosing a Breed or Hybrid That Suits Your Lifestyle 

Understanding breed predispositions is not about labelling dogs as “good” or “bad”. It’s about making smart, informed choices.

If you live in an apartment and work long hours, a high-drive working breed may struggle unless their needs are carefully met.

If you want a jogging partner, a low-energy companion breed may not be the best fit.

If you have young children, choosing a dog with naturally people-oriented traits can make life easier.

Crossbreeds are a good choice if you’re seeking a mix of different qualities – for example, a Cavoodle may provide both the smarts and trainability of the Poodle along with the affectionate companionability of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Many crossbreeds also benefit from what’s known as hybrid vigour – greater genetic diversity that can reduce the likelihood of certain inherited weaknesses. Purebreds can of course be excellent too, just ensure you’re purchasing from a reputable breeder with sufficient understanding of genetics, to reduce the risk of inherited health and temperament issues.

Doing your homework on breeds (or breed mixes) is one of the kindest things you can do for both yourself and your future dog. And remember: even the most perfectly matched breed will still need thoughtful training, structure, enrichment and connection to thrive.

The Empowering Truth

Here’s the message I want every dog guardian to take away:

Yes, genetics matter.
Yes, breed tendencies are real.
But you have far more influence than you may realise.

With early socialisation, kind and consistent training, appropriate enrichment and a strong relationship, you can absolutely:

• Override many breed predispositions (including strong hunting, guarding or herding instincts)
• Build confidence in naturally cautious dogs
• Teach impulse control to excitable dogs
• Help fearful dogs feel safe again
• Shape calm, reliable behaviour in almost any dog

There are no perfect breeds. But with the right approach, there are countless dogs capable of becoming exceptional companions.

Nature may provide the starting blueprint – but nurture is what brings the dog to life!