Judging Dog Temperament is an important step in choosing a new dog. A dog's temperament refers to how he or she reacts to his or her environment. Whether a dog is hostile or friendly is of critical importance, especially if there are children in the household. Here's everything you need to know about this topic.
The Temperament Test of Breed
A dog's particular temperament level is mostly determined by his or her particular breed. The American Temperament Test Society, Inc. performed various tests on several dog breeds in order to determine their characteristic temperament level. The test consisted of testing the dogs' behavior toward strangers, as well as their reaction to auditory, visual, and tactile stimuli. Dogs showing aggression were not able to score higher that the 70th percentile, while less aggressive dogs such as service and rescue dogs scored higher than 80.
Preconceived ideas of dog breeds can be deceiving when it comes to dog breed temperament. For example, Disney's live-action 101 Dalmatians movie of 1996 showed Dalmatian puppies as sweet and innocent, but Dalmatians actually have a low temperament score. The success of the film prompted many families to purchase Dalmatian puppies, only to find that they were quite aggressive and stubborn. Sadly, their uninformed view of the dog's temperament led to many Dalmatians cluttering the shelters the following year.
Training Affects a Dog's Temperament
Breed is not the only factor in determining a dog's temperament. 
Experts have shown that dogs can be
trained to lower their natural levels of aggression. This is why the Doberman Pinscher, who have a reputation of being aggressive, scored about an 80 on the Temperament Test. These dogs have shown great success in being
trained out of their natural ways, and many are very friendly with children.
Determining a Dog's Temperament
Once you have looked into the breed's characteristic temperament, you should enroll your dog in training aimed to promote interaction with family members. As said before, this is especially important if you have a house with small children. From shelter dogs to purebreds, the most bite cases occur to those under twelve years of age. Aggressive dogs tend to be afraid of children, and often react by growling and nipping. Unless you have a training program that matches their aggression, forget a temperamental dog! In fact, experts agree that children should not be left unattended with dogs, regardless of the breed or temperament level. Judging your dog temperament and taking charge of it from the start will go a long way toward establishing a loving and secure relationship with your pet.
