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Personality Consistency in Dogs: A Meta-Analysis

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  • Jamie L Fratkin
  • David L Sinn
  • Erika A Patall
  • Samuel D Gosling

Abstract

Personality, or consistent individual differences in behavior, is well established in studies of dogs. Such consistency implies predictability of behavior, but some recent research suggests that predictability cannot be assumed. In addition, anecdotally, many dog experts believe that ‘puppy tests’ measuring behavior during the first year of a dog's life are not accurate indicators of subsequent adult behavior. Personality consistency in dogs is an important aspect of human-dog relationships (e.g., when selecting dogs suitable for substance-detection work or placement in a family). Here we perform the first comprehensive meta-analysis of studies reporting estimates of temporal consistency of dog personality. A thorough literature search identified 31 studies suitable for inclusion in our meta-analysis. Overall, we found evidence to suggest substantial consistency (r = 0.43). Furthermore, personality consistency was higher in older dogs, when behavioral assessment intervals were shorter, and when the measurement tool was exactly the same in both assessments. In puppies, aggression and submissiveness were the most consistent dimensions, while responsiveness to training, fearfulness, and sociability were the least consistent dimensions. In adult dogs, there were no dimension-based differences in consistency. There was no difference in personality consistency in dogs tested first as puppies and later as adults (e.g., ‘puppy tests’) versus dogs tested first as puppies and later again as puppies. Finally, there were no differences in consistency between working versus non-working dogs, between behavioral codings versus behavioral ratings, and between aggregate versus single measures. Implications for theory, practice, and future research are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Jamie L Fratkin & David L Sinn & Erika A Patall & Samuel D Gosling, 2013. "Personality Consistency in Dogs: A Meta-Analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(1), pages 1-19, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0054907
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0054907
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Heiko G. Rödel & Raquel Monclús, 2011. "Long-term consequences of early development on personality traits: a study in European rabbits," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 22(5), pages 1123-1130.
    2. Max Wolf & G. Sander van Doorn & Olof Leimar & Franz J. Weissing, 2007. "Life-history trade-offs favour the evolution of animal personalities," Nature, Nature, vol. 447(7144), pages 581-584, May.
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    1. Ivana Gabriela Schork & Cristiano Schetini de Azevedo & Robert John Young, 2018. "Personality, abnormal behaviour, and health: An evaluation of the welfare of police horses," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(9), pages 1-18, September.

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