Will your beloved puppy turn out to be a destructive dog or a calm canine? A few simple behaviour tests might give you a clue.
In a (very cute) new study, scientists at the University of Helsinki discovered that certain playful challenges can reveal key personality traits in puppies as young as three months old – including how independent, trainable, or self-controlled they might become.
The tests involved things like seeing how pups handled obstacles to reach treats, whether they could follow human gestures, and how they reacted to unfamiliar people and places.
Researchers hope these tests can help everyday dog owners better understand their pups and support their development from an early age.
"Most previous research has focused on whether cognitive tests can predict puppies’ suitability for working roles – such as detection dogs or guide dogs,” Saara Junttila – from the Department of Production Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, who led the study – told BBC Science Focus.
“But there is no research on whether they can predict behavioural traits which are seen in the everyday lives of pet dogs and their owners, such as trainability or impulsivity.”
The study tested 99 puppies between three and seven months old, pooches who were then retested as adults (between the ages of one and eight years old).
Previous studies show such behavioural tests aren’t good indicators for puppies under eight weeks old, as they are too young for their personalities to have developed (and were often just too sleepy to do the tests properly).
Several puppy tests were shown to be good indicators of the grown dog’s personality.
Puppies that did well in the Gesture Test, which investigated how well they responded to human cues, were generally highly trainable. Meanwhile, puppies which kept trying to retrieve treats through a clear barrier rather than learning to go around were typically more impulsive adults.
One of the more counterintuitive findings was from the Unsolvable Task challenge, where dogs attempted to retrieve a treat from a sealed box.
Some of the puppies which frequently looked towards nearby humans, even ones they didn’t know, were actually more likely to be fearful of strange humans as adults, possibly because they were less confident.
How to have a happier dog
Spotting potential problem traits allows ownerts to better understand what kind of training and handling their dogs will respond to best.
“Pet owners aren't always good at recognising when their dog or cat is feeling anxious,” says Dr Emily Blackwell, a behavioural researcher from the University of Bristol who did not take part in the research.
“Being able to predict which puppies are predisposed to develop fears would allow owners to take extra care when introducing them to new people and experiences.”
Similarly, impulsive and highly active puppies will require different training to those which have an easier time calming down and waiting.
“Puppies are not ‘behaving badly’ on purpose,” says Junttila. “High energy and impulsiveness are just traits that are part of the puppy’s personality.”
About our experts
Saara Junttila is a Doctoral Researcher at the University of Helsinki, researching how the cognitive development of dogs relates to their behaviours.
Emily Blackwell is a Senior Lecturer in Animal Behaviour and Welfare at the University of Bristol's Veterinary School. She has researched animal behaviour and welfare across a wide range of domestic species.
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