Is a Labrador a friendly family dog devoid of aggression? Is a Pitbull a particularly aggressive dog?
Patrick Pageat wrote: "If nothing special is done, the Pitbull is a dog like any other (...) He is nothing different from another dog (...) neither more nor less peaceful". Patrick Pageat is veterinary doctor and doctor in natural science specializing in veterinary behavioral medicine for French pets. Founder and Scientific Director of IRSEA and the Institute for Research in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology. He created the clinical teaching "behavioral medicine and consultation" at the veterinary school of Alfort).
A breed of dog is defined by a morphology (large, small, hairy ...) and natural attitudes. (the fact of instinctively developing what they were selected for: Hunting, guarding ... But a breed of dog absolutely does not determine the temperament which is unique to each individual.
Studies in this area estimate that only 20%, at most, of part of the behaviors are hereditary, and among these 20% we do not know what part we can attribute to real hereditary transimission and what part to attribute to imitation. from the mother by the puppies in the first weeks of life. In addition, behavior (fleeing from a potential danger, reacting aggressively in a particular situation ...) is not reckless (being stubborn, sensitive ...). In a litter of dogs, the puppies, although coming from the same parents and having grown up in the same conditions, will develop extremely different temperaments.
During my 20 years of professional practice I have seen, for each breed of dog, extremely varied temperaments. When I have clients who are adapters of one breed of dog and they have had several and ask them if they have the same character, the answer is invariably "no!"
It is therefore important not to rely on articles or books that explain and describe a testament specific to a race.
