Nature versus Nurture

It's all in the way you raise them. No such thing as a bad dog. She/he must have been beat. He doesn't like men.

I have long relied on temperament. I do not personally believe you can take a truly submissive dog and make it bold, nor a truly aggressive dog calm. I think you can manage those things, I think you can subdue them somewhat, and make them comfortable in home environments. I do not think you can change the nature of the dog and once removed from the home environment, they revert back to who they fundamentally are.

I've had dogs that have never had a harsh word spoken to them yet they are trembling messes due to lack of structure and temperament. I have Toad who should hate all people from abuse and neglect and yet is loving and learning.

Toad is doing so well, that I am mistaking him for Buffer on occasion. He sets me straight. Buffer would wear anything I asked him to. Toad stopped chewing the fireman's hat long enough for a photo. Buffer was brought up being dressed and getting rewarded for it, Toad has never been exposed to it.

It's interesting to me how much the same yet different these two are. Remember they have the same sire/dam just 2 years apart, so true brothers. We understand no two children are the same, yet, don't allow the same logic to follow through to dogs. Where Buffer was bold, Toad is cautious. Buffer needed to be taught to let me have a bone/high value reward, I have taken favored treats from Toad without thinking about it.

They both do what gets rewarded. They snuggle the same. They like being under blankets. Toad uses his nose and feet to open cupboards and drawers, Buffer would have chewed through.

Buffer had a life of being rewarded with treats, and love and laughter. Toad is starting to trust that  those things are permanent.

By conventional wisdom Toad, stuffed in a shed and kicked should be a cowering, savage beast. Buffer should have been the most loving, gentle creature ever to walk the earth. He wasn't, he was highly managed and definitely human aggressive. Toad more reasonable.

Judging by temperament and not nature/nurture, you get exactly what is presented. Toad being sight/sound sensitive (Buffer not). Neither being overly social with people or dogs, both highly trainable, Toad a little touch sensitive, Buffer not, both tolerant of elevation. Both mid line on submissive/assertive.

And that... in my opinion, is what makes a dog. It's why some get past abusive history's and others find homes that make history's up. (we've all heard about a dog being abused by a man in a hat with a broom). A puppy that isn't interested in training, will take a lot to over ride. An adult that was submissive as a pup will typically always be fearful.

Trust the temperament. A dog will show you who they are, its our job to listen.