Dog Breeds That Require Experience

Thinking of picking a dog based on its breed? Think again. New research shows that breed accounts for just about 9 % of behavioral differences—meaning your future pet’s personality isn’t defined by its pedigree. Breed = Only 9 % of the Story A sweeping study of over 18,000 pet dogs found that breed explains roughly 9 % of the variation in traits like trainability, anxiety, or aggression. The rest? Mostly individual personality, upbringing, and environment. Why Breed Still Matters—But Not That Much Certain breeds do carry genetic health risks—especially when bred for extreme looks. Brachycephalic dogs like pugs, French bulldogs, and English bulldogs—face breathing issues, spine problems, and skin fold infections due to exaggerated standards. But two dogs of the same breed may behave very differently depending on life experiences and training.