Growing up is part of the natural cycle of life. Through learning and experiences, people evolve to become who we are today. Thus, we are marking our way of being and our personality through experiences.
Although pets are known to have moods , until recently it was considered that the personality of dogs did not vary much over the years. This is because dogs lead a fairly routine life with few changes, and they tend to enjoy walking, playing, eating or resting by our side.
However, a recent study carried out by Michigan State University and published in the Journal of Research in Personality has just revealed that, contrary to what was thought, dogs change their behavior and their way of being over the years. This behavior would be in a certain way conditioned both by our personality and by the care we provide them.
The study’s lead author and professor of psychology, William Chopik, explained that they have also found similarities between the behavior of dogs and that of owners. In addition, they have discovered the best time to train dogs and even when in their lives they can become more aggressive.
The best time for training: the six years
To carry out the research, more than 1,600 dog owners were surveyed, including 50 different breeds of different ages. The owners evaluated the personality of their pets and answered questions about their own behavior.
After analyzing the results, the researchers found different correlations. On the one hand, between the personality of the dogs and their age. On the other hand, they found a relationship between the behavior of humans and that of their pets and verified the influence that the behavior of the dog has on the relationship with its owner.
With all this information, the researchers came to the conclusion that the older furry have a much more complicated training, while the dogs that are around six years old are in their prime to be educated. According to the researcher, these pets have left their puppy stage behind but are still forming their own personality.
Dogs look like us
Maybe you didn’t need the results of a study to know the obvious: dogs look a lot like their owners. However, it is now scientifically proven that this popular phrase is true, as dog and human share certain personality traits. Thus, pet owners with an outgoing personality tended to have more energetic and active dogs, while other people with negative feelings had more fearful or skittish dogs. Dogs are our own reflection, science says!
