Personalities and the Dogs We Love

After reading the post "The Right Dog" on "The Other End of the Leash" (Patricia McConnell), about how well our personalities coincide with the dogs we choose to share our lives with, it got me thinking about my own dogs, and how they've fit in our family.
*If you are interested in dogs and their behaviour, I highly recommend that you read Patricia McConnell's blog (above) or any of her books for that matter. She is an excellent writer and a wealth of knowledge on the subject.

Brandy? Yes, well, she is "the one". The similarities between our personalities are uncanny. The stubborn, back-talking, independent little brat with an extremely intelligent mind of her own, who is well read, some-what clean and hates following others can describe Brandy, or, if you like, it can describe me rather well. We just mesh and fit well together. We love our own space, are not clingy or needy, love to be active, physically and mentally, we get antsy when we don't get our daily exercise (but I don't chew my feet...wait, that's not true!), and we want things our own way, though we will defer to others on occasion...grudgingly.

After contemplating the above paragraph, I find it amazing how alike we really are. It seems almost impossible to be that similar to a creature who is not of our own species. But there it is, and when you think about it, dogs really are not that unlike us in many ways (besides the rear-end olfactory romps).

That is not to say that she wasn't a pain in the a$$ when we first got her. Heck, she was our first dog, and we hadn't a clue. The sassy little brat was a handful when she was tiny, and took to humping my calf as a favorite passed time until we took matters from her paws, and into our own hands - ah, puppy class. As soon as structure and training ensued, we had the "perfect" dog, in my eyes. Granted, she's quirky at times, again, not unlike myself, but I'm an artist, that's my excuse, and she's a Jack Russell, so I guess that's hers.

Mack, on the other hand, oh Mack. I will fully admit, he just doesn't fit in as well. He's dense, goopey, not well read, is anxious, needy, clingy, bossy but unsure, and basically unstable to put it nicely. His personality completely clashes with my own and Brandy's. I know for a fact, because she's confided in me, that Brandy barely tolerates him. I think it might be the smell, but I'm not sure. I won't claim him to be my dog, as he really falls under my hubby's jurisdiction, and I am truly ok with that as our relationship is rocky at best (not with my hubby, with the dog).  (Mack and my other half do get along, it could be the gas, or even the messiness that draws them together, I'll never know for sure.)

Delving into the personalities of my own dogs allows me to see why and how our relationships are the way they are. The closer in personality to your canine companion seems to point to better relationships, understanding and bonding. The further you are, personality wise, the further you will be relationship wise. This leads me to draw the conclusion that not all dogs will fit well into all house-holds. Sometimes it's in everyone's best interest to allow that dog to move on to a family that fits better in regards to personality, so that the dog, and yourself, will have a happier, more fulfilling life. At times that's just the way things need to be, and though it may be tough, in the end, it's well worth it for both sides. If you have that dog who fits you like a glove, consider yourself lucky, as the assets that you gain from that relationship are amazing to say the least.

The idea of personality matching, such as the one noted in Patricia's blog (Main Line Mutt Match), is a good one, and something that all prospective dog owners should consider when they are thinking of adding a new member to the house-hold (speak to breeders or shelters about temperament tests and personality indicators). The better the personality match, the better you will all get along, and isn't that the point?