First thing’s first: despite the title of this report, there is no such thing as a perfect
pooch (just as there is no such thing as a perfect human). The closest you can come to
picking the perfect pooch is to pick one that’s best for you and your family.
You know what’s weird? Dog owners all believe their dog’s personality is distinct and
unique. Even if they own two dogs of the same breed, perhaps even from the same
litter, they’ll say each dog has a personality all his own. And they’ll be right. And yet
many of those same people believe that dog personalities are determined by breed.
They’ll say things like “Golden Retrievers don’t bite,” or “Pit Bulls are vicious.” And
they’ll be wrong. A dog’s personality, like that of a child, is determined more by “nurture”
than “nature.” Depending on how he’s raised, a Golden Retriever will bite and be
vicious; a Pit Bull will be a gentle coward.
It is true that dogs of a certain breed may share some behavioral characteristics (e.g.,
most Labrador Retrievers enjoy swimming and are crazy about fetching a ball). There
