People ‘pick dogs based on their own personality traits’

Dogs might be man’s best friend but if you’ve ever wondered why people prefer certain breeds over others, it could be due to their personality.

Metro reports that a new study has found that different dog breeds attract owners with certain personality traits.

According to polling by The Kennel Club, those who opt for Jack Russells tend to be more loyal, while owners of Cocker Spaniels were most likely to be curious and family-orientated.

Owners of golden retrievers were found to be emotionally stable and described themselves as positive and happy.

Those who have border terriers were likely to be charming, lively and exuberant while Staffordshire bull terrier owners were found to be trustworthy and the most affectionate.

For the study, over 1,500 current and past owners of 16 popular breeds were polled.

The results also showed that those who enjoyed new experiences, taking risks and had lots of hobbies tended to have Whippets.

Miniature schnauzers were favoured by those who liked being organised and sticking to the rules.

Pomeranian owners ranked highly on traits relating to agreeableness and extroversion.

Nearly two-thirds of the respondents said they chose their dogs based on looks or following their heart rather than their head.

‘It appears that we can often tell a lot about a person from the type of dog that they own,’ Bill Lambert from The Kennel Club told The Daily Mail.

‘It is striking to see how many people unconsciously select dog breeds with personalities that match their own character.’

(Story source: Metro)