Is your dog really playful, or more laid-back? Does your furry friend easily get along with other dogs, or does he run away from new situations?

Your dog was born with a set of instinctive behaviors that he inherited from his parents. These behaviors can be grouped into three broad categories - prey, pack, and defense - called "drives." How many behaviors your dog has in each category, or drive, will determine his temperament, his personality and how he perceives the world.

But your dog's personality doesn't spring completely from genetics or inherited behaviors. Just like people, dogs are affected by their experiences and their environment - and their personalities can change over time.

Personality is the combination of characteristics or set of attributes such as socia...

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