30/05/2025
Such a good description of the distinction between temperament and training and it’s very important to understand!
Training vs. Temperament: Why They Are Not the Same and Why That Matters
As dog trainers and responsible owners, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that training alone can “fix” a dog. That a well-trained dog must also be well-tempered. Or that a lack of training means a dog is “bad.” Let’s be absolutely clear: training and temperament are two entirely different things, and mistaking one for the other can lead to unrealistic expectations, dangerous assumptions, and major behavioural issues down the line.
What Is Temperament?
Temperament is the dog’s natural behavioural disposition. It’s the core of who the dog is when all the training is stripped away. Think of it like the dog’s personality blueprint, shaped by genetics, early development, and, to some extent, environment. Temperament governs things like:
• Emotional stability
• Confidence or nervousness
• Reactivity thresholds
• Aggression or friendliness
• Impulse control (or lack of it)
• Sensitivity to stimuli
You can’t “train” temperament in the same way you can train a sit-stay. You can manage it. You can influence and support it. But you cannot fundamentally rewrite it through obedience commands. That’s why some dogs are easy going, bombproof companions even with zero formal training, while others need constant structure, vigilance, and management despite attending every training class under the sun.
What Is Training?
Training, on the other hand, is a set of learned behaviours. It’s the obedience, the recall, the heelwork, the ability to wait on a place bed, or the confidence to navigate a search area. Training is what we teach the dog, through repetition, reinforcement, and consistency.
A well trained dog responds to commands. A dog with a good temperament can make good decisions without commands.
The confusion arises when people assume that training alone is enough to make a dog safe. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Some of the most technically trained dogs, competition level obedience, even protection dogs, can still be a liability if their underlying temperament isn’t sound. Think of the dog who can heel beautifully in the ring, but flies off the handle at another dog passing the van. That’s not a training issue, that’s a temperament one.
The Safe Dog with No Training
We’ve all met them, that scruffy rescue mutt who’s never been to a class in his life, but gets along with everyone, greets the postman with a waggy tail, ignores other dogs on walks, and never chases a thing he’s not supposed to. He’s not trained. He’s just blessed with a steady, balanced temperament. He has resilience. He doesn’t overreact. He doesn’t need to be micromanaged.
That dog isn’t “good” because of training. He’s good because he was born with the right wiring and perhaps had a stable upbringing. He doesn’t cause problems because his natural instincts are calm, moderate, and easy to live with.
The Trained Dog with a Problem Temperament
Now flip it. You’ve got a dog that’s been through training classes. Maybe he has a half-decent recall, a few obedience commands, and can walk nicely on lead, as long as nothing triggers him. But he’s nervous, reactive, short-fused, or unpredictable around children, strangers, or dogs. That dog may be trained, but he’s not safe without constant management.
And here’s the crux: this is the dog who needs training, not to perfect heelwork or learn circus tricks, but to help manage the temperament that could get him (and you) into serious trouble. These are the dogs who thrive on structure, calmness, boundaries, and predictability. Their training is about teaching coping strategies, not commands.
Why It Matters
If you’re a dog owner, it’s vital to stop and ask: “Do I have a training issue or a temperament issue?” Because how you address it depends entirely on the answer.
If you’re a dog trainer, this distinction is your bread and butter. You need to assess temperament before you reach for a lead or clicker. A dog with a poor temperament is a management case, not a quick-fix obedience job. It’s about helping owners understand that no amount of “training” will overwrite deeply ingrained fears, poor genetics, or extreme sensitivities.
The Bottom Line
Training is what we do with the dog.
Temperament is who the dog is.
The best case scenario is a well-tempered dog with solid training. But if you have to choose, temperament will always trump training when it comes to long-term safety and ease of living. And if you’ve got a tricky temperament to work with? You train, not to cure, but to contain. To teach that dog how to live safely and predictably in a human world.
Let’s stop assuming that obedience equals good behaviour. Let’s start respecting the complexity of temperament. And let’s help more owners understand that some dogs are easy because they were born that way, while others need guidance every step of the way, no matter how many commands they know.
www.k9manhuntscotland.co.uk
