Which Personality Trait Do You Share With Your Canine Companion?

Bri O.

5 Min Quiz

Image: Shutterstock

About This Quiz

A popular saying is, "I want to be the person my dog thinks I am." Dogs think the very best of us. In their eyes, every day is wonderful just because we woke up and fed them breakfast.

Dogs come in many different sizes, from miniature Chihuahuas to Irish wolfhounds. And they come in many different shapes, from wiener dogs to Afghans, they all have in common personality traits and characteristics we love. It wasn't by accident that the dogs have taken on some of our most cherished traits such as being cuddly, loyal, friendly or high-energy. This came about through tens of thousands of years of man domesticating wolf pups until they turned into obedient and huggable family pets.

It's understandable how this happened. One major reason domestication succeeded was because it worked within the confines of wolf behavior. Humans easily took the place of the "highest ranking wolf," thus the rest of the pack quickly became obedient. Then, as tamer wolves were more likely to survive and thrive by co-habituating with people, evolution naturally reproduced tamer and tamer wolves, until eventually, we got our perfect pooch. After all that time, we have a huge variety of dogs that seem to understand our every need and facial expression. Find out which personality trait you share with your canine companion by taking the quiz right now.

Which word would you use to describe your dog?

Loyal

Friendly
Energetic

Cuddly

How long have you and your pup been together?

More than 8 years

Between 5 and 8 years
Less than 3 years

Around 3 years

Which is a bigger priority in your life...?

Friends

People as a whole
Health, wellness, and fitness

Close relationships

What does your pup care most about?

My pup is usually only ever concerned with me and what I'm doing.

Other dogs.
Food.

People, even strangers.

Is your dog ever territorial or possessive when you're interacting with other people and/or dogs?

Yes, all the time.

Around bigger dogs for sure.
Sometimes, but not usually.

Not really. My pup is happy to go with the flow.

If a friend called at 2 a.m. needing something, what would you do?

I'd help them.

It depends on the friend.
It depends on what they need.

I doubt I'd even answer.

What size is your dog?

Quite large

Largish medium
Smallish medium

Small

Who has more energy?

My dog definitely has more energy than I.

I probably have a bit more. My pup is pretty laid back.
We both have quite a bit of energy and take turns wearing each other out.

Neither one of us has very much energy.

Do other people think your dog is cute?

For some people, my dog has a face only a mother could love, so to speak.

Sure, in a big, fuzzy slobbering adorable sort of way.
They're usually too overwhelmed by my dog's enthusiasm to notice.

Yes, they slow down their cars to get a better look at how cute my pup is when we're out on walks.

Are you more introverted or extroverted?

I equal parts of both.

I'm more extroverted than introverted, but not by much.
Extroverted

Introverted

Does your dog do well with other dogs/animals?

My pup is overprotective whenever I'm around...so not really.

Yes, my canine companion does well with everyone.
My dog can be a bit much for some dogs and people....

Usually, but they aren't fond of bigger dogs or large men.

Are you a hugger?

I don't mind hugs.

Yes, of course - I love hugs!
Not really, no.

I'm a big hugger, but only with certain people I trust.

How do you show your affection?

By being there when I'm needed.

I express an interest in people's lives.
I spend time with and energy on people I care about.

With lots of cuddles.

Is it hard to earn your trust?

No, but it's easy to lose it and nearly impossible to earn it back.

Nope, and it's hard to lose it too.
Kind of, yeah.

It's not easy, but I wouldn't say it's hard either.

How old are you?

I'm 35 or older.

I'm an old soul.
I'm "forever young" in spirit.

I'm younger than 35.

Do you buy your pup presents on holidays and B-days?

I buy them treats and bones whenever they run out.

Of course!
I buy them a special treat every once in awhile, but that's it.

No, but I make things and cook for them.

If you suddenly needed to move, would your pup go with?

No question. I took on the personal responsibility of caring for my pup for the rest of their life when I adopted them.

I'd hope so, but things don't always work out how we want them to.
Yes, or I'd convince a close friend or family member to take in my dog.

I'd do everything I could to make it happen, but it just would depend on lots of factors I may not necessarily be in control of.

How active are you?

It depends on the weather and how things are going in my life.

Probably more active than most, but not by much.
I get plenty of exercise on a daily basis.

I prefer to relax.

Do you take your dog for walks?

Sure, every time my dog needs to go out I take them for a short walk.

Yes, we go on frequent decent length walks, mainly to socialize with other dogs and their owners or people in the parks.
Yes, we go on some seriously long walks.

When they want me to, which isn't often.

Does your pup get to sleep in bed with you?

Yes, whenever they're free to come and go.

Only when I'm having an easy time sleeping.
No, I need my space and so does my pup.

I'd be upset if they didn't...

Do you enjoy meeting and/or talking to new people?

Kind of, but I have my people and I doubt that will change much.

Yes, I love talking to new people.
Sure, meeting new people can be fun if I'm in the mood for it.

Not particularly. I prefer to stick with the people I know.

Do you usually forgive people when they screw up?

It depends on who the person is.

It depends how they screwed up.
I've been known to hold a grudge or two.

Sure, I usually just want everyone to get along.

How much does your dog bark?

They bark whenever someone gets too close.

Nor much, but enough to scare some people.
They bark a lot.

They rarely bark.

How often do you play with your dog?

Multiple times a day.

Once a day or so,
We're constantly playing or doing some sort of activity together.

Whenever they're feeling playful, which isn't too often.

Do you talk to your pup?

We have conversations all the time.

Only when I need them to understand a cue.
When I'm trying to get them to calm down, yeah.

Yes, especially when we're cuddling.

How would others describe you?

Trustworthy

Friendly
Outgoing

Quiet

Would you say you're high maintenance?

I'm pretty laid back.

Only when I'm really stressed out.
Yes, I'm always doing or planning something.

I can be needy sometimes.

Which is a bigger motivation in your life...?

Close relationships

Social status
Achieving perfection

Security and achieving peace of mind

Have you taught your pup any tricks or manners?

Only what we need to communicate the basics.

They know things like sit and lay.
It's a work in progress.

Not really. There hasn't been a need.

Has your pup ever run away?

Nope, thankfully.

Yes, they get out and come back all the time.
I'm constantly chasing after them.

Rarely. They prefer to keep it close to home.

About HowStuffWorks Play

How much do you know about dinosaurs? What is an octane rating? And how do you use a proper noun? Lucky for you, HowStuffWorks Play is here to help. Our award-winning website offers reliable, easy-to-understand explanations about how the world works. From fun quizzes that bring joy to your day, to compelling photography and fascinating lists, HowStuffWorks Play offers something for everyone. Sometimes we explain how stuff works, other times, we ask you, but we’re always exploring in the name of fun! Because learning is fun, so stick with us!

5 Minute Quiz 5 Min