AIN'T NOTHING BUT A HOUND DOG

The next time you walk your dog, know this: People will judge you. Why? The type of dog you choose to own says something about your personality, according to researchers at Britain's Bath Spa University and the Kennel Club's Discover Dogs. Led by psychologist Dr. Lance Workman, the team surveyed 1,000 dog owners through an online questionnaire designed to test the so-called "Big Five" personality traits: conscientiousness, intelligence and creativity, emotional stability, extroversion and agreeableness.

What your dog's breed says about your personality:

Sporting dogs
People who owned sporting dogs, such as Labrador retrievers and cocker spaniels, appeared more agreeable and conscientious in the survey.

Herding dogs
People who owned herding dogs, such as German shepherds or sheepdogs, were more extroverted.

Hound dogs
People who owned hound dogs, such as greyhounds and beagles, were more emotionally stable.

Toy dogs
People who owned toy dogs, such as Chihuahuas or Yorkshire terriers, were more agreeable, more conscientious and more open to new experiences.

Non-sporting dogs
People who owned utility dogs, such as English bulldogs, Shar-Peis and Chow Chows, were more conscientious and extroverted.

Terriers
No personality traits stood out in the survey among people who owned terriers, such as the Staffordshire bull or the Scottie dog.

Working dogs
Just like terrier owners, those who owned working dogs, such as Dobermans or schnauzers, had no standout personality traits.

"This study indicates that you can tell a lot about somebody's personality by the breed of dog that they choose to own. It seems that certain personality types are subconsciously drawn to certain breeds," said Workman. "The choice could arguably be down to the lifestyle that people lead and how their chosen dog fits their lifestyle. It is easy to imagine a creative type, who is open to new experiences, owning a toy dog, who was bred for companionship and who can easily move around with the owner."

A study by Bath Spa University found that dog owners were nicer or "more agreeable" than the general population and that people were able to correctly match dogs with their owners, based on the way that they looked. But this study shows that the similarities between dogs and their owners may be more than skin deep.

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