Study: Your Pet Parenting Style Really Does Affect Your Dog's Behavior

You might think dogs’ personalities are determined by nature, but a new study shows that how humans “parent” pets makes a difference.

Practically any dog owner will tell you that their pet has a unique, distinctive personality. But are those traits the result of nature or nurture? According to a recent study, how you "parent" your pup affects their behavior.

An Oregon State University study found that dogs whose owners have high expectations and responsiveness to their dog's behavior are more likely to be social, have a higher rate of secure attachment and complete problem-solving tasks with more persistence and success. Meanwhile, pooches with more authoritarian or permissive parents are more likely to be insecurely attached to their owners and less likely to persist at solvable tasks.

We found that pet parenting style does predict patterns of dog behavior and cognition," Monique Udell, an associate professor at Oregon State and an expert on dog behavior who co-authored the study, said in a news release. "This an important finding because it suggests that dog owners who take the time to understand and meet their dog's needs are more likely to end up with secure, resilient dogs."