Temperament Theory - Theories and Training Methods

The problem that led to the ideas for this temperament theory is the massive volume of training methods available these days. How do we figure out which ones to use? (For a list of available dog training books and videos, go to: Dogwise Catalog.) Many of these books and videos espouse highly different methods or theories of training -- even experienced trainers have trouble or are confused sorting through this maze! We start by evaluating what sort of temperament the dog has and fine-tuning a training program specific to that temperament. What we needed was a way to explain how we evaluate temperaments. The process began by researching the personality descriptions in the realm of pyschology. For at least four thousand years, humans have developed systems to explain ourselves and those around us. Most of these systems are based on the premise of four basic temperaments. The labels have changed over the centuries, but the original premise of four basic temperament-types remains the same.

The following list is mainly compiled from the book, Who Are You? 101 Ways of Seeing Yourself by Malcolm Godwin. Also used to compile this list are the books, Please Understand Me: Character & Temperament Types by David Keirsey and Marilyn Bates, and Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman.

Body Type - Endomorph, Mesomorph, Ectomorph.Character Armor - Right/Left Split, Head/Body Split, Top/Bottom Split, Front/Back Split, Torso/Limbs Split. Bioenergetics - Schizoid, Oral, Narcissist, Masochist, Rigid.Physiognomy - Triangular, Square, Conical, Oval, Round. Siang Mien - Iron, Fire, Earth, Bucket, Wall, Jade, Tree. Hand Shapes - Elementary, Philosopher's, Conical, Psychic, Spatulate, Square, Mixed. Finger Shapes - Spatulate, Psychic, Conical, Square. Palm Mounts - Earth, Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, Mercury, Venus, Solar, Lunar. Eastern Theory of the Five Elements - Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water. Yin Yang. Chinese Medicine - Explorer, Magician, Nurturer, Alchemist, Thinker. Ayurvedic Medicine - Air + Ether, Fire + Earth, Earth + Water. Four Humors of Hippocrates - Sanguine, Choleric, Melancholic, Phlegmatic. Three Brain Types - Hamlet, Othello, Falstaff. Five Instinctual Reactions - Fight, Flight, Food, Reproduction, Freeze. Birth Signs - Earth, Water, Air, Fire. Zodiac Signs - Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces. Chinese Horoscope - Tiger, Sheep, Dog, Horse, Rabbit, Monkey, Boar, Dragon, Rat, Rooster, Snake, Ox. Neurotransmitters - Seratonin, Acetycholine, Noradrenaline, Glutamate, Encephalins, Endorphins. Three Stages of the Female Life Cycle - Maiden, Nymph, Crone. Goddess Wheel - Athene, Artemis, Aphrodite, Persephone, Hera, Demeter. Eye of the Womb - Life Reflector, Life Explorer, Life Giver, Life Relating. Grail Symbols - King, Knight, Mage, Troubadour. Emotional Responses to the World - Courtesan, Warrior, Observer. Psychological Typology - Introvert, Extrovert, Thinking, Intuition, Feeling, Sensation. Or, as it is listed in Introduction toType by Isabel Briggs Myers: Descriptions of well-developed adult types - ESTJ Extraverted Thinking with Sensing, ENTJ Extraverted Thinking with Intuition, ISTP Introverted Thinking with Sensing, INTP Introverted Thinking with Intuition, ESFJ Extraverted Feeling with Sensing, ENFJ Extraverted Feeling with Intuition, ISFP Introverted Feeling with Sensing, INFP Introverted Feeling with Intuition, ESTP Extraverted Sensing with Thinking, ESFP Extraverted Sensing with Feeling, ISTJ Introverted Sensing with Thinking, ISFJ Introverted Sensing with Feeling, ENTP Extraverted Intuition with Thinking, ENFP Extraverted Intuition with Feeling, INTJ Introverted Intuition with Thinking, INFJ Introverted Intuition with Feeling. Activity of the Amygdala in the Limbic System - Optimism, Pessimism. Character Trait - Guilty, Not Guilty, Letting Go, Romantic, Sensualist, Imaginative, Emotional Sensitivity, Trust, Distrust. Reasoning - Verbal, Perceptual, Mechanical, Spatial, Numerical, Analysis. Business Typology - Director, Counselor, Reviewer, Dominator. Business Team Typology - Maker, Survivor, Team Player, Game Player. Relating to the Outer World - Socializers, Loners. Enneagram Types - Judge, Helper, Narcissist, Artist, Observer, Hero, Opportunist, Chief, Peacemaker. IQ Test -Verbal, Numerical, Perceptual. Learning Styles - Linguistic, Logical/Mathematical, Spatial, Musical, Body/Kinesthetic, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal. Humor Typology - Nonsensical, Satirical, Aggressive, Sexual. Spiritual Typology - Mental Center (head), Emotional Center (heart), Sexual Center (belly), Instinctive Center (bridge), Higher Mental Center, Higher Emotional Center, Moving Center. Perennial Philosophy - Physical Body, Etheric Body, Astral Body, Self, Manas, Buddhi, Atman. Chakras - Muladhara, Svadhistara, Manipura, Anahata, Vishuddha, Ajna, Sahasrara. Belief Typolo gy - Believer, Agnostic, Atheist, Self-discoverer. Religious Typology - Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Sikkhism, Buddhism, Tao, Shinto. Spiritual Body Types - Yoga, Ascetic, Dervish, Devotion, Prayerful, Spontaneity, Philosopher Sage, Suchness, Split or Whole, Grail Quest. Temperament Types - Bold, Timid, Upbeat, Melancholy.

Unfortunately, the overwhelming amount of information and speculation about categorizing personalities is more confusing than clarifying. But, considering the ways our human minds bounce information around the parts of our brains that process emotions, logic, and memory it is amazing to realize we function as well as we do! To begin with, the temperament theory proposed here is based on the way the dog's brain processes information instead of using the human's brain. Dogs and humans have one important factor in common which makes it possible to study dogs for a temperament theory that also works for humans: people and dogs both use social connections as an evolutionary survival skill. But it is easier to derive a temperament theory by observing dogs rather than humans because dogs process information through a brain that is built of almost pure emotion. This temperament typing theory is based on the actions and reactions observed in hundreds of dogs, mainly Border Collies, but can also be used for temperament typing other breeds of dogs -- and even for figuring out a bit about ourselves, especially for our interactions with our dogs. (For more information, go to: Personality Types and Quizzes.)

Go to Theory Development Page

Go Home

BORDER COLLIE BEHAVIORS: A TEMPERAMENT THEORY Theories and Training Methods

Val Maurer

BORDER COLLIE BEHAVIORS:
A TEMPERAMENT THEORY
Theories and Training Methods