**Chiang Mai, Thailand, August 3, 2025** – A landmark study reveals that understanding the behavioral profiles of dog breeds and their gender differences can help people select dogs that align with their emotional and physical needs.
Ahead of its time, a **1985 study** by **Benjamin Hart and Lynette A. Hart (Geyer)** used computer-generated data to cluster 56 dog breeds based on 13 behavioral traits. Through **factor analysis**, researchers identified three key behavioral dimensions—**reactivity**, **aggression**, and **trainability**—which together explained 81% of the variation across breeds.
The study then applied **cluster analysis** to sort breeds into seven groups with similar behavioral patterns. These clusters bore resemblance to traditional breed categories such as **working, sporting, hound,** and **terrier** dogs, but were based on scientifically derived behavior scores rather than historical utility.
Gender differences emerged as well: **male dogs** differed from **females** on 10 of the 13 behavioral traits. These findings suggest that a more personalized pet selection process—considering both breed and gender behavior profiles—could improve the compatibility between **owner and dog**.
The researchers concluded that such an approach may lead to better long-term outcomes in dog ownership by aligning a dog’s behavior with the **emotional expectations and lifestyle needs** of the human caregiver.
Source: B. Hart and Lynette A. Hart (Geyer). “Selecting pet dogs on the basis of cluster analysis of breed behavior profiles and gender.” Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Volume 186, Issue 11, Pages 1181–1185, Published June 1, 1985.
