“He’s a German Shepherd, so he should be good at protection work.”
“She’s a Golden Retriever—perfect family dog.”
“Mixed breeds are friendly and love other dogs.”
“Oh, terriers are all terrorists!”
How many times have you heard statements like these? How many times have you made them yourself?
The moment we assume that breed or breed combinations equal individual temperament, we stop seeing the dog in front of us. And that’s where both training and placement decisions go wrong.
The Myth of Breed Certainty
I’ve assessed dogs of many breeds, ages, and background. What consistently surprises people is how two dogs of the same breed can have completely different CARAT profiles. German Shepherds are my breed, and I’ve lived with many since 1981. I’ve seen German Shepherds with radically different arousal patterns, social tolerance levels, and confidence scores. Some are visually focused and environmentally confident; others are kinesthetically oriented with high social sensitivity.
Neither is wrong. Neither is “not a real German Shepherd.” They’re individuals who happen to share breed ancestry but have their own unique constellation of traits. One might be suitable for military or police work, while another is an excellent therapy dog for children, and yet another is a highly competitive sport dog.
The dangerous assumption is that breed tells us everything we need to know about training approach, suitable jobs, or ideal living situations. This thinking leads to mismatched placements, failed training programs, and dogs labeled as “problems” when they’re simply individuals whose needs weren’t understood.
In CARAT, we look at each dog’s temperamental “recipe”—their unique combination of traits working together. This includes arousal patterns, recovery time, energy levels, social dynamics, sensory processing differences, and persistence patterns across multiple modalities.
The Adaptability Spectrum
Some dogs are dandelions—highly adaptable, able to thrive in many different environments with various training approaches. Others are orchids—capable of exquisite performance in the right conditions, but requiring specific environmental supports and training methods.
Neither is better. But understanding which you’re working with shapes everything from daily management to long-term training goals. A dandelion Golden Retriever might adapt well to any family situation. An orchid Golden Retriever might need careful environmental management and specialized training to thrive.
Breed might give you a starting hypothesis, but individual assessment tells you what actually works and why for that specific dog. This is where understanding the difference between statistics and individuals becomes crucial.
The statistical tendency doesn’t predict the individual reality. And it’s the individual reality that determines training success, placement outcomes, and quality of life for both dog and human.
Practical Assessment Over Assumptions
Rather than starting with breed expectations, effective assessment begins with observation. What does this individual dog actually show you about their arousal patterns? How do they recover from stimulation? What captures and holds their attention? How do they navigate social interactions?
These observable behaviors tell you far more about training potential and environmental needs than any breed description ever could. A methodical assessment reveals the specific traits that will determine success or struggle in any given situation.
As always, assumptions – whatever they may be based in – don’t just limit our training effectiveness. They can be heartbreaking for families and devastating for dogs.
Seeing the Dog, Not the Stereotype
When we assess individuals rather than assuming breed traits, we discover remarkable capabilities that might otherwise be missed. We find training approaches that work with natural temperament rather than against it. We make placement decisions based on actual compatibility rather than theoretical breed suitability.
Most importantly, we see each dog as the unique individual they are—worthy of understanding on their own terms, not as a representative of their breed.
That’s not just better assessment. That’s respect. And it changes everything about how we work with dogs.
If you want to learn how to better SEE THE DOG, join us for the next session of Intro to CARAT. CARAT is a must-have tool for any serious dog person who is involved in assessing behavior.
CARAT takes a detailed view of the individual dog as a unique combination of many factors working together to influence, exacerbate, mitigate and enhance each other. In the profile created by the nuances and specifics of this complex interaction of multiple traits, an accurate picture is created of the individual, regardless of breed or age.
Join now and find out why CARAT Changes Everything!
Early Bird Dog Pricing Available now through August 17th, 2025.
