What your choice of dog says about you

Dog owners are drawn to breeds that reflect their personalities, psychologists say.

Extroverts are mostly likely to be seen walking a German shepherd, collie or bulldog.

Owners of greyhounds and beagles tend to be emotionally stable, while fans of “toy” breeds, such as the chihuahua or pekingese, appear to embrace change.

The Kennel Club assisted the research conducted by scientists at Bath Spa University.

Psychologists Dr Lance Workman and Jo Fearon asked 1,000 dog owners to complete an online questionnaire that assessed several personality traits. Participants also provided details of the kinds of dog they owned.

The findings were presented at the British Psychological Society’s conference in London.