Dog behaviour has little to do with breed, study finds

Research shows high degree of variability between individual animals - with implications for owners

From sociable labradors to aggressive pitbulls, when it comes to canine behaviour there are no end of stereotypes. But research suggests such traits may have less to do with breed than previously thought.

Modern dog breeds began to emerge in the Victorian era and are often physically distinct - for example, great danes are huge and chihuahuas tiny. But it has often been thought breed can predict behaviour, too.