New Study Says We Share Personality Traits With Our Pets

By Carol Erickson

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- People have different personality types. Some like to play with a ball. And dogs have different personality types…some like to play with a ball. Could it be that dogs and their people are more alike than we even thought?

A British study shows that dogs and people often match in personality, and that disagreeable people prefer to own aggressive breed or type dogs.

Susan Scherer, owner of a bull terrier, disagrees, saying "My dog is not aggressive."

When asked if she was, she said sometimes but not always.

The study also showed that owners of aggressive types of dogs can also be very conscientious and are no more likely to commit a delinquent act than owners of other breeds. The owners of toy breeds, who are often portrayed as airheads, are actually--according to the study--open and intelligent.

But one thing's for sure: Intelligent dogs of all breeds have managed to get us to endlessly throw balls, walk them and love them.

Want to take the dog personality quiz? Click here.