the fact identical twins do not have identical "personalities" is proof there is an environmental aspect to personality , as there is with all psychological processes ...... the fact there is an environmental aspect to it should prove it can and is changed throughout life ....... "dominance" it appears to me is hormonal and environmental , it's an instinctual drive and learned behavior ...... dominance is a behavior , which to me is where the contradiction comes in ........ personality is an individuals normal behavior , I believe it is hormonal and environmental ...... a dog that is knocked down in position , doesn't give it up easily , and either cannot coexist afterwards , or is looking for an opportunity to get back whatever they lost ......like a guy who's use to getting physical with folks he doesn't like , after he's done time for aggravated assault , he still feels the same way , he just doesn't act on it because of the consequences ...... it appears in dogs I've had , the loss of the hormonal aspect seems to help with drive portion , either through age or desexing , the behavior aspect seems to dwindle along with the hormones ....... hormone imbalance in people causes "personality" changes ..............
I do agree with minimal punishment , especially on a 10 week old puppy ..... I think you need to be careful in punishing a puppy , you also need to be careful on not being clear on inappropriate behavior .... I think the fact a stern no works is great , when it doesn't the dog is locked up until he settles and listens sounds pretty good to me ..... I also think with consistency as the dog gets older the behavior will go away , as a young adult if the behavior were to continue , I probably differ here , but i'd find that dogs limits ....... as far dangerous behavior , I've always felt i'd take it wherever need be to get compliance , as the option of non-compliance is the ultimate punishment ........ I don't know how I would get through a day if my dogs didn't know the word "no" , i'm positive dogs learn the word no every bit as well as a little kid .........
I also know firsthand ,weimaramers , poodles , neos , springer spaniels , bullmastiffs , pitbulls , ddb , maltese , French bulldogs , and german shepherds all learn the same way , and are unique unto themselves more so than to their breed ......... I've had a weimaramer that was as hard and dangerous to a man as any dog I've ever met ..... a springer spaniel , and Bordeaux as dog aggressive as any game pit we've had ..........
I always had a problem with dog trainers and terminology .........