Can my dog be an introvert?

Dogs vary considerably in terms of their temperament and personality. Dog personality is typically assessed using a modified version of a human personality assessment which measures The Big Five personality traits. These traits include extroversion, agreeableness, openness, conscientiousness and neuroticism. Signs of introversion in dogs include easily becoming overwhelmed and anxious in new situations or following a change in routine and prefer to watch other dogs from a distance rather than joining in the play. Introverted dogs enjoy a quiet life and consistent routine and are best matched to owners who are calm and can help their shy dogs feel safe. It’s important to acknowledge that dogs can display traits of both extroversion and introversion. This change in trait can be context specific meaning a dog may exhibit introverted behaviour in certain situations despite its extroversion, and vice versa. To identify if your dog is an introvert or extrovert, observe their behaviour in a variety of situations.

My dog is either extremely lazy or really introverted, and I don't know if that's normal. He has rarely barked since we got him as a puppy, and he's generally calm and trusting of strangers. He doesn't express any of the usual loneliness traits, but I do find that he spends a lot of his time sleeping, even when he was younger. Additionally, even when people are home, he'd rather be alone, which I started to find weird. When he's exposed to lots of people, while he will be all happy at first, this normally only lasts a good hour, after that he would want to find a quiet corner where he can just sleep or be alone. Is it weird for dogs to do that? We then find him alone in a guest room or in a basement somewhere. Maybe I'm just overthinking it as my dog has gotten up in age, worrying about both his physical and mental health.