Many people think a dog’s behavior is based on its breed. For instance, people believe border collies are smart, golden retrievers are friendly, and chihuahuas are nervous. Scientists at the Broad Institute, a research center in Massachusetts, wanted to find out if there’s truth in those beliefs.

The researchers asked the owners of 18,385 dogs about their pets’ behavior. Then the scientists compared this behavioral data with the genes, or units of hereditary material, that influence different characteristics of the pups.

After comparing behaviors across breeds, the team discovered that a dog’s breed accounted for only 9 percent of its behavior on average. “All dogs are individuals,” says Jessica Hekman, a veterinarian who worked on the study.