My view, that several others disagree with, is that specific breeds exist for a reason. In their "pure" form most purebreds were designed for a goal or developed over time as a result of the jobs they were doing. This is why people don't do an exhaustive search to find just the right Golden for protection work. Instead, they choose a breed that's already geared towards protection.

This brings me to breeding programs and what different breeders want out of their dogs. Look at either the rottweiler or the doberman. Both are protection breeds that have been watered down by breeders. The doberman was never intended to be show dog or a pet quality dog. It was specifically developed for guard and protection work. Instead, they've been bred mostly for the show ring. Rotties have a bad name thanks to stupid owners. So, what did breeders do? They bred the aggression out of the dogs to the point that it's actually difficult to find a "real" rottweiler. But hey, people can own one now without having to worry about being responsible and breeders can move their stock while being less picky about where the pups go.

My point, is that I feel most breeds today are watered down from what they were originally intended for but, if a dog is a dog is a dog why use a GSD for protection instead of a GSP?

I know that my dog (Bichon) was bred specifically as a companion. So it is then my assumption that what I read about the breed must be true. They need human touch and attention. A lot. Which is why I got her. So, without treating her like a human baby I should have a well adjusted dog in the end. Right?

Besides breed tendencies, which I truly believe separate the breeds, you have whatever your specific BC breeder was breeding for. You could get a working, trialing line BC, a 'barbie' collie bred for conformation or a mix with grabbag tendencies. You can also get a dog from one line that doesn't have the tendencies bred for etc. I have a BC whose mom was a respectable trialer and whose dad was one of the top trialers on this side of the continent. Flik is so sticky her otherwise strong impulses are wasted on a dog that won't think for herself and has more interest in serving me than chasing stock. Kelsey, the NJ petstore BC has a gorgeous outrun, moves stock nicely and has strong eye....which is why she made a crappy pet and the family gave her up.
And yes, you can have other dogs that move stock....but look at any sheepdog trial and there are few non BCs.....because they win. They have an eye and precision and biddability that make MOST of them uniquely created for that job.

Genetics are fickle however. Look at conformation alone. My sister had a litter of Portuguese Water dogs from the top two dogs in the breed. two of the eight went to pet homes. Best two examples of the breed in this generation and still two pups didn't cut the mustard. Hmmmm.

So then you get to the complexity of temperament that can be influenced by basically everything from genetics and environment and of course tendencies vary.

For me, while I believe in each individual animal being allowed to show itself as an individual I believe in breed tendencies. or as Heinlein said..
"The race does not always go to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, but that's the way to bet"

Example inspired by recent discussion on the local hunters forum- you can take a laika and it might not do the work supposed to but you have a better chance than when you take a poodle to do this task.

People can become crazed discussing this topic.
I myself think that a whole bunch of personality traits are hardwired.
I think this is one of the cool things about pedigree dogs. The personality, in broad terms, is predictable.