Posted on

Dog Behaviors like Aggression and Fearfulness are Linked to Breed Genetics

A study looking at 101 breeds finds strong ties between certain behaviors and genes.

New York, October 2, 2019: Your dog’s ability to learn new tricks may be less a product of your extensive training than their underlying genetics.Among 101 dog breeds, scientists found that certain behavioral traits such as trainability or aggression were more likely to be shared by genetically similar breeds. While past studies have looked into the genetic underpinnings of dog behaviors for certain breeds, this research — published October 1 in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B — is the first to investigate a wide swath of breed diversity and find a strong genetic signal.

According to the report published in Science News, “anecdotally, everyone knows that different dogs have different behavioral traits,” says Noah Snyder-Mackler, a geneticist at the University of Washington in Seattle. “But we didn’t know how much or why.” Humans and dogs have lived together for at least 15,000 years (SN: 7/6/17). But only within the last 300 years or so have breeders produced varieties such as Chihuahuas and Great Danes.

So, Snyder-Mackler and his colleagues considered how 101 dog breeds behave while searching for genetic similarities among breeds sharing certain personality traits. Data came from two dog genotype databases and from C-BARQ, a survey that asks owners to rank their pure-bred dog’s propensity for certain behaviors, like chasing or aggressiveness toward strangers. As a result, the study didn’t have genetic and behavioral data from the same canine individuals, which could help highlight rare genetic variants that may be nonetheless important to diversity in behaviors.

Using data from over 14,000 dogs described in C-BARQ, the researchers gave each breed a score for 14 different behaviors, and then searched for overall genetic similarities among breeds that had similar scores. For traits such as aggression toward strangers, trainability and chasing, the researchers found that genes contribute 60 to 70 percent of behavioral variation among breeds. Poodles and border collies, for example, had higher trainability scores, while Chihuahuas and dachshunds had higher aggression toward strangers.

Energy level and fearfulness showed a smaller genetic contribution, about 50 percent, suggesting that differences in environment or training play an equally important role in shaping those behaviors.

To read more, subscribe to Buddy Life!

Posted on

Does your dog love the cold? It’s not all about genetics

Pets behavior depend on how we keep them.

Some dogs are playful and some surely prefer to cuddle in the couch. Likewise, certain dog breeds are known for their resistance to the cold, but some experts say it’s not just about genetics.

People usually think of Huskies or German Shepherds when it comes to loving cold weather, but local animal service officers say it really depends on the individual dog.
If your dog spends a lot of time outside, it will become more acclimated to the cold versus a couch dog who’s normally indoors.
If your dog does like to play in the snow, one officer recommends putting a sweater or booties on your pet before going out.
Kelsey Harty, Animal Services & Enforcement Officer, Humane Society of the Black Hills in South Dakota, USA, says, “Some dogs really enjoy this weather. I know some of them like to tunnel and burrow in the snow and they just have the time of their lives. I don’t think that the weather should stop you from doing anything, but I definitely think that you should be more mindful as to what you need to do to prepare to take you and your animal outside.”
She also suggests leaving a heated water bowl out.

To read more, subscribe to Buddy Life!