Genetics and training: This is how they influence the nature of our dogs!

Genetics and training: This is how they influence the nature of our dogs!

Dogs, man's best friends: why do they show such different behaviors? The topic was recently examined by international experts in Ludmannsdorf. At the invitation of the Carinthian therapy dog ​​team, zoologist and behavioral researcher Udo Gansloßer explained that the behavior of dogs is not only shaped by their upbringing, but also to a significant extent by their genetics. He outlined the concept of the “people-understanding gene,” which gives domestic dogs an extraordinary ability to read human emotions and intentions, such as ORF Carinthia reports.

Gansloßer's analysis of listed dogs is particularly interesting. These animals, often referred to as “fighting dogs,” have an underlying friendly nature. Their upbringing plays a crucial role, as Gansloßer emphasized: “Depending on whether I train a dog to be a people-friendly companion dog or not, that has a very big influence.” While dog breeds may exhibit certain trends in behavior, behaviors vary greatly among individual animals themselves. This supports the results of a comprehensive study recently conducted by Morrill et al. was published. This study shows that breed is often not a reliable predictor of the behavior of individual dogs All around Dog reported.

Genetics and behavioral diversity in dogs

Research has shown that a dog's racial ancestry does have an impact on its physical characteristics. However, dog behavior is much more variable, which means that breed alone often does not provide a reliable indication of a dog's specific characteristics. Obedience, an important behavioral trait, can be inherited on a breed-specific basis, but here too there are large differences between individuals. Genetic influences are only part of the equation, environmental influences and individual training are also crucial to a dog's development.

Finally, the study by Morrill et al. highlights that a dog's individual characteristics, such as human sociability and play behavior, are influenced by a variety of genetic factors as well as the environment. This highlights the complexity of dog behavior research and the need for a nuanced approach to dog ownership that takes into account the unique needs and characteristics of each individual animal.