A recent study published in the journal Science challenges the long-held belief that a dog's breed can predict its behavior. Researchers discovered that breed accounts for only 9 percent of the variation in canine behavior. This finding emerged from an analysis of 18,385 dog owner surveys collected through the Darwin’s Ark citizen science project, alongside DNA samples from 2,155 dogs.
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The study identified 11 regions of the dog genome linked to specific behaviors, such as how often a dog howls or its comfort level around people. However, the genetic sites associated with these behaviors are not specific to any breed, suggesting that many behavioral traits existed long before modern breeds were developed.
Historically, dogs were bred for practical jobs, like hunting and herding, for about 8,000 years before aesthetic breeding began in the Victorian era, just 150 years ago. This relatively short period raises doubts about the assumption that distinct behaviors could evolve rapidly within breeds.
Elinor Karlsson, director of the Vertebrate Genomics Group at the Broad Institute and a senior author of the study, stated that behavior is complex, influenced by many genetic and environmental factors. The notion that specific behaviors could be selected within breeds in just 150 years appears unfounded.
While the research confirms that genetics can predispose dogs to certain behaviors, the environment plays a critical role in whether those behaviors manifest in individual dogs. Emma Grigg, from UC Davis, noted that stereotypes about breed behaviors often lack scientific support.
The study also found no genetic basis for breed-related aggression, countering the justification for breed-specific laws that target breeds like pit bulls. Mia Cobb, an animal welfare researcher, emphasized that such legislation is ineffective and that any dog can exhibit dangerous behavior regardless of its breed. Assessing dogs on an individual basis, rather than based on breed, could improve human-dog relationships.
The research aims to contribute to understanding human health, particularly in studying compulsive disorders both in dogs and humans. Kathleen Morrill, a Ph.D. candidate and first author of the study, highlighted that including mixed-breed dogs enriched the findings, enhancing insights into genetic influences on behavior. The goal is to apply lessons from dog genetics to develop better treatments for human conditions like obsessive-compulsive disorder.