New research calls into question breed’s influence on dog behavior
by Katie Pfaff
A recent study pointed to the variability of behavior among breeds, contradicting popular beliefs that dog breed is an indicator of behavior. The research posits that behavior is much more variable among breeds and is likely to be influenced by factors other than breed.
Instead of breed, training and environment were likely to influence the behavior of dogs. The study, published in the journal, Science, has suggested that the behavior and specific traits of dogs are different depending on the individual animal.
Only 9% of the likelihood for certain behaviors was thought to be linked to breeding. A propensity for obedience was somewhat inheritable, but generally, the behavior was less tied to breed than the physical appearance of the dog, which is recognizable to each breed.
The study included DNA samples from more than 2,100 dogs and survey responses from more than 18,000 dog owners on the behavior of their pets. A little less than half (49%) of the dogs who were discussed in the surveys of owners were pure breeds while the remainder were mixed breeds.
The study suggests that there is not a significant variation in behaviors across breeds and that the distinctions between breeds are primarily based on physical appearance. The data also suggests that efforts to determine a dog that is a good fit for owners based on breed may not be helpful.
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