How much of our dog’s behaviour is down to their DNA/breed? And how much can we impact their behaviour with training and experiences? This is the classic nature v nurture argument and it is a hot topic when it comes to dogs.
Breed characteristics
Lots of clients that I work with attempt to explain or understand their dogs’ behaviour by looking at what is typical of their breed or “breed characteristics.”
When I say breed characteristics, I mean distinctive breed-typical personality traits that have been developed through generations of selection for certain talents like hunting, herding or guarding. The idea is that by roughly grouping dogs according to the work they were bred to do, it is possible to determine the type of temperament a dog might have at maturity.
Generally speaking, people expect herding and hunting dogs to be active and energetic, hounds to be more aloof and independent and terriers to be expert hunters. But, how true is this really? And what about cross-breed dogs? And beyond breed characteristics, how much does a dog’s DNA influence their confidence, social skills or even aggression?
Differences in breed personalities can certainly be seen at an early age. For example, collie pups have been known to herd children or other animals with no encouragement or training whatsoever. Their genetics just tells them to do it and they find it intrinsically reinforcing (i.e. very enjoyable!!). But the question is, how much can this genetically driven behaviour be impacted by proper training, socialisation and life experiences?
Training makes a difference!
Without looking at any science or statistics I can assure you that training makes a difference. Every. Single. Time. Training your dog to respond to a small amount of cues, reliably, means you will have control of your dog in most life situations. Regardless of breed or breed characteristics. The bottom line is that dogs do very well when we give them clear instructions about how we want them to behave. They can only respond to us when we have trained them. We also absolutely need to set them up for success by using extra management at times when their genetics are likely to get the better of them or our training is likely to fall short. It’s all about knowing your dog. And being realistic about their skills and your ability to control them.
Genetics v life experiences
The current research is indicating that 20-30% of our dogs’ personality is dictated by their genetics/breed. For behaviours that are a known “breed characteristic” for a dog (like a Collie wanting to herd) it could be more like 40%. So the good news is that between 60 and 80% of your dog’s personality can be influenced by the training and lifestyle you maintain.
We are still learning about dogs and their genetics and how much that impacts their behaviour and indeed their health. As well as breed behaviour characteristics, there are also lots of health issues that seem to occur with more frequency in certain breeds like hip dysplasia in Retrievers or eye issues in the Collie. The more we understand a dog’s genetics, the more we produce healthy dogs that are sound behaviourally.
Darwin’s Ark
Darwins’ Ark is a revolutionary, collaborative scientific initiative. It is a non-profit scientific research project seeking answers to common health and behaviour issues in dogs. AND YOU CAN HELP!! You can get involved by going on their website and answering survey questions about your dog.
The information collected will be added to their growing data banks, to be shared freely throughout the scientific world to help us better understand dogs and their genetics. This information will make a huge difference to the health and lives of dogs all around the world. There are 26 surveys you can answer about your dogs behaviour to help them gather information about different breeds and how they typically behave. The surveys are multiple choice and user friendly.
You can also have your dog’s DNA tested (or “sequenced”) via Darwin’s Ark if you are interested to learn more about your dog’s ancestry. Read all Darwin’s Ark and the innovative projects they are pioneering on their website: https://darwinsark.org/our-projects/
