New Dog DNA Study: Dog’s Lineage Affects Their Behavior

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110 – February, 2023

By Caroline Coile

Researchers from the National Institutes of Health analyzed data from more than 46,000 dogs representing over 300 breeds in an attempt to isolate lineage-specific behaviors and ultimately, the genes responsible for them. The data included whole-genome data from over 4000 purebred, mixed-breed and semi-feral dogs, as well as wild canids.

They identified 10 genetic lineages: scenthound, pointer-spaniel, terrier, retriever, herder, sled dog, African and Middle Eastern, Asian spitz, dingo, and sighthound. Note that the breeds we generally identify as “sighthounds” are split into sighthounds (which are actually sighthounds of European origin) and African and Middle Eastern (which encompasses a distinct genetic group that includes Afghan Hounds and Pharaoh Hounds, among others). The lineages can approximate some relationships. For example, the herder lineage traverses through livestock-guarding breeds which gave rise to the mastiffs along one trajectory and cattle drovers and heelers on another, the latter culminating in sheepdog breeds.

They then compared owner-provided data from more than 46,000 purebred dogs using the Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ). They calculated 14 numeric behavior scores for each purebred: trainability, attachment & attention seeking, predatory chasing, dog-directed fear, excitability, owner-directed aggression, separation-related problems, non-social fear, familiar dog aggression, touch sensitivity, dog-directed aggression, stranger-directed aggression, stranger-directed fear.

Their most significant findings:

Click here to read the complete article
110 – February, 2023

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