Golden retrievers are lovable family dogs; Dachshunds, on the other hand, are combative yappers who like to go hunting – these characteristics are often attributed to them and other dog breeds. But they are not much more than common clichés, researchers led by Elinor Karlsson from the University of Massachusetts have discovered: What behavior a dog displays hardly depends on its breed, the scientists report in the journal Science.
The research team analyzed the DNA of a good 2100 dogs and also asked about 18,000 dog owners about their four -legged friends. The statistical evaluation of both studies showed that the genetic material only explained a fraction of dog behavior. Basically, all of the behavior examined were found in every breed of dogs, albeit in different forms. Some characteristics were more dependent on the genetic descent of a dog: for example, how sociable a dog was against people or how well he heard on commands. The autonomous dog breeds included the popular Japanese Shiba Inus, Huskies and Dachshund. Shepherds, Labradore and Golden Retriever were particularly healthy. However, it was almost independent of his descent whether a four -legged friend could be provoked by unpleasant or fear.
Until the 19th century, people chose their four-legged friends according to the tasks they had to fulfill: herding, guarding or hunting. Modern dog breeds have only been bred for less than 160 years. Contrary to what is widely assumed, however, they differ mainly in their appearance, explains Karlsson's team. Potential buyers should therefore pay less attention to how cuddly, smart or stubborn the dog breeds allegedly are when choosing their four-legged friend. More important is how big the animal gets – and whether it has enough space and space.
