by If your dog is difficult to train or scares easily, it may not be your fault, a study finds.
Scientists at the University of Cambridge have found that the blame could lie in genes instead.
A total of 18 genes have been found in the DNA of golden retrievers that are linked to certain behavioral traits, from psychiatric and temperamental to cognitive.
Among them are two genes called ROMO1 and ADGRL2 that have been shown to improve dogs’ ability to train. Another gene called ASCC3 makes dogs more anxious and worried.
Prof Eleanor Raffan, lead author of the study from the University of Cambridge, said the study showed that some dogs and people had genes that made them more susceptible to strong emotions than others.
Behaviors that are classified as problematic can be traced back to the dog’s genetic makeup – Westend61
“Our data is a really good example of how genetic predisposition causes some dogs (and people) to feel certain emotions more strongly,” she told The Telegraph.
“Because of their biology, they tend to find the world challenging.
“That doesn’t mean that experiencing negative emotions is inevitable, but it does mean that they are more likely to find life stressful, and this can become a problem when they encounter problems that trigger these emotions.”
She added that the study should lead to a change in the way people perceive negative emotions in both dogs and humans, as it may not be a sign of poor parenting but rather of nature.
The results were obtained by examining the genomes of 1,300 adult golden retrievers and comparing their DNA with the behavior of their owners.
Prof Raffan says the genes found in golden retrievers may also be important for other dog breeds, but their data is only applicable to the breed.
“Our work is evidence that behaviors that owners describe as problematic can be caused by an underlying emotional state that means the dog finds a situation particularly stressful,” she said.
One dog in the study, a golden retriever named Merlin, was always suspected by his owner Chris Gabe of being smarter than most, and the study found she was right.
In Merlin, both genes are linked to intelligence and he scored very well in trainability.
“I always knew that Merlin was smarter than most dogs, and his training showed that, so it doesn’t surprise me that he achieved better results,” she said.
Genes associated with intelligence in Golden Retrievers have also been identified – Jill Maguire
As a clever golden retriever, Merlin isn’t the only one either. As a counterexample to the study results, Buddy, the dog who became famous as Air Bud, was one of the most trained animals to ever appear on television, often demonstrating stunts and the ability to exercise.
The fictional Shadow, the golden retriever in Homeward Bound, was another loyal, intelligent animal on the big screen.
Gerald Ford, the former US President, is perhaps the most famous golden retriever owner in history with his pet Liberty, who had a reputation for being well-behaved.
Ford wrote in his own autobiography that he trained Liberty for his own use as a diplomatic tool. When he wanted to end a conversation in the Oval Office, he would signal to Liberty and she would make a fuss of the guest and provide a pause in the conversation.
The results of the study will be published in the scientific journal PNAS.
