Raising a dog is an important and responsible process, on which the well-being of the animal and its mutual understanding with the owner depend. But how a pet’s personality is formed remains a mystery to scientists.
However, a team of researchers from the University of Helsinki, the Folkhalsan Research Center and the University of Turku were able to lift the curtain on what factors influence a dog’s temperament. They published the results of their work in iScience.
According to scientists, studying the behavior of dogs will help them better understand other animals in the future. It will also make it easier for people to communicate with their pets.
Researchers have found that about half of a dog’s character is a product of its genetic inheritance. But the other half is explained by the influence of the environment, especially the conditions in the early childhood of the animal.
To draw conclusions, scientists conducted a character survey of 11,418 dogs. They took into account the 12 most important variables that affect the personality of pets – gender, age, breed, level of socialization, cohabitation with other dogs, average time alone, reasons why a person got a dog, and more. The sample included representatives of more than 50 breeds aged from a few months to 17 years.
It turned out that breed and age have a significant influence on the formation of a dog’s personality. Also, the level of socialization in childhood, how often the dog was offered games, as well as the reasons for which the dog was brought in, had a certain influence. However, these effects were less significant. Scientists have suggested that the relationship between the nature of the dog and the influence of the outside world is limited.
At the same time, the researchers found that the most important variable influencing the formation of a dog’s personality at every moment of its life is age. The older the animal, the higher its concentration in training, but the indicators of vulnerability, energy and friendliness, on the contrary, decrease over time.
At the same time, females, on average, showed the highest scores for vulnerability, concentration on learning, and friendliness to people. And the males were more energetic, aggressive (dominant) and friendly to other dogs.
The breed also had a significant impact on the character of the dog. So the Scottish sheep breeders turned out to be the most vulnerable, and the lowest score here is for the bull terriers.
Parson Russell Terriers showed the maximum energy, and Miniature Pinschers turned out to be the most stubborn. Dogs of fighting breeds have surpassed everyone in aggression and dominance, and golden retrievers graze here.
Bull terriers turned out to be the most inclined to communicate with people, and shepherd dogs found the slightest need for this. At the same time, Finnish Lapphunds most often showed friendliness to relatives, while Border Collies, on the contrary, were not eager to communicate with other dogs.
If a dog was started as a pet, it often grew insecure. While animals that were treated as family members were significantly more confident. But dogs acquired for hobbies and work showed maximum confidence. Also insecure were the dogs that became the first for their owners. If the dog was fifth or more, its confidence was maximum.
Animals that lived in the same area as other dogs showed higher levels of energy. But their perseverance was lower.
Males that were left alone for less than an hour during the working day had a greater concentration on training. And those left without a host for 8 or more hours had the worst performance in this criterion.
Previously, GLOBAL HAPPENINGS told how to teach a dog not to be afraid to stay at home alone.
Source: Obozrevatel
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