Dog Anxiety and Aggression may be Genetic
If you have a dog that is a bit of a scaredy dog or even bares their teeth, this may interest you. New research is making discoveries about how dog anxiety and aggression may be genetic in dogs and now this knowledge might even help with human anxiety.
Dog aggression is a problem
As we know, dog aggression can be a problem to dog owners and to society. What you may not know is that most dog aggression is based on fear. Aggression and anxiety are often linked.
Your dog is scared of an approaching dog and to make this supposed threat back off, they growl, show teeth or lunge, barking at the other dog, who beats a hasty retreat. “No thanks mate. I’m outta here!”
Researchers at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Ohio, in the US, looked at the genes associated with aggression in dogs. They discovered that canine genes associated with aggression towards humans in the household were quite different from those associated with aggression towards unknown people and dogs. They found a series of 12 genes that are associated with aggression towards strangers.
What this means for dog owners
Why is this important for dog owners? Well, it means that down the track we, or those who breed dogs, may be able to genetically test for these genes and breed dogs who are not pre-disposed to aggression. That’s good news!
It also lets some of us dog owners, whose dogs are less than friendly towards other people and dogs, off the hook – just a little. Until now, behaviourists, vets and trainers have been telling dog owners that we must socialise our puppies and dogs.
And yes, of course, this is still extremely important in the development of calm, canine behaviour but if your dog has genes for aggression, then any amount of socialisation may never be enough to prevent it from being expressed by your dog.
Dr Jo says “As we understand more about our dog’s aggressive behaviour and their anxiety, we may be able to reduce these unwanted behaviours and even improve our own anxiety…”
And how does this help humans? Well, further research will be looking at the neural pathways of aggression and anxiety and also exploring new therapies which target these biochemical pathways. These may include drug therapies which will ultimately regulate the behavioural effects of these emotions.
Helping humans too
Researchers are currently exploring dogs and it is forecast that if they are effective in dogs, then they can also be applied to humans. Yes, humans with a pre-disposition towards aggressive behaviour may be calmed by understanding dogs. Anxiety and aggression affect us all!
This may be a long way down the track but it is good to know that we are not completely to blame for our dog’s behaviour and that, eventually, perhaps, we will be able to relax a little more when out walking our dogs. Dog Anxiety and Aggression may be Genetic!
If your dog is anxious or aggressive towards unknown people or dogs, or towards family members, it is always worth seeking professional help.
Reference:
- Isain Zapata, James A. Serpell, Carlos E. Alvarez. Genetic mapping of canine fear and aggression. BMC Genomics, 2016; 17 (1) DOI: 1186/s12864-016-2936-3
More pet health articles
- Tick, tickTICK, TICK: Our experience of the paralysis tick No pet owner wants to find their pet paralysed. This happened to us on Sunday. Setting the scene Picking my
- Stirring up thoughts on pet shops and puppy farms
STIRRING UP THOUGHTS ON PET SHOPS AND PUPPY FARMS Stirring up thoughts on pet shops and puppy farms Today at Radio 2UE, I had to comment on - Reducing the suffering of flat-faced dog breedsVets can do more to reduce the suffering of flat-faced dog breeds As most dog lovers know, flat-faced breeds of dogs, such as Pugs, French Bulldogs and
- Pets in the Park: Helping the pets of the homelessPETS IN THE PARK: HELPING THE PETS OF THE HOMELESS Pets in the Park is a fabulous initiative, set up by one of my favourite vets Dr Mark
- Pet product review: Rose-Hip Vital CaninePET PRODUCT REVIEW: ROSE-HIP VITAL CANINE Dr Jo says “Rose-Hip Vital Canine – a new lease on life for dogs” What is Rose-Hip Vital Canine? Rose-Hip Vital
- Pet Food – Natural, Organic or Holistic? Just what is the difference?Pet Food – Natural, Organic or Holistic? We want our pets to be healthy. We want to feed them the best possible diet. We hear about Pet
- Overweight dogs have behaviour problems! (Alarming findings)Overweight dogs have behaviour problems! Did you know that? How heavy is your dog? Do they have behavioural issues? Many pet dogs are overweight, even obese. Many
- Novempurr Cat Adoption Drive and Health Check for Your Feline FriendNovempurr cat adoption drive and health check for your feline friend Novempurr Cat Adoption Drive and Health Check for Your Feline Friend As a cat
- Magnificat Rocky and his journey with cancerMagnificat Rocky and his journey with cancer Magnificat Rocky may be one of the world’s most internet famous cats with over 1.4 million followers (see Pets on
- Keeping dog care simple – in 7 stepsCaring for your pets can be a little daunting – even overwhelming – at times. There is so much information out there – good and bad! What
I think a lot of people have already associated that there are specific dog genes and breeds that are more prone to aggression. And yes, seeking professional help is still the best when you suspect your dogs’ behavior are off.