Growling is a dog's way of communicating to us that something is making him uncomfortable.Most dog owners' immediate reaction is to punish the dog for growling.As every dog owner knows, teaching Fido to lie down and be calm can be a giant hurdle in obedience class. Now, it turns out that – at least among German Shepherds – genetics play a big role in whether your pet earns a gold star.
Researchers gave 104 of the dogs the lie-down-and-be-calm test, and three other behavioral exams, all designed to assess the dogs’ ability to control their impulses.
Later, the scientists compared the canines’ DNA, looking specifically at a gene that is connected to the production of dopamine and norepinephrine. These neurotransmitters are involved in our emotional responses and ability to focus, and have been implicated in humans with attention deficit disorder.
The 37 German Shepherds with a shortened version of the gene had the most trouble controlling their impulsive behaviors, regardless of their sex, age, or training. But the dogs with long versions of the gene, passed the impulse-tests with the calm of Zen master.
The study, reported in the current issue of PLoS ONE, may not only help breeders identify hyperactive dogs, but could prove useful in studies of ADHD in humans.
