Posted in Behavior & Training

Many people ask "Which is more important when determining behavior - genetics or environmental issues?" This is where the phrase nature versus nurture came from. Unfortunately, it created quite a bit of controversy years back in the field of human intelligence. The field of behavioral genetics doesn't really discuss it anymore. Why? All behavi… read more

Posted in Behavior & Training

The field of behavioral genetics is quite different from popular views and what is being said in books. When you read books, may times they talk about behaviors that are inherited. For example, sporting dogs love water and love to retrieve because "it is inherited." Or, I recently read, Akita's cannot change their aggressive behaviors because of… read more

Posted in Behavior & Training

One must understand the process of domestication to understand the difference in dogs and wolves. The natural selection that influences what kinds of physical and behavioral characteristics are necessary to survive in the wild are very different that artificial selection process in which we use to get the desired traits in dogs. Dogs can live wit… read more

Posted in Behavior & Training

We are continually hearing about the similarities. One analysis found that dogs and wolves share 71 of 90 behavioral patterns. However, domestication has significantly changed how often and in what context these similar behaviors are displayed. For example, both will growl and bear their teeth and exhibit threatening behaviors. Yet, the thresho… read more

Posted in Behavior & Training

Nationwide, the number one reason is to manage aggressive behaviors says Meghan E. Herron, lead author of the study mentioned in my previous journal. The study demonstrated that many confrontational methods such as stare downs, hitting, intimidating, physical manipulation and more did little to correct improper behavior and actually can elicit agg… read more