Читать книгу Pet-Specific Care for the Veterinary Team - Группа авторов - Страница 246

Similar to cancer, little doubt exists that genetics plays a key role in predicting behaviors, and yet we are very early in the process of characterizing the process. Behaviors such as herding and retrieving are firmly entrenched in some breeds, and we are getting closer to understanding the genetic bases for these traits. In addition, it appears that dogs have evolved a social–cognitive specialization that allows them unusual skill in cooperating and communicating with humans [4]. In fact, dogs and humans accept each other into a mutual social structure, which appears to have been the result of genetic selection. Behavioral traits do have a genetic basis, and a high degree of genetic correlation between traits is often found.

Some developments have occurred in identifying quantitative trait loci (QTLs) important in some behavioral conditions, but much more is to be learned in years to come. Because behaviors are often conserved within breed groups, individual qualities (e.g., retrieving ability) can often be achieved by the appropriate selection of specific breeds, especially if representative family members can be observed. For mixed‐breed dogs, a rough approximation might be accomplished by discerning which breeds primarily contributed to an individual animal through commercially available genetic breed profiles.