If your dog is hard to train or easily spooked, it might not be your fault, a study has found.
Scientists at the University of Cambridge have found that the blame instead may lie in its genes.
A total of 18 genes linked to certain behavioural traits – from psychiatric and temperamental to cognitive – were found in the DNA of golden retrievers.
Among them are two genes called ROMO1 and ADGRL2, which have been found to increase trainability in dogs. Another gene, called ASCC3, makes dogs more anxious and worried.
Prof Eleanor Raffan, study lead author from the University of Cambridge, said the study showed that some dogs, and people, had genes which made them more prone to strong emotions than others.
“Our data is a really good illustration of how genetic makeup renders some dogs (and people) likely to experience some emotions more strongly,” she told The Telegraph.
“Their biology means they are predisposed to finding the world challenging.
“That is not to say that experiencing negative emotions is inevitable, but it means that they are more likely to find life stressful and this can become a problem if they meet problems that trigger those emotions.”
She added that the study should lead to a change in how people viewed negative emotions in both dogs and people as it may not be a sign of a poor upbringing, but a consequence of genes and Mother Nature.
The findings were made by studying the genomes of 1,300 adult golden retrievers and comparing their DNA to their behaviour, as reported by their owners.
Prof Raffan says the genes found in golden retrievers may also be important in other dog breeds, but their data can only categorically say they are true for the one breed.
“Our work is evidence that behaviours owners label problematic may be driven by an underlying emotional state that means the dog finds a situation particularly distressing,” she said.
One dog in the study, a golden retriever called Merlin, was always suspected by his owner, Chris Gabe, as being smarter than most, and the study found she was right.
Merlin has both of the genes linked to intelligence and scored very high for trainability.
“I could always tell Merlin was smarter than most dogs and his training showed it, so hearing that he tested higher is not surprising to me,” she said.
Merlin is not alone as a smart golden retriever, either. Buddy, the dog which found fame as Air Bud, was one of the most well trained animals ever on TV, often showcasing stunts and the ability to play sports.
The fictional Shadow, the golden retriever in Homeward Bound, was another loyal, intelligent animal on the big screen.
Gerald Ford, the former US president, is perhaps the most famous owner of a golden retriever in history with his pet, Liberty, who had a reputation for being very well trained.
Ford wrote in his own autobiography that he trained Liberty for his own use as a diplomatic tool. If he wanted to bring a conversation to a close in the Oval Office, he would give Liberty a signal and she would demand fuss of the guest, providing a break in conversation.
The study’s findings are published in the journal PNAS.