why are dogs so friendly

Sign up for more inspiring photos, stories, and special offers from National Geographic. Dogs are friendly because they have evolved over the years into man’s best friend. Now, scientists say they have pinned down the genetic basis of this affection. Protective Behavior. Understanding how our best friends, from Chihuahua to mastiff, became what they are today is a "sexy question,” according to Karen Overall, a canine behavior expert at the University of Pennsylvania who wasn't involved in the new study. In 2010, in collaboration with Monique Udell, an animal behaviorist at Oregon State University, von Holdt searched the dog and wolf genomes and identified alterations in the WBSCR17 gene that occurred during dog domestication, results they published in Nature. Researchers have devoted a bit more time to trying to understand why canines do seem to have a default setting of being friendly to humans, particularly their owners. Since evolving from a shared ancestor with wolves at least ten thousand years ago, domestic dogs have helped us find food and protected us from becoming dinner ourselves, all while providing a friendly face and wagging tail. In all three cases the wolves outperformed the dogs, but when humans were present the dogs’ attention span waned considerably: although they all knew how to open the box, they dogs were simply distracted by the humans. Namibians allege ReconAfrica disposed of wastewater unsafely, without permits, and ignored concerns about potential impact of oil drilling on water and wildlife. You’ve saved a life. Sudden Aggression in Dogs sae1010/iStock. Our pet canines have alterations in their genes that make them more sociable than wolves, a new study says. (See "Dog and Human Genomes Evolved Together."). I have found that when you are deeply troubled, there are things you … A border collie poses for the camera. Photograph by Vincent J. Musi, Nat Geo Image Collection, Hiking a desert park? Well, according to science there may be another reason that some pooches are so social and outgoing around other humans, to the point of sometimes being hypersocial. “We may have bred a behavioral syndrome into a companion animal,” Princeton evolutionary biologist and study lead Bridgett Von Holdt told National Geographic. “We’re now selecting for dogs that are easy keepers, that can spend long periods of time in small apartments,” Overall told National Geographic. Some hunters are pushing back. In looking at overly friendly dogs, researchers found that they carry two variants of genes called GTF2I and GTF2IRD1. Researchers discovered that hyper-sociability in dogs could be linked to the same gene that makes people with the developmental disorder Williams-Beuren syndrome friendly … Higher levels of disruption in that critical region of the chromosome were associated with the most social dogs. Presently, researchers state they have nailed down the hereditary … Von Holdt’s background in evolutionary genetics made her wonder about the potential genetic basis for these differences. Since they are such small dogs, they often have physical issues that cause aggressive behavior, but many aggressive tendencies come from external circumstances, too. If your dog has previously been friendly towards others, yet suddenly no longer is, this can point to his being unfriendly as a result of his experiencing pain or not feeling well. Why renewable energy is seeing a new dawn, The Nisei soldiers who fought WWII enemies abroad—and were seen as enemies back home. Therapy. All rights reserved, Read why dogs are even more like us than we thought, "Can Dogs Feel Our Emotions? (Read more about how dogs evolved in National Geographic magazine.). I even had her genotyped,” von Holdt admits, somewhat sheepishly (sorry). Being friendly is in dogs' nature and could be key to how they came to share our lives, say US scientists. For the new study, Von Holdt conducted additional genetic analysis of the part of the genome surrounding the altered WBSCR17 gene in a larger sample of dogs and wolves. Travel lighter in sustainability-focused Switzerland, The Great Loop is the epic U.S. adventure you’ve never heard of, Dutch tulip farmers hope for a post-pandemic boom. These ranchers are bringing it back. After examining the genetic makeup of both the dogs and wolves, along with data of other dogs and wolves, the researchers found genetic variants may explain why Fido has so much love to give. It appears that humans have actually bred dogs to be more friendly than their wolf counterparts. The combination of the genetic and behavioral data told von Holdt that changes to this region of the genome helped turn wolves into human-loving dogs. A relative lack of change in that gene seems to lead to standoffish and the more distant and aloof behaviour that we tend to associate with wolves. It turns out that dogs have their unique ability to be our best friends and it’s all in their genes. Yawn Study Suggests Yes."). Usually what novices perceive to be a protective dog is really just a fear biter or a dog that has been made vicious (and therefore completely worthless as a protection dog). Those are the same genes that, when absent in human beings, cause Williams syndrome—a condition in which there’s a surplus of oxytocin, a.k.a. Photograph by Joel Sartore, National Geographic Photo Ark. These lizards use bubbles to breathe underwater, ‘Zombie’ fires in the Arctic are linked to climate change, Nature Sounds: Singer-Songwriter Valerie June on Listening to Nature’s Music, Rare flower blooms on critically endangered tree, Five reasons why our coral reefs have hope. Meat production leads to thousands of air quality-related deaths annually. Here’s how to help preserve the landscape. ", Opinion: We Didn’t Domesticate Dogs. Many pet owners wonder what exactly caused their dog to growl, snap or bite. They say dogs are a man’s best friend, and if you’re a dog person then that’s a statement you can probably get behind. Golden retrievers are also trustworthy, loving, and intelligent, so they will always be a great companion for families with infants and toddlers. 2. Still, as University of Pennsylvania’s canine behaviour expert Karen Overall notes, the genetic analysis is an important one for future advancements, and scientists are probably “barking” up the right tree. oneinchpunch/Shutterstock One of the main reasons … This Chinese monk's epic, east-to-west travels rival Marco Polo's, How white planters usurped Hawaii's last queen. If your chihuahua is in pain, it can be … But dogs can sometimes reach a point of being too friendly, or at least too trusting. According to a study published Wednesday, the reason behind humans and dogs striking a common cord might be because … (See dog-evolution pictures. The Princeton evolutionary biologist and colleagues have spent the last three years studying the underlying genetic basis for social behavior in dogs and wolves. It's perhaps the greatest advantage of being a canine proprietor: Your pooch is excited when you return home, swaying its tail, squirming its body, and licking you with its tongue. What can the transcontinental railroad teach us about anti-Asian racism? According to a study published in Science Advances, it could all come down to a simple gene. The unique and special bond between infants and canines is unlike any other relationship. Also Rocko doesn’t have patience, if a dog wants to fight him he will fight back. We are familiar with the famous saying "dog is a man's best friend," but no one could figure out exactly why this particular animal carries the capability of being so friendly toward humans. Scientists have looked at the genetic makeup and behavioural traits of dogs and wolves. So to delve a bit deeper with this study, biologists took 18 domestic dogs and 10 captive, human-socialized gray wolves and trained them to open a box with a piece of sausage in it. The No. The sun is getting stormier—just in time for a total eclipse, The rugged past and fragile future of Alaska’s roadhouses, Basque Country’s cider houses keep an ancient history alive. The Great Plains prairie needs fire to survive. The Root of the Behavior. We’re now selecting for dogs that are easy keepers, that can spend long periods of time in small apartments," Overall notes. Why Dogs Are Friendly Introduction. ), Studies have shown that dogs are more sociable than wolves raised in similar circumstances, generally paying more attention to humans and following our directions and commands more effectively. Chihuahuas are friendly dogs, but some situations can trigger aggression. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Deletion of those genes in people causes Williams syndrome, which is characterized by elfin facial features, cognitive difficulties, and a tendency to love everyone. Please be respectful of copyright. ), “We’re actively changing dog behavior every single year. Then they asked the canines to open the box while in three separate situations: with a familiar human present; with an unfamiliar human; and alone, without a person at all. Dogs … Was cancer really less likely in a pre-industrial world? November 2020. The Colorado Plateau is breathtaking—but stepping off trail for a killer photo can be deadly for biocrust. Dogs have a genetic condition that drives them to look for social contact, researchers say. But she praised the strength of the genetic analysis. Their July 19 study in Science Advances provides an intriguing clue: Hypersocial dogs like Marla carry variants of two genes called GTF2I and GTF2IRD1. (See "Opinion: We Didn’t Domesticate Dogs. A trained hunting dog can then run through a herd of sheep and grab a deer (for example) that's a “stock proof" dog ready to be trusted to work in the country. Yawn Study Suggests Yes. They lick us, jump on us, would probably buy us a house if they could. A family member Why do people lavish so much care on a member of an alien species? That margin got even larger when the dogs had to open the box in the presence of people. A rare black fungus is infecting many of India's COVID-19 patients—why? “This finding suggests that there are commonalities in the genetic [makeup] and canine tameness, and that directional selection may have targeted a unique set of linked behavioural genes of large phenotypic effect, allowing for rapid behavioral divergence of dogs and wolves, facilitating coexistence with humans,” notes the study. Encouraging the Behavior.

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