Red Fox Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 100% genetic. Environment and handling can bring out or suppress certain traits but they have to be there to start off with. I've seen absolute bogans treat their dog like crap, never train, socialise or walk it yet the dog is bombproof. Also seen some very good dog owners do all the right things and still end up with a skittish and/or aggressive mess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 (edited) 100% genetic. Environment and handling can bring out or suppress certain traits but they have to be there to start off withI've seen absolute bogans treat their dog like crap, never train, socialise or walk it yet the dog is bombproof. Also seen some very good dog owners do all the right things and still end up with a skittish and/or aggressive mess. Edited November 20, 2012 by persephone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alkhe Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 Hi all Can I ask does a dog inherit their sires and Dam's temperament and behaviour or not? If a sire has a very bad temperament do their puppies inherit this? As a follow on question, is it easier to settle a puppy into a new house and raise them to your lifestyle and environment versus an Adult? Apart from the obvious of toilet training, feeding etc are puppies easier to bring into a new home as opposed to adults? I think this question can really be answered without even considering the first two - with an adult dog, you can see what you are dealing with. Obviously some adult dogs will come to you without any history, and may take some time to adapt to new circumstances - come out of their shell, etc. But by and large, you already have in front of you the dog you are going to live with. With a pup, there is more malleability, but you still don't know how they're going to end up. Looking at mum and dad's temperament and traits can only give you so much of an indication (because it's also previous generations), and any other environmental factors that have and continue to affect their behaviour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizT Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 (edited) Great Posts. In my little dog family I have mothers and daughters who exhibit the same characteristics. One set of mother and daughter Cavaliers LOVE to perch on back of the couch and look out the window. The other set of mother and daughter both like to sit in front of the heater when it's cold and both enjoy the warm air blowing. :) Also recently used a stud dog who is debarked (I decided to take a risk and give him the benefit of the doubt, as he lived with other males and I thought maybe his barking was also environmental) NEVER AGAIN! Out of four puppies, (two of which I kept, one has been a barker since 10 days old ). We are working on it and at six months she is improving but I would worry if she went to someone less consistent, she has been very hard work in this area. That'll teach me! Edited November 20, 2012 by LizT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espinay2 Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 (edited) I hate my computer. Just wrote a nice long post and it crapped out and ate the lot In a nutshell: agree with alpha bet and secret kei! In relation to ellz comment regarding breed temperament, I too think it is important to distinguish what is being talked about as there are many layers. IMO the first layer is 'base' temperament or rather 'mental soundness' this is relevant regardless of breed and is basically about how a dog reacts to stress. Stress meaning changes to the environment around it such as a new place or a new object, person or sound. The next layer is 'breed traits'. A dog can react to something in a different way to another breed and still be 'sound'. But here it is important to distingush between what may be, for example, 'aloofness' as a breed trait and a shy/skittish stress reaction when approached by a person, or as another example, bold investigation of something 'out of place' as a breed trait, and an instant forward and agonistic fear based reaction to any change in the environment. These are VERY different things. Then there is behaviour and reaction learnt through experience. This experience may either increase or lessen the reactions based on base temperament or breed traits, but it will never eliminate them. Edited to add, there is also 'personality'. Just like us, individual dogs have individual quirks! :laugh: Edited November 20, 2012 by espinay2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allywil Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 Years ago I bred German Shepherds, however in this day and age there are very few families that can provide the right environment for the strong working breeds such as the GSD - a dog with high prey drive is not a dog that fits well into most backyards I think half the problem people encounter with high drive GSD's is sticking one in the backyard period. They are a companion animal who need to fulfill that role and live with their human pack is more the size of it. I have an extremely high drive working line GSD laying at my feet snoozing and another laying in the hallway as I make this post. The right environment for a GSD IMHO is allowing them to be with you.........when the drive kicks in to create nuisence behaviour is separation from their pack.......a GSD is not a good breed to stick in the back yard and provide it with minimal training and behavioural coaching........but is any dog really? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tobias0407 Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 Of course, to add even further fuel for debate, the question could be asked....when you are talking about temperament, are you talking about the temperament you prefer or the temperament that is correct for the breed you are discussing? Whilst most people would tend to look for obedient, faithful, loving, affectionate dogs, the fact is that some breed standards call for something other than what we personally are seeking. So therefore, a lot of the question of temperament and behaviour is reliant upon whether you are looking for correct or preferred. This sort of thing makes no sense to me. With so many breeds available, there seems to be no sense in choosing one with a temperament that doesn't match your needs. Obviously looks come into it, but think of it this way; we probably all have friends that are less attractive - how your friends look is not really what's important. But we don't have friends that we don't get along with and it's hard to have a friend with whom you share no interests. Why would it be different with our dogs? I wanted a large, loyal, protective, trainable, intelligent, high drive, loving, energetic dog. So they were the only breeds I looked at. Then, from these breeds, I chose the one that was most attractive to me and that was the Dobermann. If what you want isn't what the breed is about, then why buy that breed? I don't think dogs end up in the pounds because they weren't pretty enough... Not saying this is what you have done, just it's something I do see a lot of and I don't really understand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 when you are talking about temperament, are you talking about the temperament you prefer or the temperament that is correct for the breed you are discussing?<br style="color: rgb(70, 85, 132); font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(250, 252, 254);">neither. I am thinking of what any pup is born with - how they react to what's around them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eyeopener Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 Hi all Can I ask does a dog inherit their sires and Dam's temperament and behaviour or not? If a sire has a very bad temperament do their puppies inherit this? As a follow on question, is it easier to settle a puppy into a new house and raise them to your lifestyle and environment versus an Adult? Apart from the obvious of toilet training, feeding etc are puppies easier to bring into a new home as opposed to adults? Some traits to do with behaviour are very likely to be passed on where as other not so much. Different traits can be linked to the Y or X chromosome also. I believe that a dogs behavioural temperament at maturity are affected by both their genetics n the environment they where raised in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greytmate Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 Some traits to do with behaviour are very likely to be passed on where as other not so much. Different traits can be linked to the Y or X chromosome also. I believe that a dogs behavioural temperament at maturity are affected by both their genetics n the environment they where raised in. Which behavioural traits are you saying are not genetic and which are linked to X and which are linked to Y? If there is evidence of this it would be handy to know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancinbcs Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 Puppies inherit their temperament, intellect and instinct from their ancestors, not just the sire and dam. All these things are set at birth and very obvious by 6-8 weeks. Dog behaviour depends a great deal on how they are raised but some temperament traits will never be overcome by environment. Truly aggressive puppies may be able to be "managed" but they will still be aggressive no matter how well trained. Very soft, submissive puppies can be carefully raised to boost their confidence but they will still remain soft and submissive in some situations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eyeopener Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 Some traits to do with behaviour are very likely to be passed on where as other not so much. Different traits can be linked to the Y or X chromosome also. I believe that a dogs behavioural temperament at maturity are affected by both their genetics n the environment they where raised in. Which behavioural traits are you saying are not genetic and which are linked to X and which are linked to Y? If there is evidence of this it would be handy to know. Many believe herding is passed father to daughter for instantance. I am not sure of the truth behind that claim though. I know in horses there is some traits that are deff sex linked. I will see what material I can find over next few days as it makes for some interesting reading. Below I have just put a few basic 1s on different modes of inheritance etc. Here's a few links of interesting reading on the matter genetics n heridary passed traits etc http://www.astraean.com/borderwars/2011/09/the-3-types-of-genetic-inheritance.html http://www.thedogplace.org/GENETICS/Chromosomes-Genes-10094_Coats.asp http://books.google.com.au/books?id=OYjzuly4UiEC&pg=PA24&lpg=PA24&dq=studies+in+behavioral+traits+in+dogs+linked+to+sex+chromosomes&source=bl&ots=J9oZ1wcDMM&sig=cCVz6RsbuYNjK_gIaJPaIunf9NA&hl=en&sa=X&ei=PYGsUOKVLKmRigfx7YGwAQ&ved=0CD4Q6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=studies%20in%20behavioral%20traits%20in%20dogs%20linked%20to%20sex%20chromosomes&f=false Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 this too. My link Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eyeopener Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 this too. My link I was looking for that 1, lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now