Seriousness interesting new research on dogs

kindlekitten · 11-11-2010, 10:56 AM

dogs decoded. this was a fascinating show on dogs and how they are continuing to adapt and evolve shaped by their association with humans. the entire show was educational and surprising, but what I found particularly enlightening was that they have now proven that aggression in dogs is actually genetic. I think that this will go a long way towards taking care of problem dogs and problem breeds, making it easier on the rest of dog lovers and owners

poohbear_nc · 11-11-2010, 11:23 AM

I've often marveled at the evolutionary adaption of dogs with pick-up trucks! Who would/could have ever predicted that dogs would LOVE riding in pick-up trucks!

kindlekitten · 11-11-2010, 11:33 AM

it's got to be a total candy store type of experience for them the way their noses pick up and process smells!

dsvick · 11-11-2010, 12:05 PM

Neat - thanks for the link KK. I'll have to watch for the re-run!

kindlekitten · 11-11-2010, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dsvick

Neat - thanks for the link KK. I'll have to watch for the re-run!

I think you can actually watch it online and as it is PBS, no commercials!

John1997 · 11-11-2010, 01:33 PM

>> what I found particularly enlightening was that they have
>> now proven that aggression in dogs is actually genetic. I
>> think that this will go a long way towards taking care of problem
>> dogs and problem breeds, making it easier on the rest of dog
>> lovers and owners.

I read the transcript and didn't get this conclusion at all. They bred the aggression out of foxes and presumably the same process worked as dogs descended from wolves.

But I didn't read anything that said that some breeds of dogs were genetically more aggressive than others. I know that notion is going around. And certainly some ill-guided people want their Rottweilers or Dobermans or Pit Bulls to be aggressive. But many others train these same breeds to be friendly family dogs. So it's not clear that enough breeders have selected for aggression to create an aggressive sub-breed.

As many insurance companies and government jurisdictions are starting to discriminate against certain breed, it would be good to have an objective answer. I just didn't see it in this show.

Best.

dsvick · 11-11-2010, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John1997

As many insurance companies and government jurisdictions are starting to discriminate against certain breed, it would be good to have an objective answer. I just didn't see it in this show.

Best.

Unfortunately, no matter how much evidence is presented I don't think that insurance companies will be too quick to change their premiums based on perceived level of aggression. Despite that fact, and I agree 100%, that is usually the owners of the dogs that are to be blamed!

kindlekitten · 11-11-2010, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John1997

>> what I found particularly enlightening was that they have
>> now proven that aggression in dogs is actually genetic. I
>> think that this will go a long way towards taking care of problem
>> dogs and problem breeds, making it easier on the rest of dog
>> lovers and owners.

I read the transcript and didn't get this conclusion at all. They bred the aggression out of foxes and presumably the same process worked as dogs descended from wolves.

But I didn't read anything that said that some breeds of dogs were genetically more aggressive than others. I know that notion is going around. And certainly some ill-guided people want their Rottweilers or Dobermans or Pit Bulls to be aggressive. But many others train these same breeds to be friendly family dogs. So it's not clear that enough breeders have selected for aggression to create an aggressive sub-breed.

As many insurance companies and government jurisdictions are starting to discriminate against certain breed, it would be good to have an objective answer. I just didn't see it in this show.

Best.

oh, I completely disagree. I watched it, didn't read it, and the bit about the foxes, switching the aggressive kits with the non aggressive ones, even doing it in utero, as well as stating that the non aggressive kits had less adrenaline, and that they had effectively over 50 generations successfully bred the aggression out as well as physically altered the appearance of the foxes.

twobits · 11-11-2010, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

dogs decided. this was a fascinating show on dogs and how they are continuing to adapt and evolve shaped by their association with humans. the entire show was educational and surprising, but what I found particularly enlightening was that they have now proven that aggression in dogs is actually genetic. I think that this will go a long way towards taking care of problem dogs and problem breeds, making it easier on the rest of dog lovers and owners

Thanks for the pointer. Going to keep an eye out for this at Netflix since they seem to be streaming pbs documentaries.

I usually don't care about or point out typos/spell checker bad corrections etc especially since I make so many myself, but since it is the title itself I thought you may want to know to edit it. Looks like it should be 'dogs decoded', not decided.

kindlekitten · 11-11-2010, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twobits

Thanks for the pointer. Going to keep an eye out for this at Netflix since they seem to be streaming pbs documentaries.

I usually don't care about or point out typos/spell checker bad corrections etc especially since I make so many myself, but since it is the title itself I thought you may want to know to edit it. Looks like it should be 'dogs decoded', not decided.

note where "i" and "o" are on the keyboard and please accept that I am normally covered in 25 pounds of cat when I am typing and can rarely see the keyboard. but thanks!

dsvick · 11-11-2010, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twobits

Looks like it should be 'dogs decoded', not decided.

I saw that too before I read the first post and my first thought was "What did they decide and how did they let us know?"

TGS · 11-11-2010, 05:05 PM

Some researchers at The Max Plank Institute in Germany do some fascinating work on dog cognition. Here's a link where yo can get an overview and access to some of their papers.

kindlekitten · 11-11-2010, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TGS

Some researchers at The Max Plank Institute in Germany do some fascinating work on dog cognition. Here's a link where yo can get an overview and access to some of their papers.

that was one of the institutes that was highlighted in the documentary. VERY fascinating stuff!

kindlekitten · 11-18-2010, 08:04 PM

another program will be on CNN tonight

11-11-2010, 10:56 AM	#1
kindlekitten Professional Adventuress Posts: 13,368 Karma: 50260224 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: The Olympic Peninsula on the OTHER Washington! (the big green clean one on the west coast!) Device: Kindle, the original! Times Two! and gifting an International Kindle	interesting new research on dogs dogs decoded. this was a fascinating show on dogs and how they are continuing to adapt and evolve shaped by their association with humans. the entire show was educational and surprising, but what I found particularly enlightening was that they have now proven that aggression in dogs is actually genetic. I think that this will go a long way towards taking care of problem dogs and problem breeds, making it easier on the rest of dog lovers and owners Last edited by kindlekitten; 11-11-2010 at 02:19 PM.

11-11-2010, 01:33 PM	#6
John1997 Enthusiast Posts: 34 Karma: 80 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Jetbook Lite	>> what I found particularly enlightening was that they have >> now proven that aggression in dogs is actually genetic. I >> think that this will go a long way towards taking care of problem >> dogs and problem breeds, making it easier on the rest of dog >> lovers and owners. I read the transcript and didn't get this conclusion at all. They bred the aggression out of foxes and presumably the same process worked as dogs descended from wolves. But I didn't read anything that said that some breeds of dogs were genetically more aggressive than others. I know that notion is going around. And certainly some ill-guided people want their Rottweilers or Dobermans or Pit Bulls to be aggressive. But many others train these same breeds to be friendly family dogs. So it's not clear that enough breeders have selected for aggression to create an aggressive sub-breed. As many insurance companies and government jurisdictions are starting to discriminate against certain breed, it would be good to have an objective answer. I just didn't see it in this show. Best. Last edited by John1997; 11-11-2010 at 01:35 PM.

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11-11-2010, 11:23 AM	#2
poohbear_nc Bah! Humbug! Posts: 64,228 Karma: 135242149 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durham, NC Device: Every Kindle Ever Made & To Be Made!	I've often marveled at the evolutionary adaption of dogs with pick-up trucks! Who would/could have ever predicted that dogs would LOVE riding in pick-up trucks!

11-11-2010, 11:33 AM	#3
kindlekitten Professional Adventuress Posts: 13,368 Karma: 50260224 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: The Olympic Peninsula on the OTHER Washington! (the big green clean one on the west coast!) Device: Kindle, the original! Times Two! and gifting an International Kindle	it's got to be a total candy store type of experience for them the way their noses pick up and process smells!

11-11-2010, 12:05 PM	#4
dsvick Wizard Posts: 2,737 Karma: 635747 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Northeast Ohio, USA Device: PRS-900	Neat - thanks for the link KK. I'll have to watch for the re-run!

11-11-2010, 05:05 PM	#12
TGS Country Member Posts: 9,058 Karma: 7676767 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Denmark Device: Liseuse: Irex DR800. PRS 505 in the house, and the missus has an iPad.	Some researchers at The Max Plank Institute in Germany do some fascinating work on dog cognition. Here's a link where yo can get an overview and access to some of their papers.

11-18-2010, 08:04 PM	#14
kindlekitten Professional Adventuress Posts: 13,368 Karma: 50260224 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: The Olympic Peninsula on the OTHER Washington! (the big green clean one on the west coast!) Device: Kindle, the original! Times Two! and gifting an International Kindle	another program will be on CNN tonight