You probably don't read too much into your dog mood: According to researchers at the University of Cambridge, certain genes that influence the behavior of golden retrievers are also associated with human emotions including intelligence, depression and anxiety.
“The results are truly amazing,” said Eleanor Raffan, a neuroscience researcher and co-author of the study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, says the statement. “They provide compelling evidence that humans and golden retrievers share common genetic roots for their behavior.”
Raffan and his colleagues recently analyzed genetic codes of 1,300 golden retrievers and compared their behavioral characteristics assessed using an owner questionnaire. The team then correlated specific genes with traits such as energy levels, shyness, aggressiveness and learning ability.
Using similar genetic analysis for humans, Raffan's team then confirmed 12 genes in golden retrievers that also influence human behavior. For example, the PTPN1 gene, which is associated with golden retriever aggression toward other dogs, is associated with depression and intelligence in humans. Another possibility associated with fear in Golden Retrievers is the anxiety that occurs after embarrassment in humans.
“These results suggest that genetics drive behavior, making some dogs predisposed to experiencing stressful environments,” added study co-author and neuroscientist Enoch Alex. “If their life experiences exacerbate this, they may behave in ways that we interpret as bad behavior when in fact they are upset.”
Potential solutions to some of these learning problems also likely lie in the same overlapping genetics. Raffan and Alex showed that the ROMO1 gene, associated with learning ability in golden retrievers, is associated with emotional sensitivity and intelligence in humans. With this in mind, the study authors suggest that training for golden retrievers may be more effective if it is tied to emotional elements rather than just rewards for good behavior.
However, the team emphasized that genetics do not provide a 1:1 link between specific traits and mood. Instead, they influence broader emotional states and behavior.
“The dogs in our home share not only our physical environment, but may also share some of the psychological challenges associated with modern life,” said animal behaviorist at the University of Lincoln and study co-author Daniel Mills. “Our pets may be excellent models of some human mental illnesses associated with emotional disorders.”
