"Are Dangerous Dogs Aggressive? Not a Scientific Conclusion" [Reading Science]

Nature reports on Massachusetts University research team paper
Large-scale study on over 18,000 animals
"Little correlation between breed and aggressive behavior"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] As more people keep dogs as companion or pet dogs at home, safety issues such as dog bite incidents are also occurring frequently. Some sectors, including the government, have introduced measures such as mandating muzzles for certain breeds of dangerous dogs when taken outside, but the issue remains highly controversial. However, a large-scale case study overseas has drawn attention by concluding that dog behavior, especially aggressive tendencies, is not related to breed.

According to the international academic journal Nature on the 29th, a research team from the University of Massachusetts in the United States recently surveyed more than 18,000 dogs and found that the influence of breed on dog behavior is much less than generally believed. In other words, when people choose a dog to raise, they expect certain behavioral traits based on breed, but in reality, it is determined by chance at a 'lottery' level regardless of breed.

To understand the influence of dog breed on behavior, the research team surveyed thousands of dog owners about their dogs’ behaviors and backgrounds, including whether their dogs chew grass or have a tendency to chase toys. They also collected and analyzed the dogs’ genes to see if behavior varies according to ancestry.

As a result, the research team confirmed that certain behavioral traits occur more frequently in specific breeds. For example, German Shepherds tend to obey commands more than other breeds, while Beagles do not. Also, mixed-breed dogs with known ancestry tend to follow the traits of their ancestral breeds. For instance, mixed-breed dogs with Saint Bernard ancestry show higher levels of affection compared to other mixed breeds, and those with Chesapeake Bay Retriever ancestry tend to be more curious and lively.

However, the research team ultimately concluded that breed explains only about 9% of how a dog behaves. In particular, the correlation between dog breed and aggressive behavior is very low according to the study. The social treatment of certain breeds as 'dangerous dogs' is not based on scientific conclusions. The team also identified 11 genetic regions associated with specific behaviors. For example, the tendency of dogs to bark frequently is linked to two genetic regions similar to those responsible for human language ability.

Kelsey Witt, a geneticist at Brown University, said, "Dogs’ genetic traits have existed long before breeds were established," adding, "It may seem surprising that personality cannot be judged by breed, but considering that dog breeds were created relatively recently, it is understandable."

In fact, the history of dogs began about 10,000 years ago when humans first domesticated wolves. The breeds we think of today, such as Beagles, Pugs, and Labradors, were developed by humans through selective breeding over the past few hundred years. For example, during the Victorian era in England about 200 years ago, dog enthusiasts actively selected aesthetically pleasing traits to create many of the popular breeds we have today.