When we added behavior insights to our dog DNA tests, we gave pet parents a new way to understand how genetics may influence their unique pup’s behavior.
Understanding what factors drive behavior
The genes your dog inherits from their parents can influence behavioral tendencies throughout their life. By analyzing our database of more than 5 million pets, as well as 1.5 million veterinary records and more than 100,000 survey responses from pet parents, we’ve identified the combination of genetic variants and breed ancestry proportions that are linked to certain behavioral predispositions. But those genetic links are just one piece of the puzzle.
A dog’s environment and life experiences also influence how they move through the world. That means pet parents can shape their dog’s behavior by thoughtfully managing when and how they are exposed to different places, people, animals, and experiences. Anxiety is one example. If your dog’s behavior results show a higher likelihood of generalized anxiety, you can learn to recognize signs of fear or anxiety and take steps to reduce their stress before they reach their threshold.
Discover new behavior insights
Science doesn’t stand still, and neither does our behavior research. As we’ve continued analyzing the connections between genetics and behavior, we’ve identified additional behavioral tendencies we can reliably include in our DNA reporting. Our full list of behavior insights now includes:
- Boisterous: high energy and enthusiasm during greetings and playtime
- Bores quickly while playing: short attention span or easily distracted when playing with toys
- Focuses on tasks: not easily sidetracked by noises or distractions
- Plays with toys: loves games of fetch or tug and carries toys around the house
- Hesitant at the veterinarian: shows signs of fear or reluctance at the vet
- Hesitant while groomed: shows anxiety or resists being brushed or bathed
- Howls to music: joins in to the sound of music, sirens, or people singing
- Licks people: frequently licks hands, feet, or faces
- Chases prey: pulls toward or chases squirrels, rabbits, or other small animals
- Plays with dogs: initiates respectful play with other dogs
- Sneaks out open doors: dashes out a gate or door when the opportunity presents itself
- Retrieving instinct: brings objects back or carries them in their mouth
- Seeks constant activity: off switch? Not so much
With these added insights, pet parents who purchase a Premium test can now understand their dog’s likelihood of 25+ behaviors.
How age impacts dog behavior
In addition to adding new behaviors, we also incorporated another important factor into our machine learning models: age. A dog’s behavior can change throughout their life, with some behaviors becoming more or less common as they get older. For example, a dog’s desire to play with other dogs often decreases with age. Other behavioral tendencies may remain more consistent across life stages.
By factoring age into our model alongside genetic markers, sex, breed ancestry, and other variables, we can account for these age-related patterns and deliver more accurate predictions for the behaviors included in our tests.
What does this mean for pet parents? More accurate insights are more meaningful insights. Understanding not only your dog’s likelihood of exhibiting a particular behavior, but also how age may influence that behavior, can help inform training, enrichment, and everyday care. It can also help explain why your dog doesn’t currently exhibit a behavior their DNA results indicate they’re predisposed to. For example, a senior dog may have a high genetic likelihood for a behavior that’s simply more common earlier in life.
Dig into your dog’s behavior
Explore all the behaviors we report on and learn how these insights can inform your dog’s day-to-day care. And when you’re ready to discover what your dog’s DNA can tell you about their behavior, choose our Premium dog DNA test to unlock insights for 25+ behaviors.
