7.3. Inherited Behavior
Semyonova states,
“Just as we cannot make a dog into something the dog has no genetic capacity to be, we cannot prevent a dog from being what the dog is genetically predisposed to be. Because inherited postures and behaviors are suitable for the body and brain the dog was born with, they are internally motivated and internally rewarded: they feel good. This means that inherited behaviorial traits are practically impossible to extinguish by manipulating external environmental stimuli.”
What are the citations for the scientific evidence or scientific studies that form a basis for the preceding quoted passage?
The preceding highlighted statements are contradicted by the following statements.
At http://cgejournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/2052-6687-1-7, an article entitled Holding back the genes: limitations of research into canine behavioural genetics by Diane van Rooy, Elizabeth R Arnott, Jonathan B Early, Paul McGreevy and Claire M Wade published on June 10, 2014 in Canine Genetics and Epidemiology it is stated,
“While this paper focuses on the influence of genes on behaviour, the enormous impact of environment, both the current environment and the lifetime experiences of the dog, cannot be overlooked [16]. Genes code for proteins, not disorders. The behaviour results from the complex ongoing interactions between these proteins and the environment. All behaviours must be viewed in the environmental context in which they are occurring. Learning plays a vital role – dogs will repeat behaviours that were successful in the past. It is thought genetics may influence a dog’s predisposition to a behavioural disorder in a number of ways: how information about potential threats is detected and interpreted, how memories of past experiences are used, or by altering the metabolism of neurotransmitters.”
and
“It must be acknowledged that several breeds have changed considerably over time. As the selection emphasis for physical or behavioural traits changes, breed phenotypes may shift in response. Svartberg [60] proposes that breed-typical behaviours reflect current selective practices rather than the historical uses of breeds. This suggests that it is possible to breed animals with temperaments that are quite altered from the original breed stock. While this may be desirable for selecting against behavioural disorders, it also promotes consternation among those in the dog-breeding community who value the traditional breed-specific behaviours. Some of the most commonly observed breed ‘splits’ exist between lines of dogs bred for exhibition and those bred for work [68]. Fortunately, population genetics theory suggests that breed-characteristic behaviours should not be ‘lost’ from lines of dogs selected for other traits (such as conformation), unless there is active natural selection against them or unfavourable correlated genetic response from selection on other phenotypes. However, founder effects and drift may lead to fixation for unfavourable alleles at relevant loci.”
Note that references to footnotes can be found at the noted web site.
Semyonova states,
“In breeding dogs to perform certain tasks or have a certain look, humans often select (sometimes inadvertently) for abnormalities in body and behavior. We do this by looking for mutations and then breeding for them, or by crossing breeds to get combinations of traits to speed the process up. A clear case of this is the old English bull dog, who can hardly walk, hardly breathe, and cannot be born except by Caesarean section. The bull dog has also been crossed into other breeds by people who wanted to increase aggression in a breed without waiting for mutations to appear.”
What are the citations for the scientific evidence or scientific studies that form a basis for the preceding quoted passages?
The results of the Temperament Tests at http://pitbullsfactormyth.net/16-6-2-temperament-tests/ and the Canine Aggression Tests at http://pitbullsfactormyth.net/16-6-1-canine-aggression-tests/ as well as the information in the next section would appear to contradict Semyonova’s preceding statement.
