Posted on September 06, 2009 by: WayCoolDogs

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Two things make a big difference between a loved pet and an abandoned shelter dog—physical characteristics and behavioral traits.  Animal buyers prefer the physical characteristics first, with incorrect behavioral traits being the reason the dog is abandoned and placed in shelters, or simply mistreated or neglected.

Science and breeding studies at the Monash University have shown that they can be used to produce dogs with characteristics desired by average dog owners and behavioral traits suited to an average domestic environment.

At the University, Dr. Pauleen Bennett, School of Psychology, Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, says,

“For many people the dog is the only living animal with which they have any form of regular personal contact and of course, many pet dogs are treated like royalty. Yet, animal welfare shelters are forced to put to death thousands of unwanted dogs each year, and many pets are still subject to cruelty, neglect or inappropriate care.

Even the most well-intentioned owner can place their dog’s well-being at risk through exposure to the stresses of high density living, anxiety triggered by long hours spent alone, and even obesity or diabetes caused by overfeeding.”

Pet owners in Australia have stated they want dog behaviors which include friendliness, obedient, affectionate, and being healthy as compared to nervousness, excitability or destructiveness.

According to Dr. Bennett, behavioral traits in dogs are very much heritable. This means that they can “genetically fix desirable characteristics in dog breeds,” breeding specific dogs which are better suited to certain companion roles. Being able to match a dog to the desires of a pet owners is hoped to insure that they dog can have a long, healthy and happy life with their new pet owner instead of being placed in shelters for bad behaviors or negative traits.

The results of the study were presented at the 2008 International Animal Welfare Conference on the Gold Coast, with Dr. Bennett reporting, “The whole issue of animal welfare is gaining momentum socially and Australia is well-placed to lead the world in developing socially responsible relationships with animals.”

RESOURCES
Monash University

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