Canine Behavior and Genetics Conference

You may want to access the summary of each of the talks contained in the Rapporteur-Wrap-Canine-Behaviour-and-Geneticsweb.pdf.

In this presentation these two accomplished veterinary researchers cover the major points from each presentation.  

In their summary, they highlight the key points from the meeting, organized into issues and topics that were identified as needing further international cooperation and collaboration.  Their first 4 points (below) are similar to those needs identified at the International Dog Health Workshops (see, for e.g. Suggested Actions...  and Selection for Behavioural Traits (in our downloads section)) and some have been mentioned elsewhere on DogWellNet.com (see NOTEs below).  Let us hope that the momentum for international collaboration on these topics will carry forward to the next IPFD International Dog Health Workshop #3.

1.       Single accepted standard nomenclature

a.       Personality vs. behaviour traits vs temperament vs behaviour

b.      Hierarchical web: parent-child terms e.g. VeNom Coding  (NOTE: see VetCompass, in our Partners and Sponsors listing.)

2.       Agreed validated measurement systems

3.       Multi-disciplinary: experts from many fields

4.       International comparisons: breeds are not breeds (are breeds and breed subgroups really functional species)

NOTE: Although researchers noted differences both within and across breeds, they also noted the challenges this presents in the research setting.  For an article describing some research in this area, see:  Behaviour: Need for Breed-Specific Understanding (in our Peer-Reviewed Research section).  

Also on breed differences - check out the excerpt from the a new thesis at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, by Helena Eken Asp in Everyday Behaviour in Dogs. Breed Differences and Genetic Analysis