A University of Cambridge study published in PNAS analyzed DNA from about 1,300 golden retrievers and matched genetic data to owner-reported behavior. Researchers identified 18 candidate genes linked to traits such as trainability, stranger fear, and aggression; 12 of these have human equivalents associated with emotion or cognition. Examples include PTPN1, ROMO1, and ASCC3, which correlated with aggressiveness, sensitivity-related trainability, and fearfulness respectively. The findings suggest shared genetic roots for some behaviors in dogs and humans and underscore that genetics, environment, and training together shape a dog's temperament.
Why Some Golden Retrievers Seem Anxious — New Study Points to Shared Genes
09:03 AM, 11/25/2025Science
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