title: Comparison of owner-reported behavioral characteristics among genetically clustered breeds of dog (Canis familiaris).
abstract: During the domestication process, dogs were selected for their suitability for multiple purposes, resulting in a variety of behavioral characteristics. In particular, the ancient group of breeds that is genetically closer to wolves may show different behavioral characteristics when compared to other breed groups. Here, we used questionnaire evaluations of dog behavior to investigate whether behavioral characteristics of dogs were different among genetically clustered breed groups. A standardized questionnaire, the Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ), was used, and breed group differences of privately-owned dogs from Japan (n = 2,951) and the United States (n = 10,389) were analyzed. Results indicated that dogs in the ancient and spitz breed group showed low attachment and attention-seeking behavior. This characteristic distinguished the ancient group from any other breed groups with presumed modern European origins, and may therefore, be an ancestral trait.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, Azabu University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tonoike
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, Azabu University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan.|Department of Physiology, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan.
authors.forename: Miho
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nagasawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, Azabu University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazutaka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mogi
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Serpell
authors.affiliation: Department of Evolutionary Studies of Biosystems, School of Advanced Sciences, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI).
authors.forename: Hisashi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohtsuki
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, Azabu University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Takefumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kikusui
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D016678:Genome; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D005810:Multigene Family; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014584:User-Computer Interface