Some puppies were able to take directions from humans without any training.
It might be argued that the breeds of dogs used in the study have been selectively bred to be very aware of humans, said Houpt, who wasn't involved with the new research."Because they've shown it's so inheritable, they might have gotten different results if they used different breeds. It would be interesting to look at dogs that aren't bred to be service dogs, such as terriers or basenjis.
People who want to get a puppy that will grow up to be a close companion may want to look for social skills like the ones described in the study, Houpt said. "Picking a puppy that looks at you is a good criterion," she said."Also, the puppy that approaches you when you squat down and put your hands down in front of you and who follows you — but without biting at your ankles."Canine Companions for Independence
There has been research suggesting that puppies with good social skills are likely to keep those skills as adults, said Zsófia Bognár, a dog researcher and doctoral student in the department of ethology at Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary.Genetics don't determine 100% of a dog's behavior, she said, adding that life experiences and living conditions may affect an individual dog's ability to relate to humans.
Even if some part of those skills are inherited,"dogs can improve their performance through interacting with and learning from humans," Bognár said.Linda Carroll is a Peabody Award-winning journalist who is a contributing health and medicine writer for NBC News and TODAY.
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