Association between coat colour and the behaviour of Australian Labrador retrievers.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Making assumptions regarding temperament and intelligence based on the physical appearance of dogs can be a conscious or unconscious human act. Labrador retrievers with chocolate-coloured coats are anecdotally considered to be less trainable and more hyperactive and aggressive than their black or yellow peers. To test these assertions, we analysed the owner-reported behavioural traits of Labradors in relation to both their observable coat colour, and their TYRP1 and MC1R genotypes.

Results

We used the results of an owner-based questionnaire to determine scores for 21 behavioural traits and test whether these scores varied with coat colour (n = 225). Familiar dog aggression was the only trait that was found to vary significantly with coa

SUBMITTER: van Rooy D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6884874 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature