Fur Type Connected to Canine Behavior

Your dog’s coat may predict temperament

A recent study published in Applied Animal Behavior Science examined English cocker spaniels, drawing connections between the color of their fur and their level of aggressiveness. Other studies have been conducted in the past suggesting that Retrievers can be categorized by their fur type. The current research, headed by Joaquin Perez-Guisado of the University of Cordova, points to the possibility that fur type and color may be an indicator of personality in several breeds.

The research concludes that golden/red English cocker spaniels exhibit the most aggressive and dominant behavior among their peers. Black canines of the same breed were found to be the second most aggressive while parti-colored breeds were found to be the most mild tempered based on a 51 dog study conducted by the Spanish researcher’s team.

Pérez-Guisado commented on the findings, "Maybe the link (to coat color) is due to the fact that the ectoderm (one of the three primary germ cell layers) is where the skin and central nervous system originate in the embryo." He adds that the behavior-fur connection is a process related to genetic coding that takes place early in the dog’s life.

Photo thanks to the Discovery Channel