According to an article in Science Daily, "Science and breeding can be used to produce dogs that have characteristics desired by the average dog owner and are well suited to the domestic environment." Essentially, this is stating that desirable behavioral traits in dogs can be heritably bred to produce dogs as good companions. Dr. Pauleen Bennett, a researcher from Monash University in Australia, supports this by stating, "Successfully matching the dog, its requirements and behavioral traits with the understanding and desires of the owner should mean the animals are more likely to enjoy good welfare throughout long, healthy and happy lives."
But what are these "desirable" traits that humans want in dogs? A survey for Australian pet owners found that the traits they want in their dogs include, "being friendly, obedient, affectionate and healthy", while the "undesirable" traits include, "nervousness, destructiveness, and excitability."
The article continues to say that traits can determine a pet's fate, and "make the difference between a dog becoming a much loved and pampered family member, or a mistreated or neglected unwanted animal." I personally agree with this. There are so many unwanted dogs and cats living in animal shelters, looking for love and affection. If breeding had been better controlled and only those dogs with superior genes (both physical and mental traits) were bred, then there would be a lot less unwanted animals in the world. People should only breed exceptional dogs with amazing conformations and personalities, and only if they are certain the dogs will have forever homes. Otherwise, there is an overload of animals who usually have temperament issues and those "undesirable" traits.
Photo Credit: Wikipedia
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