"EXPERTS HAVE LONG presumed that our feelings toward dogs are determined by our personal history and by the culture in which we reside. Certain religions, for example, discourage canine companions. New research, however, has uncovered an alternative source of affection for dogs: our genes.
Using data from the Swedish Twin Registry and Sweden's national dog registries (all dogs in the country must be registered), researchers looked at 35, 035 pairs of identical or fraternal twins and found that, in identical twin pairs, it was more likely that both twins owned a dog-indicating the presence of genetic effect.
Using statistical analysis, the researchers determined that the size of the inherited component of dog ownership was 57 percent for women and 51 percent for men. In other words, approximately half of one's decision to own a dog is influenced by DNA, with the remainder likely swayed by personal history or cultural influences.
Lead author Tove Fall suggested that some genetically influences personality traits might boost dog ownership. 'Perhaps some people have a higher innate propensity to care for a pet than do others.'"
~Stanley Coren, PH.D.
