Population genetic analysis of behaviour traits in Hovawart dogs

: The aim of this study was to determine genetic and environmental influences on behaviour traits in Hovawart dogs. Trait definition was based on a survey which was conducted by the breeding association for Hovawart dogs in Germany in 2002. Questionnaires of 601 dogs born between 1991 and 2001 were used for the analysis of 23 traits that were grouped to the following five trait complexes: behaviour towards strangers and kids, response to external influences, response to dominance gestures of the owner, response to other dogs, and behaviour towards other dogs. Analyses were performed using residual maximum likelihood in multivariate linear animal models. Heritability estimates ranged between h2 = 0.01 and h2 = 0.22 (standard error < or = 0.07). Within the trait complexes, additive genetic correlations were in most cases moderately to highly positive (rg = 0.20 to rg = 1.00); in few cases they were clearly negative (up to rg = -0.81). Residual correlations were in the range of re = -0.12 to re = 0.50. In summary, the results of this study support the heritable nature of behaviour traits in the Hovawart dogs. Accordingly, traits like the response of the dog to unfamiliar situations (h2 = 0.20) and the behaviour towards strangers approaching the home property (h2 = 0.22) may be considered when selecting breeding animals.