Browsing by Author "Valkonen, Merja"

The main objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters to aggression- and fear-related traits in Rottweiler-breed. We also determined which kind of variables could be useful in genetic studies. We used a questionnaire which was sent to Rottweiler owners. Genetic parameters were estimated from a data including responses from owners of 510 dogs. Analysis were carried out with Restricted Maximum Likelihood method for three different variables: owner impression, behaviour components and single behaviour guestions. Heritability estimates for different types of aggression and fear were low or moderate. Most common aggression was dog-directed aggression while owner-directer aggression was most rare. Aggressive behaviour was divided into three genetic complex: social unsureness, aggression in encounter situations and sharpness. The widest complex, social unsureness, had highest heritability estimate. Dog’s aggression in social situations was related to fear and unsureness. Owner impression –guestions and behaviour components could be useful when studying personality traits because they measure a wider complex than just a single behaviour. In this study social dogs had less aggressive and fearful behaviour. It could be possible to reduce aggression- and fear-related behaviour problems by raising dog’s sociality by breeding. This study showed that owner impressions could be used to measure dog’s sociality.