A new study from Linköping University in Sweden links dogs' tendency to seek contact with their owners to genetic variations in oxytocin sensitivity. During domestication from wolves to modern pets, dogs evolved a remarkable ability to interact with humans, including asking for help with challenging tasks. Yet, significant differences exist between breeds and even within the same breed. Researchers at Linköping have uncovered a key genetic factor explaining variations in dogs' willingness to cooperate with people.
Oxytocin, a hormone crucial for social bonding in humans and animals, is suspected to play a pivotal role. Its effects hinge on receptor binding in cells. Prior research hinted at connections between oxytocin receptor gene variations and dogs' communication skills. In this study, scientists tested 60 golden retrievers on an unsolvable task.
"First, we trained the dogs to open a lid for a treat," explains the study's lead researcher. "Then, we secured the lid, making it impossible to open. Dogs persisted before turning to their owners for help."
Prior to testing, researchers administered intranasal oxytocin to boost hormone levels, with a control using neutral saline. DNA samples from cheek swabs identified each dog's oxytocin receptor gene variant.
Dogs with a specific receptor variant showed heightened responses to oxytocin, increasing their likelihood of approaching owners for help compared to the saline condition. These findings shed light on canine domestication, as the same variation appeared in DNA from 21 wolves—suggesting it predated domestication around 15,000 years ago.
