Why are dogs so friendly? Study links it to a developmental disorder

Dogs have always showered humans with unconditional love. But have you ever wondered why dogs have this distinct personality that complements human nature? Research finally tells us why dogs crave human contact and are so friendly; man’s best friend is apparently genetically predisposed to be good natured and a great companion.  

A new study conducted by researchers from Oregon State University, which was recently published in the journal Scientific Advances, seeks to explain why dogs are so lovable. Dogs evolved from wolves tens of thousands of years ago and during the process, certain genes that make dogs affable got selected. This may be the key to their winning personality.

This, however, has more to do with a developmental disorder that dogs seem to exhibit. Scientists discovered that dogs have a few gene mutations that are similar to the ones in humans with Williams-Beuren syndrome. One of the significant symptoms of the syndrome that affects about one in 10,000 people is a lack of social inhibitions. The other symptoms are an extroverted personality and an intellectual disability.

For the study, the sociability of 18 domesticated dogs and 10 captive wolves were examined by researchers. Three basic parameters were defined—attentional bias to social stimuli, hypersociability, and social interest in strangers. When presented with a puzzle, dogs tended to look at humans more which highlight greater attentional bias to social stimuli. Dogs also preferred proximity to humans rather than wolves, which reflects increased hypersociability. However, there was no notable difference between dogs and wolves in their social interest in strangers.

The learnings from the study help us understand why dogs are so happy, eager, and trusting. Another angle the researchers wish to explore in the future is genetic variation in other domestic species such as cats to determine if similar genes play a role.