K9 Behavior Genetics Study offered by the University of California San Francisco. 

Hello Great Dane lovers!

I am a research scientist in the Hamilton Lab at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF). Our lab is seeking dogs to participate in a research collaboration to explore the relationship between genes and behavior in dogs. We will be looking at a variety of behaviors including noise phobia, anxiety, panic, obsessive compulsive disorder, and aggression. We also need dogs that do not display any of these behaviors to serve as a control to compare with affected dogs. Collecting a sample of Danes would be great because Danes generally do not display these types of behaviors, which makes the Danes that do have behavioral issues more interesting and the ones that don’t excellent control samples. 

We are hoping to learn about behaviors that are prevalent in particular breeds that we may not be aware of (for example white shaker dog syndrome) from members of breed clubs. Please educate us!

Our group is also interested in researching the general genetic diversity within and between breeds. We have already begun to investigate this in a few breeds.

Participation in our study involves collecting DNA via cheek swabs or blood and completion of a questionnaire about the dog’s general history, behavior, and environment. A copy of the dogs pedigree if one is available would be very useful as well. Kits are sent to interested owners through the mail. There is no cost to participate other than the cost of return postage. Interested owners can request a kit at our website: http://psych.ucsf.edu/K9BehavioralGenetics/

All information provided to us will be held strictly confidential. We will never publish or share the names or contact information of owners, breeders, dogs, or kennels. 

We hope to provide breed specific reports for breeds that we are able to collect a significant amount of samples (at least 50 per breed). 

More information about this research can be obtained at our website, by emailing us at K9BehavioralGenetics@lppi.ucsf.edu, or by phone at 415-476-7898.

Please pass this information on to anyone you think may be interested.


Thank you for your time!
Rebecca Terrill, SRA
Hamilton Lab
UCSF/LPPI
415-476-7898

 

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