Large study with Golden Retriever dogs
Genes in dogs: surprising similarities to humans
November 25, 2025 – 15:25Reading time: 2 minutes
Whether a Golden Retriever is fearful or aggressive appears to be linked to the same genes that shape human behavior. What does it mean.
Scientists have identified genes that influence dog and human behavior. In an extensive study of more than 1,300 Golden Retrievers, they found that some genetic variants that influence fearfulness, aggressiveness or trainability in dogs are also associated with human traits such as depression, intelligence or sensitivity.
The genetic analysis was carried out by an international research team led by the University of Cambridge. The data comes from the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study – a long-term study in which the animals’ behavior was documented using extensive questionnaires.
The ROMO1 gene is particularly striking: it influences learning ability in dogs and is associated with intelligence, depression and irritability in humans. The PTPN1 gene, which is associated with aggression in dogs, has also been linked to intelligence, educational success and depression in humans. Overall, 12 of the 18 dog genes examined found significant similarities to psychological and cognitive characteristics in humans.
“Our results show that many of these genes influence emotional states and thereby shape the behavior of dogs and humans,” explains Eleanor Raffan from the University of Cambridge. The genetic basis for certain behaviors is similar in both species, although the manifestations are different.
The discovery could also have practical consequences. For example, in the case of highly anxious dogs, genetic predisposition may play an important role. “If dogs are genetically predisposed to fear and then have negative experiences, this can lead to behavioral problems that we misinterpret as disobedience,” said Enoch Alex, the study’s lead author.
At the same time, dogs may serve as a model for future research into human mental illness. Because they live in the same environment as us and apparently have some of the same psychological challenges.
The research also raises questions about whether drugs used to treat anxiety or depression in humans might also help dogs and, conversely, whether findings from veterinary medicine could be used in psychiatry. One thing is certain: the genetic affinity between humans and dogs is deeper than many people previously thought.
