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-- Nature vs. Nurture (http://forums.ukcdogs.com/showthread.php?threadid=331897)

Nature vs. Nurture

What seems to be more important in hounds? Also how big of an effect does owner attitude (not experience) influence the dog? I have been taking courses study'n the human brain and how it develops, and this a common theory amongst behaviorists. They can never seem to agree which has more of an effect, due to being "politically correct." Trying to see if this theory is as universally applicable (to animals) as the experts say. Would like to know your honest opinions.

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Nick Pease
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i think you have been in the sun to long

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Robert " Rock" Johnson

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quote:

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Originally posted by Robert Johnson
i think you have been in the sun to long

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I think that nature or genetics sets the potential range an individual has. The environment determines where in that range that the individual developes to.

I don't think one ever trumps the other. It is the collective effect of both that determines just what level an individual will achieve.

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Larry Atherton

Aim small miss small

90% of how a dog CAN turn out if given a chance is in the genetics. The other 10% is in the training (or lack of screwing the dog up).

Of course the best genetics lead to nothing if the dog is not given a chance and the worst genetics will never make a coon dog even if they are trained by the best.

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Keep 'em treed,
Jeff Wagner

Hunting is one of those pleasures that you won't understand if you have to have it explained, which is good because folks who enjoy it can't fully explain why. -Ron Spomer

It widely depends on the trait, or characteristic you're questioning. For instance, a hound pup that's afraid of a loud noise is due to nature, it serves an important biological purpose ie. protects the animal from potential harm. Walking without pulling while on a leash, or sitting and waiting for you to fill it's feed bowl is nurture...it's something you teach a dog while you're raising it. So, it entirely depends on the focus of what your'e observing.

Iy is my belief that owner attutude playes a significat role in the overall development of a coonhound. I believe 10% of todays coonhound hunters have the ability take a very average puppy and finish him into a well above average coon treeing dog. Thus also having the ability to take an above average pup and finish him to something very special.

That said it is also my belief that approximately 40% of todays coonhound hunters will take a dog with above average ability and render the dog to be average or below at treeing coon to UKC's standards.

The remaining 50% dog trainers will have the ability to train the average dog to an average potential.

Wow!! should we name this theroy?? LOL

My niece lives with me and she never knew her dad. I knew him very well and it amazes me how much is genetic. Even though she never knew him she sound like him she pronounces words the same way he did, she has his facial expressions and even laughs the same as him. It isn’t something she picked up from the environment because she is growing up in a different part of the country than he is from. Genetics has a lot more than to do with it than I ever realized.