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. . . the level of aggression in individuals may be so high that it is unacceptable to the direct environment or to society in general. As in all types of behaviour, both genetic and environmental factors play a role. Important for the goal of this study is the fact that aggression has a genetic component. Selection for guard and police dog functions has resulted in breeds with a lower threshold for aggressive behaviour (Beaver, 1981). Other authors report that biting incidents are more frequent in certain breeds (e.g. van Gorp et al., 1990) Males are more often involved in biting incidents than are females (e.g. Beck et al., 1975; Borchelt, 1983; Wright, 1991). Clearly there is a genetic basis for aggressive behaviours with an originally biological function.
Behavioural Testing for Aggression in the Domestic Dog.
Willem J Netto, Doreen J U Planta.
Applied Animal Behaviour Science 52 (1997) 243 - 263
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Notes:
Google News: Today's pit bull attacks in the US