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Coppinger & McCort Demystifying Evo Devo
Evo Devo
A new field is rapidly developing within what we think of as Animal Behavior. As geneticists and neurobiologists dig deeper into what makes an animal behave the way it does, the genes and nerves are revealing the importance of the environment during all stages of development. The new field is called Evolutionary Development, affectionately known in academic departments as Evo Devo.
The familiar nature/nurture discussions are no longer relevant. Science has gone beyond such questions as, Does the nurturing of an animal determine its outcome or is its future written in its genes? Are Rottweilers an aggressive breed, inheriting genes that should be outlawed?
For those of us studying dogs, this new field offers exciting possibilities for new insights. Could we take a litter of puppies and raise each one in a different way such that we produce adults with talents and dispositions that suit them for specific purposes? Could we possibly shape puppy behavior so as to develop perfect working dogs, guide dogs, sheep dogs, or individually crafted companions?
Applying the information being gathered from Evolutionary Development studies hasn't quite hit the dog world yet — but it is coming quickly. In this three-day seminar Coppinger will explore the new field of Evo Devo as it pertains to dog behavior. Participants will learn what scientists are discovering about development and how it affects a dog's gene expression and its mature nervous systems.
He will also address the new concept of Emergent Behaviors. This concept is providing a measurable framework for looking at questions such as, Why do some breeds of dogs behave differently from others? Why do some breeds have a more robust social behavior? Is shyness or aggressiveness really genetic or is it an Emergent Characteristic that is predetermined by a developmental trajectory? And what is a developmental trajectory? Can we use the idea of a developmental trajectory to shape an adult dog so it won't be shy or aggressive?
You, too, can be on the cutting edge of the latest biological discoveries!
Natural History of the Dog
Dogs exist in amazing numbers around the world. Most of them are classified by the World Health Organization as “neighborhood dogs”. These are dogs that are loosely attached to people and are in continuous contact with the greater population of dogs. What this means is that most of the dogs in the world form a continuous population that feeds, reproduces and maintains their own lifestyles -- reasonably independently of people.
Why The Natural History of the Dog is important to dog owners:
Exploring the behavior of this huge population of neighborhood dogs gives us not only the dynamics of how most dogs earn a living but also suggests how they evolved and adapted to civilization. It also provides an interesting insight into dog behavior.
The Ethology of Dogs
There are many ways to study dog behavior. Ethology, sometimes called behavioral ecology and sometimes behavior genetics, is a biological approach to measuring behavior. Most of the people interested in dogs are interested in modifying their behavior. Behaviorism developed by B.F Skinner is popular now. Known as ‘click and treat,’ the technique is used to teach tricks or a particular behavior. In contrast, people who train pointers or sheepdogs or other hunting and working dogs rely on a dog’s innate or genetically based behavior. The exploration of these breed-typical behaviors is a job for ethologists.
Why Is The Ethology of Dogs important for dog owners:
Quite simply, innate behaviors can be directed but not changed. Each breed of dog was selected originally to perform in a particular way. Therefore one has to understand the breed specific behavior in order to train a dog.
Dog Cognition
Have you ever asked the question - when a border collie herds sheep, is it conscious of what it is doing? If herding behavior is genetic, then there is little need for the dog to be conscious. And how does the dog compare with other animals in characteristics such as self-awareness and intentional behavior? Can they form images of missing objects? When one tells a dog to fetch its ball, does it form a mental image of that ball and can it generalize to other balls, or does it just learn the one and then searches for a familiar smell?
Why Dog Cognition is important for dog owners:
When one is training a dog, often they can’t believe how long it takes for the dog to learn a simple procedure. But to understand what the mental capabilities of the dog might be will help facilitate training. If we understand the “hardware” we can more efficiently create the “software” of how dogs learn. We will be better able to evaluate the various applications of dog training and choose which one is best for our dogs.
Emotions of the Dog
Do dogs have emotions? Are they like people's emotions? Most scientists think dogs express fear and alarm but don’t see how they can feel guilt or love. For scientists, it is important to be able to measure quantity and quality of a behavior in order to demonstrate its effect. I think there is a chance that a model could be constructed that demonstrates a rich array of emotions in animals like dogs.
Why Emotions of the Dog is important for dog owners:
It is important to understand a dog’s emotional nature. If dogs feel good about what they are learning they will learn more quickly. But if they are in a shy or aggressive mood they won’t be willing to submit to instruction. Believe it or not most dogs are internally rewarded with little pleasure sensations when you hit the right button and the dog will be more willing to learn if the process releases a nice feeling.
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