Dog Breeds for the Future: Theoretical Assessment of Strategies for Enhancing the Behavioural Reliability of Existing Dog Breeds, or Developing New Ideal Urban Companion Dogs

Abstract

The original function of many dog breeds no longer fits the requirements of an easy-going companion. Caretakers can also be overdemanding regarding their dogs’ ability to cope with societal expectations. We propose and evaluate four strategies for readjusting the dog–human relationship by highlighting their positive and negative outcomes. (1) ‘Converge’: dog breeds should be changed towards the amicable dog’s behavioural characteristics; thus, once the goal is reached, even novice dog owners can safely own almost any dog they fancy. (2) ‘Diverge’: the original behavioural/temperament traits of dog breeds should be fortified through stabilizing selection. This method emphasizes dog owners’ responsibility when choosing among the various dog breeds. (3) ‘Split’: a combination of the previous two, when clearly distinct and reliable companion and working types are selected within the same breed. (4) ‘Merge’: we should create new ‘urban dog breeds’. This method would provide ‘foolproof’ companion dog variants and at the same time relies on the prospective owners’ responsibility to choose their dog wisely. We provide a critical assessment of potential positive and negative features of each strategy, including ethical and feasibility concerns. Biologists should provide a scientific background to support a solution that favours the needs of both species in coexistence.