Golden retrievers are known for their friendly faces and loving nature, but not all of them behave the same way.
Some are calm and gentle, while others are more nervous, energetic, or even aggressive.
A new study by researchers at the University of Cambridge suggests that these differences may be written in their genes — and surprisingly, many of those same genes also influence human emotions and behavior.
In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists found that some of the genes linked to behavior in golden retrievers are also connected to traits such as anxiety, depression, and intelligence in people.
This is the first time researchers have shown clear genetic links between dog behavior and human psychology.
The team studied the DNA of 1,300 golden retrievers and compared it with detailed reports of each dog’s behavior, provided by their owners.
These reports covered a wide range of traits, including energy levels, fear of strangers, aggression toward other dogs, and how easy the dog was to train.
Once they identified key genes associated with specific behaviors in dogs, they compared their findings to large studies in humans.
They found that 12 of the genes linked to golden retriever behavior were also connected to human emotional and mental traits.
One of the genes, known as PTPN1, was associated with aggression toward other dogs. Interestingly, the same gene in humans has been linked to intelligence and depression.
Another gene variant, connected to fearfulness in dogs, was also related in humans to worrying too much after an embarrassing moment or having high academic achievement.
According to the researchers, the results strongly suggest that humans and dogs share common biological roots when it comes to how emotions are regulated. Dr. Eleanor Raffan, who led the study, explained that these genes do not directly cause specific actions like barking or biting. Instead, they influence emotional sensitivity, stress responses, and how the brain controls behavior.
One of the most interesting findings involved a gene called ROMO1. In golden retrievers, this gene was linked to how easily a dog can be trained. In humans, it is associated with intelligence and emotional sensitivity.
This means a dog that is easier to train may not simply be “smarter,” but may also be more emotionally aware.
The researchers also looked at dogs that showed what they called “non-social fear” — such as being scared of vacuum cleaners, traffic, or doorbells.
These dogs had a gene that, in humans, is connected to irritability, emotional sensitivity, and anxiety. If your dog hides when something loud happens, this may be due to a genetic tendency toward feeling overwhelmed or anxious, rather than bad behavior.
The study was based on data from the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study, a long-term project started in 2012 by the Morris Animal Foundation.
Dog owners regularly answer questions about their pets’ behavior, and blood samples are used to study their DNA. By combining this behavioral information with genetic data, researchers were able to find strong links between specific genes and personality traits.
These findings could help owners understand their dogs more deeply and respond with greater compassion.
A dog that reacts strongly to stress may not be “naughty” or “difficult” — it may simply be more sensitive by nature. Knowing this could change how owners approach training, care, and even veterinary treatment. In the future, it could even lead to anxiety-reducing medications being used to help particularly fearful dogs.
The study also highlights something larger: dogs and humans do not just share our homes and lives, but also similar biological pathways that shape our emotions. This makes dogs valuable models for understanding mental health conditions and emotional challenges in people.
As researchers continue to explore the connections between behavior and genetics, both humans and their best friends may benefit from greater insight, understanding, and empathy toward one another.
Source: University of Cambridge.
