Course Details
What do we know about the genetics of big feelings? We know some specific genes that affect the risk of aggression and/or anxiety in humans, and Jessica will talk about those - but these genes interact closely with early life experiences to form a personality, and Jessica will talk about those effects, too. Dog trainers report more and more dogs landing in homes already struggling with big feelings. So Jessica will also ask: knowing as we do that genetics and very early environment are critical in the development of resilience, should we be thinking more about prevention in our quest to help dogs fit into the human world? And what would thinking about prevention look like?
About the Instructor:
Jessica Perry Hekman, DVM, PhD, is a behavioral geneticist. She is one of the founders of the Functional Dog Collaborative (functionalbreeding.org), a non-profit which seeks to change the conversation around dog breeding in the dog loving community. She also teaches behavioral biology at the Virginia Tech online Masters program for Applied Animal Behavior and Welfare, works with Hecht Lab at Harvard, and offers webinars online and consults with breeders about genetic testing and breeding choices. Jessica (who goes by Perry in person) lives in Raymond, NH with her husband and two dogs.
