Are you a dog person? It could be down to genes

BEING a ‘dog person’ is more than just a lifestyle – apparently it’s in the genes.

Researchers have found that dog ownership is driven as much by genetic make-up as environment.

It is known that those who grow up with a dog as a family pet are more likely to own one as an adult.

But the new findings suggest this is not because being exposed to the animals in childhood makes you more comfortable around them, but thanks to dog-loving genes inherited from your parents.

The study, co-authored by the University of Liverpool, looked at 35,035 sets of twins – comparing identical twins, who share 100 per cent of their genes, with fraternal twins who share 50 per cent.

Researchers analysed what proportion of twin siblings both owned dogs and what inclined them to do so.

The results, in the journal Scientific Reports, found concordance rates of dog ownership were much greater in identical twins than in non-identical ones.

Dr Patrik Magnusson, director of the Swedish Twin Registry on which the study was based, said: ‘There are genetic reasons which very clearly influence if someone owns a dog, for example whether they have an allergy.

‘But personality may be a large factor, changing whether people understand dogs and their behaviours and how anxious they are around them.’