Because domestication was relatively recent, modern dog breeds live alongside ancient breeds, making comparison possible. “It stands to reason that if you’re manipulating the shape of a skull, you’re going to be manipulating the shape of the brain,” Hecht said. She added that just because certain dogs have brain makeups that suggest a certain disposition, it doesn’t lock them into those behaviors. I have yet to hear of any particular breed of working dog, where it’s just born knowing how to do its job,” Hecht said. Find out more about the work happening in the Hecht lab or see if your dog is a study candidate.
