The nature versus nurture debate has captivated scientists since the 1800s, when Gregor Mendel cultivated peas in his garden while Charles Darwin explored the world aboard the HMS Beagle. This enduring discussion centers on the relative importance of genetics (nature) and environment (nurture) in shaping an individual’s traits and behaviors.

In my last blogpost, I wrote about genetic mutations in pets. These mutations—like those causing stumpy tails in Manx cats, extra toes in polydactyl cats, or drug sensitivities in pets with the AMC transporter mutation—demonstrate how genetics shape our animals’ appearance and health needs. But what about nurture? How does the environment our pets share with us impact their well-being?

What Citizen Science Tells Us About Environmental Impact

The Dog Aging Project offers fascinating insights into how environment affects canine health. This citizen scientist research consortium, with over 50,000 dogs enrolled, recently published findings that illuminate the nurture component of canine health.

The researchers divided the United States into four geographic regions–Northeast, Midwest, South and West–then examined how location affected the health of those dogs. While exercise and activity levels were consistent across regions, health conditions varied significantly. Southern dogs were more likely to have skin conditions, possibly due to longer warm seasons that support more flea and tick activity. Northeastern dogs faced more infectious diseases than average, driven by Lyme disease and giardiasis. Western dogs had more oral health issues than the nationwide average.

The study also revealed that Northeast dogs are more commonly exposed to lawn chemicals than in other geographic regions. These chemicals have been linked to the development of canine bladder cancer. Information like this helps veterinarians and pet owners to better care for their dogs by helping them recognize disease early and avoid factors related to disease development.

When Nature and Nurture Collaborate: Herding Dogs

Herding dog trials perfectly illustrate how genetics and environment work together. These competitions test the dogs’ working abilities and showcase the beautiful interplay between inherited traits and learned skills.

Recent research has identified a specific genetic fingerprint in herding dogs associated with locomotor hyperactivity and enhanced spatial memory, two traits necessary for a successful herding dog. This genetic fingerprint seems to explain why your border collie will tirelessly play frisbee for hours but could not successfully move a herd of sheep from their pen to the barn without training. Herding dogs learn to respond to calls and whistles of their handler, improving their proficiency in handling their flock or herd.

The Ongoing Nature vs. Nurture Dance

Rather than viewing nature and nurture as opposing forces, modern science reveals them as dance partners. Our pets’ genetics provide the foundation—their physical traits, disease susceptibilities, and behavioral tendencies. But their environment—from regional climate to training, diet, and daily experiences—shapes how those genetic blueprints unfold.

This understanding empowers us as pet owners to provide better care, recognizing both the traits our animals inherit and the environmental factors we can influence. Whether it’s protecting Southern dogs from parasites, screening Northeastern pets for tick-borne diseases, or channeling a herding dog’s genetic drive through appropriate training, we can use both nature and nurture to help our companions thrive.

The debate continues not because we can’t choose a winner, but because both elements are indispensable to creating the remarkable creatures we love and cherish.