reversed mask - Page 10

"Behavior is 80% environment ( from fertiliztion of the egg and embryonic development to adulthood and beyond) in most animals."

 

Speaking of irreproducible results...

Correlation does not prove causation.  In the case of dogs training and interaction with humans and other dogs/animals is a large part of environment so I would say 80% is correct.  Depends on the trait but dairy farmers know that 70% of their cow's milk production is set by environment.  Over a cows production lifetime ( the unfit are culled quickly ) the best producers will likely only produce 30% more than the lower producers or the average producer.  The 30% is of course all profit so high producers make a larger portion of any profit the dairy farmer may enjoy ( profits depend on feed prices and milk prices as much as production in some years and markets ). 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Correlation_does_not_imply_causation

"Because your observation is irreproducible, therefore it is not true.  But my self-admitted made up statistics of 80% is true even though I can't reproduce it."

Dogs are the second most adaptable species of mammal behind the human (don't count out the rodents though they likely outnumber the dogs many fold).  If you think that dogs have a lot of hard wired behaviors please write a book and give data to support that hypothesis.  Correlation does not prove causation .. it is a basic law for scientific research which means that without statistical analysis of scientificly gathered data using replicated trials with checks and controls there is no scientific basis for linking behavior to eye color or hair pattern to anything.  Correlation does not get much support from true scientist.  Likewise with anecdotal observations concerning dogs with reversed masks or longer tail, dew claws, etc. 

I have no idea what you're going on about. 

What do 'longer tails' bring, I never heard that one.

The show people (both dog and cat) and especially the show cat breeders insist on a certain proportion of tail length to body length.  Longer tails bring nothing .. it's a human thing .. maybe cats know and they aren't sharing like the masked dogs have a rep with other dogs and we aren't in on the low down for masks??? 

Longer tails do affect the balance of an animal that relies heavily on it for hunting, etc., as cats do. So proper tail length in cats seems reasonable enough to me, save for the breeds that are naturally tailless, where the structure of their hindquarters helps compensate for the lack of a tail.

bubba, did you even bother to follow the links I provided? Because I DID provide you with links to legitimate, peer-reviewed research regarding the whorls on cattle.

hexe, lets assume the whorl's on cattle thing is absolutely 110% true, what would that prove about reverse masks and balanced drives, great nerves etc on GSD's??