But they still say the dog's environment's plays a larger role.

http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/2006/1811539.htm

I always thought that it was true about the Labs. I stayed away from the yellow ones because they were generally too out of control goofy for my taste. The blacks and chocolates were way better IMO. I always thought it was just coincidence, but it was a coincidence that I came to believe in! Before anyone complains....I'm sure there are exceptions!!

So if color can predict temperament...does that mean that what they say about redheads is true?

I was thinking hmmmmm....wonder where my red Bloodhound fits in and how do they test the Malinois?

Temple Grandin of the University of Colorado also did research several years back that linked pigmentation and hair patterns to nervous system development and behavior.

The link was that during fetal development the chemical that drives pigmentation also drives the development of the nervous system. Both the hair and nerves are formed at the same stage of development.

Hold the blonde jokes.

This is complete BUNK absolute BS

I've wondered about this also. Mainly with labs. I've been around a few duck dogs and noticed, like Amber, that a lot of yellow ones were goofy. Generally in timber duck hunting, which was mainly what I did, a darker colored dog was more desirable cause it blended in better. Most of the darker ones I've seen came from working backgrounds and were bred to be retrievers, not pets, and vice versa on the yellow ones I had seen. But I have also seen some damn good working line yellows, too. I think that what I've seen are bad bred yellows and working line chocolates and blacks. I would be curious as to what and whos dogs they used in their study.

while i'll concede the possibility of the color being a reasonable indication, i think they'll need to go a long way to prove that the two are actually related, or that one causes the other.

Food for further thought: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dmitri_Belyaev
http://www.ratbehavior.org/CoatColor.htm

There does seem to be a method to the madness but I do wish more studies would be conducted regarding the matter. This is certainly something worth keeping an eye on to see if there is just a coincidental correlation or there is indeed a link between color and behavior.

Isn't there something about all white cats being deaf or something of that nature? Ah, yeah, and something about white cows or bulls being aggressive? I know none of this is specific, I'll try to find where I read these.

One thing to always remember with these studies, though, is that a correlation doesn't prove anything. For example, saying that there is a correlation between basketball players being tall doesn't mean, however, that all tall people are basketball players.

I read a study once that said that there was a link between parents who smoked and their children becoming criminals. It was trying to set up a point through which it could make people think that cigarette smoking CAUSED later criminal behaviour in children.

What it failed to mention was that, statistically, parents who smoke are also more likely to be poor and/or uneducated...things that have a much higher correlation to children's future thug skills than smoking does!

(Remember this is STATISTICALLY---I"m not saying if you smoke, you're poor/uneducated!)

So, there may be a link. But it's very possible that the color of the fur doesn't predict anything.

Links to Temple Grandin's research reports on depigmentation.

Look down in the "Hair, Skin and Eyes" section.
http://www.grandin.com/references/horse.genetics.html

Look for the section on 'Depigmentation". It's about a 1/3 of the way down.
http://www.grandin.com/welfare/genetics.animal.welfare.html

Her research involves livestock -- horses, pigs & cows, but the principles are the same.

The part about hair whorls can be pretty much confirmed by anyone who has worked horses or cattle.