Talking about dogs and nature versus nurture, here's an article from the IHT about genetic engineering in dogs. Perhaps, there is a congeniality gene that can be identified and altered to make dogs more affable :) http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/06/12/frontpage/dogs.php Onesuch example, perhaps a bad one: The mutation behind muscle-bound "bully whippets" makes some dogs faster.