Dog lovers! SPARCS is back! Mark your calendar so you can watch this free, online, canine science event. More details to come! And follow @CanineScience if you don't already.

Thanks to all the dog lovers, speakers & organizers for making #SPARCS18 an excellent learning experience! Keep believing in dog! @CanineScience @DoUBelieveInDog @DogSpies @NCRCouncil sparcsinitiative.org/

This makes everything AWESOME! :) #SPARCS18 #pleasedontend xitter.cf/OutiKmaki/status/10033…

The final #SPARCS18 panel discussion's almost here! With @dogzombieblog @VetBehaviorIL @eenork @darwinsdogs & K Irizarry. What's your question on dog genetics, socialization, and non-genetic effects on behavior? @CanineScience

Keep up with Jessica Hekman @dogzombieblog dogzombie.com/ facebook.com/dogzombieblog/ workingdogproject.org/ linkedin.com/in/jessica-hekm… darwinsdogs.org/ karlssonlab.org/ (She's got just a bit going on!) #SPARCS18

Hekman @dogzombieblog: Genetics doesn't very often set behavioral traits in a binary way, e.g. being "genetically aggressive" >> It's actually about risk, and interaction with the environment #SPARCS18

Hekman @dogzombieblog: Genetics can INTERACT with environment - so a genetic influence isn't a binary setting, but can, for example, make it easier or harder to socialize a dog #SPARCS18

Dog Lovers! Send your questions stat! Next Q&A with @dogzombieblog coming up soon. What do you want to know about socialization and non-genetic contributors to behavior? #SPARCS18

Hekman @dogzombieblog: Understanding the Tame Fox: The Hunt for the Genetic Mechanisms of Fearfulness bit.ly/2HgUgvo #SPARCS18

Breed-dependent differences in the onset of fear-related avoidance behavior in puppies journalvetbehavior.com/artic… @dogzombieblog #SPARCS18

Effects of maternal investment, temperament, and cognition on guide dog success: pdfs.semanticscholar.org/68d… @dogzombieblog #SPARCS18

Hekman @dogzombieblog: The body makes a lot of "decisions" early in development. The results can be hard to change, making outcomes look "genetic" rather than environmental. But just because part of a dog's personality is ingrained/difficult to change, doesn't mean it's genetic!

Hekman @dogzombieblog: Animals adapt to early environment - can be hard for them to change when moved into a different environment. A lot of canine behavior that gets labeled "pathological" is really just adaptation to different envt than one the dog finds itself in #SPARCS18

Almost time to ask @dogzombieblog your questions about dogs and early development and environment! #SPARCS18 live broadcast here sparcsinitiative.org/live-br… @CanineScience xitter.cf/ThePassingHours/status…

Adaptive significance of natural variations in maternal care in rats: a translational perspective: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/article… @dogzombieblog #SPARCS18

Epigenetic mechanisms mediating the long-term effects of maternal care on development pdfs.semanticscholar.org/8ad… @dogzombieblog #SPARCS18 @dogzombieblog

For more genetics, Hekman @dogzombieblog created the self-study course, DNA: The Basic Blueprint of Life m.iaabc.org/courses/dna-blue… @IAABC #SPARCS18

Good news is they can! And recordings freely available after this event at sparcsinitiative.org/watch