DOCSLIB.ORG

Understanding Canine Resource Guarding Behaviour: an Epidemiological Approach

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Understanding Canine Resource Guarding Behaviour: an Epidemiological Approach Understanding Canine Resource Guarding Behaviour: An Epidemiological Approach by Jacquelyn Jacobs A Thesis presented to The University of Guelph In partial fulfilment of requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Population Medicine Guelph, Ontario, Canada © Jacquelyn Jacobs, April 2016 ABSTRACT Understanding Canine Resource Guarding Behaviour: A Qualitative and Quantitative Approach Jacquelyn Jacobs Advisors: University of Guelph, 2016 Dr. Lee Niel Dr. Jason B. Coe The overarching goal of this thesis was to improve the understanding of canine resource guarding (RG), which is defined as the use of avoidance, threatening, or aggressive behaviours to retain control of items in the presence of a person or other animal. Results from the first study, an online discussion board involving fourteen companion animal behaviour experts, identified most participants prefer to describe the behaviour as "resource guarding" due to the positive perception and interpretation of the term by dog owners, and the potential for inclusion of non- aggressive behaviour patterns such as avoidance and rapid ingestion. The second study examined dog owners‟ (n = 1438) ability to identify three different forms of resource guarding (i.e., avoidance, rapid ingestion or aggression). The non-aggressive patterns of RG, and those involving threatening aggression (e.g., growling, teeth baring) were significantly more difficult for participants to identify compared to biting aggression. Findings were used to develop a RG identification tool to ensure owners were able to correctly classify different types of RG in subsequent studies. For the third and fourth studies, dog owners were recruited (n = 3068) to complete a survey to determine factors associated with the expression of RG in the presence of either people or other dogs, respectively. Neutered males, mixed breeds, and dogs with higher levels of impulsivity and fearfulness were significantly more likely to display people- and dog- directed RG aggression compared to dogs of other sexes, breeds, and lower levels of impulsivity and fearfulness. Training dogs to "drop" and "leave" items was associated with decreased risk of both people- and dog-directed RG aggression while removing the food bowl during mealtimes was associated with increased risk of people-directed RG aggression. In addition, RG aggression had a negative association with RG avoidance and rapid ingestion in the presence of dogs; however, no such relationship was found in the presence of people, suggesting that RG behaviour patterns are more flexible when humans are involved. This thesis has advanced the current understanding of RG in dogs, as well as informed areas for future longitudinal studies to further understand the etiology of RG behaviour patterns. DEDICATIONS To Kuma, An independent, loving, adventurous pup who taught me more about dog behaviour than any book ever could have You are missed every day ~ To my husband Sam, For your love, laughter, support and inspiration through 7 years of graduate school and several different states and countries Thank you for sharing this adventure with me ~ And to my Parents, For your support and encouragement through all the years of my life I reach for the stars because you pointed to them iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to begin by recognizing the wonderful opportunity I was given to complete my graduate training at the University of Guelph, within the internationally recognized animal behaviour and welfare program. I am forever thankful to have been able to study and learn within such a fantastic group of intelligent individuals who have dedicated their lives to finding ways to improve the lives of others. Without the support of the Ontario Trillium Scholarship, this would not have been possible. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my major advisor, Dr. Lee Niel, for her support throughout my doctorate program. She has supplied me with encouragement and advice while simultaneously allowing me to develop parts of my program independently. Dr. Niel established a cooperative relationship with me from the very beginning, which allowed me to evolve from student to collaborative researcher and to find my own strengths during my program. I recognize how challenging the first cohort of mentees may be for an advisor, and she assembled a wonderful lab full of thoughtful and supportive colleagues with which it has been a pleasure to work alongside for the past four and a half years. I would also like to extend a special thanks to my co-advisor, Dr. Jason Coe, for his support and invaluable contributions throughout the development and execution of my thesis. His thoughtful guidance expanded my area of expertise into the realm of qualitative research, which I quickly learned was very challenging. Further, I would like to express my gratitude to my committee members, Drs. Tina Widowski and David Pearl. They have each contributed in different ways to my professional development, and I am extremely grateful to have had their valuable advice pertaining to my research and writing. v I would like to extend my gratitude toward the research assistants, collaborators, and lab members that helped with data collection or generally improved my life as a graduate student. Namely, I would like to thank Kenlyn Ramsey for her help with video analysis, survey formatting and feedback, Vivian Leung for her help with video analysis, and Melissa Speirs for her contribution to the inter-observer reliability analysis for Chapter 2. I would like to particularly thank Jenny Maciel at Kitchener-Waterloo Humane Society for allowing me to record her SAFER assessments, as well as the Guelph Humane Society and Sue Sternberg for providing additional videos. I would like to thank William Sears and Dr. David Pearl for their help with the statistics for several chapters of this thesis. Through these sessions, as well as the education provided through the epidemiology program, I now know more about regression analysis than I ever thought I could. Furthermore, although I am unable to identify these individuals, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to a dedicated group of canine behaviour experts who took time out of their extremely busy schedules to participate in my projects, just for the sake of research progress. Their contributions were invaluable. Finally, I would like to thank the members of the Niel lab and behaviour group, particularly Lauren Dawson, and my office- mate Cynthia Weijs, for enriching my life both inside and outside of the office. I would like to acknowledge several faculty members who contributed to my professional development. Drs. Ian Duncan, Tina Widowski, and Derek Haley invited me to work with them as a coach for the Animal Welfare Judging and Assessment Competition (AWJAC), and I am forever grateful for the experiences I have had as a participant in this group for the past four years. In particular, I would like to thank Dr. Ian Duncan for his mentorship over the past several years; being employed as his teaching assistant for Animal Care and Welfare was a wonderful experience and through this and my role as a coach for the AWJAC I realized I have a passion vi for teaching and mentoring. Thank you for these opportunities; I hope I can continue them in the future. Far from least, I would like to thank my family for their unyielding love and support throughout my life, but particularly while in graduate school. This experience has been quite a journey for me, but luckily I have not had to do it alone. In particular I would like to thank my parents, who are incredible examples of people who have worked very hard to reach their career goals and have set a great example for me. They have encouraged and supported my educational process, and I am so grateful and proud that they are my parents. Aside from my parents, my grandparents, brother, and in-laws are incredibly supportive and loving individuals and I thank them for being there for me to provide some much needed breaks during my graduate studies. Finally, I would like to thank my husband Sam, for his incredible support, encouragement, laughter, and love over the past nine years we have been together, but particularly the last seven when I've been in graduate school. I always complain to him "I used to be a more fun person" and he manages to show me how I still am. Thank you for sharing this journey with me and being the most amazing partner I could have ever imagined. vii STATEMENT OF WORK DONE Through the advisement of, and collaboration with, Drs. Lee Niel and Jason Coe, and on-going discussion with members of her advisory committee, Drs. Tina Widowski and David Pearl, Jacquelyn Jacobs designed the methodology and conducted the qualitative and quantitative analysis for the research in this thesis. Chapter 1: Literature Review Jacquelyn Jacobs reviewed multiple databases for literature relevant to the topics of study. The literature review was written by Jacquelyn Jacobs under the guidance of Drs. Lee Niel and Jason Coe. Additional input and revisions were provided by Drs. Tina Widowski and David Pearl. Chapter 2: Qualitative Study of Expert Opinion In collaboration with and with advisement from Drs. Lee Niel and Jason Coe, Jacquelyn Jacobs designed the methodology and wrote all the study material for the qualitative study. Jacquelyn Jacobs collected relevant names and email addresses of experts for the study and conducted all recruitment. Jacquelyn Jacobs created the online discussion board in consultation with Qualtrics, the chosen online host company for the project. In close consultation with Drs. Lee Niel and Jason Coe, Jacquelyn Jacobs moderated the online discussion board. Jacquelyn Jacobs coded all data and undergraduate research assistant Melissa Speirs blindly re-coded the data for inter- observer reliability assessment, which Jacquelyn Jacobs analyzed. In consultation with Dr.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • A Quick Assessment Tool for Humandirected Aggression in Pet
    AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR Volume 9999, pages 1–11 (2013) A Quick Assessment Tool for Human‐Directed Aggression in Pet Dogs Barbara Klausz1, Anna Kis1,2, Eszter Persa1, Ádám Miklósi1,3, and Márta Gácsi1,3* 1Department of Ethology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary 2Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary 3MTA‐ELTE Comparative Ethology Research Group, Budapest, Hungary .......................................... Many test series have been developed to assess dog temperament and aggressive behavior, but most of them have been criticized for their relatively low predictive validity or being too long, stressful, and/or problematic to carry out. We aimed to develop a short and effective series of tests that corresponds with (a) the dog’s bite history, and (b) owner evaluation of the dog’s aggressive tendencies. Seventy‐three pet dogs were divided into three groups by their biting history; non‐biter, bit once, and multiple biter. All dogs were exposed to a short test series modeling five real‐life situations: friendly greeting, take away bone, threatening approach, tug‐of‐war, and roll over. We found strong correlations between the in‐test behavior and owner reports of dogs’ aggressive tendencies towards strangers; however, the test results did not mirror the reported owner‐directed aggressive tendencies. Three test situations (friendly greeting, take‐away bone, threatening approach) proved to be effective in evoking specific behavioral differences according to dog biting history. Non‐biters differed from biters, and there were also specific differences related to aggression and fear between the two biter groups. When a subsample of dogs was retested, the test revealed consistent results over time.
    [Show full text]
  • Investigating the Effects of Incremental Conditioning
    EXPLORING THE EFFECTS OF REPETITIVE ENDURANCE EXERCISE AND TRYPTOPHAN SUPPLEMENTATION OR DIETARY SOLUBLE FIBER ON THE BEHAVIOUR OF SLED DOGS by Eve Robinson A Thesis presented to The University of Guelph In partial fulfilment of requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Animal Biosciences Guelph, Ontario, Canada © Eve Robinson, August 2020 ABSTRACT EXPLORING THE EFFECTS OF REPETITIVE ENDURANCE EXERCISE AND TRYPTOPHAN SUPPLEMENTATION OR DIETARY SOLUBLE FIBER ON THE BEHAVIOUR OF SLED DOGS Eve Robinson Advisor: University of Guelph, 2020 Dr. Anna-Kate Shoveller The impacts of repetitive endurance exercise and dietary interventions on the behaviour and voluntary physical activity of dogs has not been previously studied. This thesis investigated the effects of incremental conditioning, supplemental tryptophan and increased dietary soluble fiber on the behaviour and voluntary physical activity of sled dogs. Repetitive endurance exercise generally resulted in a progressive decrease in voluntary physical activity and locomotive behaviours prior to an exercise bout. Additionally, voluntary physical activity increased after two consecutive rest days, indicating a potential recovery from the physiological impacts of endurance exercise. Increasing the tryptophan: large neutral amino acid ratio of the diet reduced agonistic behaviors prior to exercise, however, increasing the soluble fiber content had no effect on any behaviour prior to or following an exercise bout. This research could be used to improve the exercise training regimens and diets of sled dogs and promote their overall performance, health and well-being. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Firstly, I would like to thank my advisor Dr. Anna-Kate Shoveller for providing me with this opportunity. I would not be where I am today without your support, encouragement, and confidence in me.
    [Show full text]
  • Behavioural Differences in Dogs with Atopic Dermatitis Suggest Stress
    animals Article Behavioural Differences in Dogs with Atopic Dermatitis Suggest Stress Could Be a Significant Problem Associated with Chronic Pruritus Naomi D. Harvey 1,* , Peter J. Craigon 1, Stephen C. Shaw 1,2, Sarah C. Blott 1 and Gary C.W. England 1 1 School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, The University of Nottingham, Leicestershire LE12 5RD, UK; [email protected] (P.J.C.); [email protected] (S.C.S.); [email protected] (S.C.B.); [email protected] (G.C.W.E.) 2 UK Vet Derm, 16 Talbot Street, Whitwick, Leicestershire LE67 5AW, UK * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 30 May 2019; Accepted: 6 October 2019; Published: 16 October 2019 Simple Summary: Canine atopic dermatitis (cAD) is a common allergic skin condition in dogs that causes long-term itching; it is similar to eczema in people. The overall quality of life in dogs with cAD is known to be reduced, and humans with eczema report significant psychological burdens from itching that increase stress levels and can lead to the development of additional mental health problems. We tested whether dogs with cAD would display more problem behaviours (that could be indicative of stress) than would healthy controls. Behavioural data were gathered directly from owners using a validated dog behaviour questionnaire for 343 dogs with a diagnosis of cAD and 552 healthy controls, and scores were also provided for the severity of itching experienced by their dog. The results showed that itch severity in dogs with cAD was associated with increased frequency of behaviours often considered problematic, such as: mounting, chewing, hyperactivity, coprophagia (eating faeces), begging for and stealing food, attention-seeking, excitability, excessive grooming and reduced trainability.
    [Show full text]
  • Endogenous Oxytocin, Vasopressin, and Aggression in Domestic Dogs
    ORIGINAL RESEARCH published: 27 September 2017 doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01613 Endogenous Oxytocin, Vasopressin, and Aggression in Domestic Dogs Evan L. MacLean 1*, Laurence R. Gesquiere 2, Margaret E. Gruen 3, Barbara L. Sherman 4, W. Lance Martin 5 and C. Sue Carter 6 1 School of Anthropology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States, 2 Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States, 3 Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States, 4 Department of Clinical Sciences, NC State College of Veterinary Medicine, NC State University, Raleigh, NC, United States, 5 Martin-Protean LLC, Princeton, NJ, United States, 6 Kinsey Institute and Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IA, United States Aggressive behavior in dogs poses public health and animal welfare concerns, however the biological mechanisms regulating dog aggression are not well understood. We investigated the relationships between endogenous plasma oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (AVP)—neuropeptides that have been linked to affiliative and aggressive behavior in other mammalian species—and aggression in domestic dogs. We first validated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for the measurement of free (unbound) and total (free + bound) OT and AVP in dog plasma. In Experiment 1 we evaluated behavioral and neuroendocrine differences between a population of pet dogs with a history of chronic aggression toward conspecifics and a matched control group. Dogs with a history of aggression exhibited more aggressive behavior
    [Show full text]
  • Genetic Aspects of Dog Behaviour with Particular Reference to Working Ability
    i* \ V Genetic aspects of dog behaviour 4 with particular reference to working ability M. B. WILLIS genetic factors, they will also be modified through Introduction interactions with the environment. Anyone using dogs as working animals has an obvi- Humphrey & Warner (1934) calculated pheno- ous interest in knowing: (a) the degree to which typic correlations among 42 physical and 9 behav- specific features are inherited; (b) the magnitude of ioural traits in GSDs, and found that 15 of the 378 the differences which exist between breeds; and (c) possible correlations reached statistical significance. the relationship, if any, between specific traits. It is probable that the underlying genetic correlations Although the dog has had a longer association, and were quite different and that the project was over- enjoys closer contacts, with humans than any other simplified in seeking Mendelian explanations. Never- species, genetic studies on the domestic dog are not theless, the Fortunate Fields study (Humphrey & extensive. Most genetic work has been directed Warner, 1934) did achieve success in producing towards understanding the mode of inheritance of superior animals for guide dog/police work using specific physical anomalies, whereas advanced studies this simplified system. on the inheritance of behaviour are relatively recent The present paper looks at behaviour in guide and stem largely from the pioneering work that led to dogs, hunting dogs, livestock guarding dogs and the publication of Scott & Fuller (1965). Mackenzie, police/service dogs. The importance to man of herd- Oltenacu & Houpt (1986) provided a broad review ing dogs is without question, but so few genetic data of behaviour genetics of the dog, but the present exist in this field that herding dogs are deliberately review focuses specifically on the genetics of working excluded from the present discussion.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Welcome to South Wilton Veterinary Group! We Are Very Excited to Have
    51 Danbury Road Wilton, Connecticut 06897 www.southwiltonvet.com Email [email protected] Tel 203 762 2002 Fax 203 834 9999 Welcome to South Wilton Veterinary Group! We are very excited to have you join our growing practice. Please take a moment to sort through this new client welcome folder we have prepared for you. Many frequently asked questions may be answered as we have enclosed information on many important topics related to the proper care of your precious pet. We have enclosed information on: Our Services and Doctors Preventative Health Care Recommendations Microchipping as Permanent Identification for Your Pet Emergency Care for Your Pet Veterinary Pet Insurance Referrals to Specialists in our Area Local Pet Service Recommendations Payment Options and Policies If you have any questions after reviewing this material, feel free to contact us by phone (203-762-2002) or email ([email protected]). You may also visit our website at www.southwiltonvet.com for further information and downloadable materials. The section entitled “Pet Education” contains many helpful handouts. Sincerely, The Doctors and Staff at South Wilton Veterinary Group 1 Directions to Local Emergency Centers If you have an emergency with your dog or cat after hours and we are not available, please go to the Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center in Norwalk, CT or the Cornell University Veterinary Specialists in Stamford, CT. VREC 123 West Cedar Street Norwalk, CT 203-854-9960 From I-95 South: Take Exit 14, at the end turn RIGHT onto route 1, at the next light turn LEFT (N. Taylor Avenue) go 1 block and turn LEFT onto West Cedar Street.
    [Show full text]
  • A Note on the Effectiveness of Behavioural Rehabilitation for Reducing Inter-Dog Aggression in Shelter Dogs
    WellBeing International WBI Studies Repository 8-2008 A Note on the Effectiveness of Behavioural Rehabilitation for Reducing Inter-Dog Aggression in Shelter Dogs Jane S. Orihel University of British Columbia David Fraser University of British Columbia Follow this and additional works at: https://www.wellbeingintlstudiesrepository.org/intbeh Part of the Animal Studies Commons, Behavior and Ethology Commons, and the Comparative Psychology Commons Recommended Citation Orihel, J. S., & Fraser, D. (2008). A note on the effectiveness of behavioural rehabilitation for reducing inter-dog aggression in shelter dogs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 112(3), 400-405. This material is brought to you for free and open access by WellBeing International. It has been accepted for inclusion by an authorized administrator of the WBI Studies Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. A Note on the Effectiveness of Behavioural Rehabilitation for Reducing Inter-Dog Aggression in Shelter Dogs Jane S. Orihel and David Fraser University of British Columbia KEYWORDS canine, dog behaviour, rehabilitation, inter-dog aggression, shelter dogs ABSTRACT The effectiveness of a rehabilitation program for reducing inter-dog aggression was evaluated at the municipal animal shelter. Sixteen dogs (of 60 examined) met the study criteria of medium inter-dog aggression as determined by an inter-dog aggression test. These dogs received a 10-day treatment of daily rehabilitation for 30 min (rehabilitation group, n = 9) or daily release into an outdoor enclosure for 30 min (control group, n = 7). Rehabilitation consisted of desensitising and counter-conditioning dogs to the approach of other ‘‘stimulus’’ dogs. Most dogs in the rehabilitation group showed a decline in aggression scores when re-tested after the last treatment (day 11), and differed significantly from the control dogs which showed either an increase or no change in aggression scores (U = 8.5, P < 0.01).
    [Show full text]
  • Dog Ownership Satisfaction Determinants in the Owner-Dog Relationship and the Dog’S Behaviour
    RESEARCH ARTICLE Dog ownership satisfaction determinants in the owner-dog relationship and the dog's behaviour Ineke R. van HerwijnenID*, Joanne A. M. van der BorgID, Marc Naguib, Bonne Beerda Department of Animal Sciences, Behavioural Ecology Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands * [email protected] a1111111111 Abstract a1111111111 Dog ownership satisfaction relates to the quality of life of both owner and dog, and when a1111111111 a1111111111 seriously compromised may even lead to dog abandonment. Knowledge on determinants of a1111111111 dog ownership satisfaction is limited, obstructing solutions for promoting satisfaction, and here we quantified causes making dog owners less than very satisfied with their dog. We focused on the owner perceived relationship with the dog, unwanted dog behaviour, and dog obedience class attendance. The study population included only few seriously dis- OPEN ACCESS satisfied dog owners, preventing discrimination of multiple levels below `very satisfied'. Consequently, existing relationships in the entire population may have been missed or Citation: Herwijnen IRv, van der Borg JAM, Naguib M, Beerda B (2018) Dog ownership satisfaction underestimated and the findings apply specifically to dog owners that are relatively con- determinants in the owner-dog relationship and the tented with dog ownership. Nine hundred seventy-seven Dutch dog owners completed an dog's behaviour. PLoS ONE 13(9): e0204592. online questionnaire and we found the probability of being very satisfied to associate with all https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0204592 three subscales of the Monash Dog Owner Relationship Scale. Most strongly with perceived Editor: I. Anna S. Olsson, Universidade do Porto costs of ownership and less so with shared activities between owner and dog, and perceived Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, emotional closeness to the dog.
    [Show full text]
  • Dog Aggression Elimination at Rutgers (Dagger)
    Dog Aggression Elimination at Rutgers (DAggER) Training shelter dogs to be family dogs Tag Words: Rutgers, University, Dog, Aggression, Training, Program, Behavior Modification, Professional Trainer, Animal Science, Experienced Base Credit, Issues in Animal Science Authors: Elyse Conway, Sarah Lipari, Casey Macalush, Nicole Rivas with Julie M. Fagan, Ph.D. Summary There are millions of animals that are surrendered to shelters every year. Of the number of dogs that enter these shelters, about 60% of them will be euthanized. DAggER- The Dog Aggression Elimination at Rutgers University training program is an organization that wants to give animals in shelters a second chance in hopes to reduce the number of animals euthanized each year. Many dogs that are surrendered to shelters for aggressive behavior can be trained appropriately to live happily in a home as a wonderful family companion. The goal of The Dog Aggression Elimination at Rutgers is to target aggressive shelter dogs, and train them to be loyal, safe pets through professional training and student participation. DAggER service project is to promote a training program through Rutgers University to promote the adoption of aggressive dogs and re- train animals so they can live comfortably in a good home. We believe that all shelter dogs can be trained to be family dogs. Video Link DAGGER- Dog Aggression Elimination at Rutgers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zc9B- dxO044 The Issue: Dog Aggression EC and CM According to the ASPCA, 5-7 million animals enter shelters every year. 3-4 million of those animals are euthanized every year due to lack of homes.
    [Show full text]
  • Breed Differences in Canine Aggression Deborah L
    Available online at www.sciencedirect.com Applied Animal Behaviour Science 114 (2008) 441–460 www.elsevier.com/locate/applanim Breed differences in canine aggression Deborah L. Duffy a, Yuying Hsu b, James A. Serpell a,* a Center for the Interaction of Animals and Society, Department of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3900 Delancey Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6010, USA b Department of Life Sciences, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei 116, Taiwan Accepted 18 April 2008 Available online 3 June 2008 Abstract Canine aggression poses serious public health and animal welfare concerns. Most of what is understood about breed differences in aggression comes from reports based on bite statistics, behavior clinic caseloads, and experts’ opinions. Information on breed-specific aggressiveness derived from such sources may be misleading due to biases attributable to a disproportionate risk of injury associated with larger and/or more physically powerful breeds and the existence of breed stereotypes. The present study surveyed the owners of more than 30 breeds of dogs using the Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C- BARQ), a validated and reliable instrument for assessing dogs’ typical and recent responses to a variety of common stimuli and situations. Two independent data samples (a random sample of breed club members and an online sample) yielded significant differences among breeds in aggression directed toward strangers, owners and dogs (Kruskal–Wallis tests, P < 0.0001). Eight breeds common to both datasets (Dachshund, English Springer Spaniel, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Poodle, Rottweiler, Shetland Sheepdog and Siberian Husky) ranked similarly, rs = 0.723, P < 0.05; rs = 0.929, P < 0.001; rs = 0.592, P = 0.123, for aggression directed toward strangers, dogs and owners, respectively.
    [Show full text]
  • Highly Heritable and Functionally Relevant Breed Differences in Dog
    Highly heritable and functionally relevant royalsocietypublishing.org/journal/rspb breed differences in dog behaviour Evan L. MacLean1,2,†, Noah Snyder-Mackler3,4,5,†, Bridgett M. vonHoldt6 and James A. Serpell7 Research 1School of Anthropology, and 2Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA 3Department of Psychology, 4Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology, and 5Washington National Primate Cite this article: MacLean EL, Snyder-Mackler Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA 6 N, vonHoldt BM, Serpell JA. 2019 Highly Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA 7School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA heritable and functionally relevant breed differences in dog behaviour. Proc. R. Soc. B ELM, 0000-0001-7595-662X; NS-M, 0000-0003-3026-6160; BMv, 0000-0001-6908-1687 286: 20190716. Variation across dog breeds presents a unique opportunity to investigate the http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2019.0716 evolution and biological basis of complex behavioural traits. We integrated behavioural data from more than 14 000 dogs from 101 breeds with breed- averaged genotypic data (n = 5697 dogs) from over 100 000 loci in the dog genome. We found high levels of among-breed heritability for 14 behaviour- Received: 26 March 2019 al traits (the proportion of trait variance attributable to genetic similarity Accepted: 9 September 2019 among breeds). We next identified 131 single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with breed differences in behaviour, which were found in genes that are highly expressed in the brain and enriched for neurobiological func- tions and developmental processes, suggesting that they may be functionally associated with behavioural differences.
    [Show full text]
  • Aggression Toward Familiar People, Strangers, and Conspecifics in Gonadectomized and Intact Dogs
    ORIGINAL RESEARCH published: 26 February 2018 doi: 10.3389/fvets.2018.00018 Aggression toward Familiar People, strangers, and conspecifics in Gonadectomized and Intact Dogs Parvene Farhoody1, Indika Mallawaarachchi2, Patrick M. Tarwater 3, James A. Serpell4, Deborah L. Duffy 5 and Chris Zink 6* 1 Psychology Department, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, NY, United States, 2 Department of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States, 3 Department of Biostatistics, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States, 4 Department of Clinical Studies, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States, 5 Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness, University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA, United States, 6 Zink Integrative Sports Medicine, Ellicott City, MD, United States Gonadectomy is widely used to treat and prevent behavior problems including the aggressive behavior of dogs. The aim of this study was to determine whether aggressive behavior toward familiar people, strangers, or other dogs was significantly different in dogs gonadectomized at various ages vs. intact dogs using the Canine Behavioral Edited by: Assessment Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) with multivariate analysis. Of 15,370 ini- Sabine G. Gebhardt-Henrich, University of Bern, Switzerland tial surveys, those for dogs reported to have been gonadectomized at less than 6 weeks Reviewed by: of age or to correct a behavior problem, and those with incomplete answers to questions Lucy Asher, regarding independent or dependent variables were excluded, leaving 13,795 for the Newcastle University, analysis of aggressive behavior toward familiar people: 13,498 for aggressive behavior United Kingdom Antonia Patt, toward strangers and 13,237 for aggressive behavior toward dogs.
    [Show full text]