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Peťková B, Skurková L, Florian M, Slivková M, Dudra Kasičová Z, Kottferová J. Variations in Canine Behavioural Characteristics across Conventional Breed Clusters and Most Common Breed-Based Public Stereotypes. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:2695. [PMID: 39335284 PMCID: PMC11429495 DOI: 10.3390/ani14182695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2024] [Revised: 09/12/2024] [Accepted: 09/14/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Dog breeds are grouped based on scientific agreement, whether for traditional reasons or specific tasks during their domestication. Discrepancies may occur between public views of breed behaviour and actual evidence. This research aims to investigate differences in five behavioural traits (aggression towards people, aggression towards animals, fearfulness, responsiveness to training, and activity/excitability) by using the Dog Personality Questionnaire (DPQ) across six conventional groups/clusters of dog breeds (herding, hunting, guarding, companion dogs, potentially aggressive breeds, and mixed-breed dogs) and to assess hypotheses derived from common public presumptions. A cohort of 1309 dog owners sourced through diverse online platforms took part in the study. Contrary to stereotypes, the findings indicate that breeds labelled as "potentially aggressive" display lower levels of aggression compared to guarding breeds (χ2 (5) = 3.657, p = 0.041) and mixed-breeds (χ2 (5) = 3.870, p = 0.002). Additionally, mixed-breed dogs exhibited the highest levels of fearfulness among the six conventional clusters. In terms of aggression and gender, males demonstrated higher aggression levels towards both humans and animals compared to females (p = 0.001). These results challenge established assumptions and emphasise the necessity of evidence-based methodologies in the assessment of canine behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Peťková
- Workplace of Applied Ethology and Professional Ethics, Department of Public Veterinary Medicine and Animal Welfare, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Komenského 73, 04181 Košice, Slovakia
| | - Lenka Skurková
- Workplace of Applied Ethology and Professional Ethics, Department of Public Veterinary Medicine and Animal Welfare, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Komenského 73, 04181 Košice, Slovakia
| | - Martin Florian
- Workplace of Applied Ethology and Professional Ethics, Department of Public Veterinary Medicine and Animal Welfare, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Komenského 73, 04181 Košice, Slovakia
| | - Monika Slivková
- Workplace of Applied Ethology and Professional Ethics, Department of Public Veterinary Medicine and Animal Welfare, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Komenského 73, 04181 Košice, Slovakia
| | - Zuzana Dudra Kasičová
- Workplace of Applied Ethology and Professional Ethics, Department of Public Veterinary Medicine and Animal Welfare, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Komenského 73, 04181 Košice, Slovakia
| | - Jana Kottferová
- Workplace of Applied Ethology and Professional Ethics, Department of Public Veterinary Medicine and Animal Welfare, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Komenského 73, 04181 Košice, Slovakia
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2
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Amirhosseini MH, Yadav V, Serpell JA, Pettigrew P, Kain P. An artificial intelligence approach to predicting personality types in dogs. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2404. [PMID: 38286813 PMCID: PMC10825194 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52920-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Canine personality and behavioural characteristics have a significant influence on relationships between domestic dogs and humans as well as determining the suitability of dogs for specific working roles. As a result, many researchers have attempted to develop reliable personality assessment tools for dogs. Most previous work has analysed dogs' behavioural patterns collected via questionnaires using traditional statistical analytic approaches. Artificial Intelligence has been widely and successfully used for predicting human personality types. However, similar approaches have not been applied to data on canine personality. In this research, machine learning techniques were applied to the classification of canine personality types using behavioural data derived from the C-BARQ project. As the dataset was not labelled, in the first step, an unsupervised learning approach was adopted and K-Means algorithm was used to perform clustering and labelling of the data. Five distinct categories of dogs emerged from the K-Means clustering analysis of behavioural data, corresponding to five different personality types. Feature importance analysis was then conducted to identify the relative importance of each behavioural variable's contribution to each cluster and descriptive labels were generated for each of the personality traits based on these associations. The five personality types identified in this paper were labelled: "Excitable/Hyperattached", "Anxious/Fearful", "Aloof/Predatory", "Reactive/Assertive", and "Calm/Agreeable". Four machine learning models including Support Vector Machine (SVM), K-Nearest Neighbour (KNN), Naïve Bayes, and Decision Tree were implemented to predict the personality traits of dogs based on the labelled data. The performance of the models was evaluated using fivefold cross validation method and the results demonstrated that the Decision Tree model provided the best performance with a substantial accuracy of 99%. The novel AI-based methodology in this research may be useful in the future to enhance the selection and training of dogs for specific working and non-working roles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Hossein Amirhosseini
- Department of Computer Science and Digital Technologies, School of Architecture, Computing and Engineering, University of East London, London, UK.
| | - Vinaykumar Yadav
- Department of Computer Science and Digital Technologies, School of Architecture, Computing and Engineering, University of East London, London, UK
| | - James A Serpell
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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3
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Farhat N, Lazebnik T, Monteny J, Moons CPH, Wydooghe E, van der Linden D, Zamansky A. Digitally-enhanced dog behavioral testing. Sci Rep 2023; 13:21252. [PMID: 38040814 PMCID: PMC10692085 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-48423-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Behavioral traits in dogs are assessed for a wide range of purposes such as determining selection for breeding, chance of being adopted or prediction of working aptitude. Most methods for assessing behavioral traits are questionnaire or observation-based, requiring significant amounts of time, effort and expertise. In addition, these methods might be also susceptible to subjectivity and bias, negatively impacting their reliability. In this study, we proposed an automated computational approach that may provide a more objective, robust and resource-efficient alternative to current solutions. Using part of a 'Stranger Test' protocol, we tested n = 53 dogs for their response to the presence and neutral actions of a stranger. Dog coping styles were scored by three dog behavior experts. Moreover, data were collected from their owners/trainers using the Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ). An unsupervised clustering of the dogs' trajectories revealed two main clusters showing a significant difference in the stranger-directed fear C-BARQ category, as well as a good separation between (sufficiently) relaxed dogs and dogs with excessive behaviors towards strangers based on expert scoring. Based on the clustering, we obtained a machine learning classifier for expert scoring of coping styles towards strangers, which reached an accuracy of 78%. We also obtained a regression model predicting C-BARQ scores with varying performance, the best being Owner-Directed Aggression (with a mean average error of 0.108) and Excitability (with a mean square error of 0.032). This case study demonstrates a novel paradigm of 'machine-based' dog behavioral assessment, highlighting the value and great promise of AI in this context.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Teddy Lazebnik
- Ariel University, Ariel, Israel.
- University College London, London, UK.
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4
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Morrill K, Chen F, Karlsson E. Comparative neurogenetics of dog behavior complements efforts towards human neuropsychiatric genetics. Hum Genet 2023; 142:1231-1246. [PMID: 37578529 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-023-02580-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Domestic dogs display a wide array of heritable behaviors that have intermediate genetic complexity thanks to a long history of human-influenced selection. Comparative genetics in dogs could address the scarcity of non-human neurogenetic systems relevant to human neuropsychiatric disorders, which are characterized by mental, emotional, and behavioral symptoms and involve vastly complex genetic and non-genetic risk factors. Our review describes the diverse behavioral "phenome" of domestic dogs, past and ongoing sources of behavioral selection, and the state of canine behavioral genetics. We highlight two naturally disordered behavioral domains that illustrate how dogs may prove useful as a comparative, forward neurogenetic system: canine age-related cognitive dysfunction, which can be examined more rapidly given the attenuated lifespan of dogs, and compulsive disorders, which may have genetic roots in purpose-bred behaviors. Growing community science initiatives aimed at the companion dog population will be well suited to investigating such complex behavioral phenotypes and offer a comparative resource that parallels human genomic initiatives in scale and dimensionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen Morrill
- Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
- Vertebrate Genome Biology, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
| | - Frances Chen
- Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Vertebrate Genome Biology, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Elinor Karlsson
- Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Vertebrate Genome Biology, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
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5
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Salonen M, Mikkola S, Niskanen JE, Hakanen E, Sulkama S, Puurunen J, Lohi H. Breed, age, and social environment are associated with personality traits in dogs. iScience 2023; 26:106691. [PMID: 37168553 PMCID: PMC10165416 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Personality in pets and other domesticated animals is important for their well-being and it can also influence human-animal relationships. Genetic and environmental factors influencing unwanted behavior in dogs are somewhat well known, but the factors influencing dog personality remain understudied. Here we examined environmental and demographic factors associated with seven broad personality traits in a survey of over 11,000 dogs. We utilized linear models and extensive model validation to examine the factors that have the most significant influences on personality and calculated effect sizes to assess the importance of these variables. Breed and age had the strongest associations with dog personality traits. Some environmental factors, especially puppyhood socialization, were also associated with personality. All factors had small effect sizes, highlighting that a lot of variation in personality remains unexplained. Our results indicate that personality traits are complex and strikingly similar in dogs, humans, and other nonhuman animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milla Salonen
- Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Uusimaa, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Uusimaa, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Folkhälsan Research Center, Uusimaa, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, 20014 Southwest Finland, Finland
| | - Salla Mikkola
- Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Uusimaa, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Uusimaa, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Folkhälsan Research Center, Uusimaa, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Julia E. Niskanen
- Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Uusimaa, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Uusimaa, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Folkhälsan Research Center, Uusimaa, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Emma Hakanen
- Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Uusimaa, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Uusimaa, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Folkhälsan Research Center, Uusimaa, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sini Sulkama
- Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Uusimaa, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Uusimaa, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Folkhälsan Research Center, Uusimaa, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jenni Puurunen
- Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Uusimaa, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Uusimaa, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Folkhälsan Research Center, Uusimaa, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Hannes Lohi
- Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Uusimaa, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Uusimaa, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Folkhälsan Research Center, Uusimaa, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
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6
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Santariová M, Polónyiová A, Svobodová I, Procházková R, Chaloupková H. Comparison of the performance of German Shepherds and Belgian Shepherd Malinois in scent detection tests. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2022.105823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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7
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Hammond A, Rowland T, Mills DS, Pilot M. Comparison of behavioural tendencies between "dangerous dogs" and other domestic dog breeds - Evolutionary context and practical implications. Evol Appl 2022; 15:1806-1819. [PMID: 36426126 PMCID: PMC9679229 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Aggressive behaviour by dogs is a considerable social problem, but the ability to predict which individuals may have increased aggressive tendencies is very limited, restricting the development of efficient preventive measures. There is a common perception that certain breeds are more likely to exhibit aggressive behaviour, which has contributed to the introduction of breed-specific legislation. The rationale for such legislation explicitly assumes high heritability of this trait while also implying relatively little variation within breeds; these assumptions are largely untested. We compared behavioural tendencies between 8 breeds that are subject to legislation in at least one country and 17 breeds that are not subject to legislation using two validated psychometric tools: the Dog Impulsivity Assessment Scale (DIAS), which scores elements of impulsivity, including a tendency for aggressive behaviour, and Positive and Negative Activation Scale (PANAS), which scores sensitivity to positive and negative stimuli (which may trigger aggressive responses). We found that the two groups of breeds do not differ significantly in the specific DIAS factor relating to aggressive behaviour, "Aggression Threshold and Response to Novelty", or any other DIAS and PANAS factors. We found large variations in all behavioural tendencies measured by both psychometric scales within both groups and within each breed studied. Taken together, our findings indicate that breed alone is not a reliable predictor of individual behavioural tendencies, including those related to aggression, and therefore breed-specific legislation is unlikely to be an effective instrument for reducing risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexa Hammond
- School of Life SciencesUniversity of LincolnLincolnUK
| | | | | | - Małgorzata Pilot
- School of Life SciencesUniversity of LincolnLincolnUK
- Museum and Institute of ZoologyPolish Academy of SciencesGdańskPoland
- Faculty of BiologyUniversity of GdańskGdańskPoland
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8
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Marcato M, Kenny J, O’Riordan R, O’Mahony C, O’Flynn B, Galvin P. Assistance dog selection and performance assessment methods using behavioural and physiological tools and devices. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2022.105691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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9
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Temperament Assessment Algorithm in Dogs. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12050634. [PMID: 35268203 PMCID: PMC8908977 DOI: 10.3390/ani12050634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The assessment of the personality and temperament of an animal is becoming more popular and appreciated not only by the keepers of working dogs, but also by the owners of companion dogs. The aim of our work was to create a short questionnaire in the form of a table for animal keepers with 24 specific temperament traits listed. Two veterinarians and forty-six animal behaviorists (owners of the observed dogs) participated in the study by observing the behavior of dogs in their natural environment. On the basis of the selected features, the temperament of the dogs was determined and assigned to one of two groups: introverts or extroverts. Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the temperament of dogs on the basis of behavioral observations, with emphasis on 24 selected traits and behaviors. From the observations, the temperament of the dogs was determined and the animals were assigned to one of two personality groups: introvert or extrovert. The study involved 46 dogs. The agglomeration method, Pearson’s 1-r distance, and Ward’s binding method were used. As shown by the statistical analysis, 18 dogs (39%) were assessed as introverts and 28 dogs (61%) exhibited extrovert traits. To construct a model for the assessment of canine temperament using the identified traits, logistic regression was performed with the independent variables, number of extrovert traits (ETs) and introvert traits (ITs), and a dichotomous dependent variable (1 = extrovert, 0 = introvert), reflecting the assessment of the temperament of the dog based on the observations and results of the original questionnaire.
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10
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Leech LE, Preziosi R, Stoycheva R, Pastorino GQ. The Effects of Owner and Domestic Cat (Felis catus) Demographics on Cat Personality Traits. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2022.105570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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11
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Root-Gutteridge H, Brown LP, Forman J, Korzeniowska AT, Simner J, Reby D. Using a new video rating tool to crowd-source analysis of behavioural reaction to stimuli. Anim Cogn 2021; 24:947-956. [PMID: 33751273 PMCID: PMC8360862 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-021-01490-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Quantifying the intensity of animals' reaction to stimuli is notoriously difficult as classic unidimensional measures of responses such as latency or duration of looking can fail to capture the overall strength of behavioural responses. More holistic rating can be useful but have the inherent risks of subjective bias and lack of repeatability. Here, we explored whether crowdsourcing could be used to efficiently and reliably overcome these potential flaws. A total of 396 participants watched online videos of dogs reacting to auditory stimuli and provided 23,248 ratings of the strength of the dogs' responses from zero (default) to 100 using an online survey form. We found that raters achieved very high inter-rater reliability across multiple datasets (although their responses were affected by their sex, age, and attitude towards animals) and that as few as 10 raters could be used to achieve a reliable result. A linear mixed model applied to PCA components of behaviours discovered that the dogs' facial expressions and head orientation influenced the strength of behaviour ratings the most. Further linear mixed models showed that that strength of behaviour ratings was moderately correlated to the duration of dogs' reactions but not to dogs' reaction latency (from the stimulus onset). This suggests that observers' ratings captured consistent dimensions of animals' responses that are not fully represented by more classic unidimensional metrics. Finally, we report that overall participants strongly enjoyed the experience. Thus, we suggest that using crowdsourcing can offer a useful, repeatable tool to assess behavioural intensity in experimental or observational studies where unidimensional coding may miss nuance, or where coding multiple dimensions may be too time-consuming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly Root-Gutteridge
- Mammal Vocal Communication and Cognition Research Group, School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9RH, UK.
- School of Life Sciences, Joseph Banks Laboratories, University of Lincoln, Beevor Street, Lincoln, LN6 7DL, UK.
| | - Louise P Brown
- Mammal Vocal Communication and Cognition Research Group, School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9RH, UK
| | - Jemma Forman
- Mammal Vocal Communication and Cognition Research Group, School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9RH, UK
| | - Anna T Korzeniowska
- Mammal Vocal Communication and Cognition Research Group, School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9RH, UK
| | - Julia Simner
- MULTISENSE Lab, School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9RH, UK
| | - David Reby
- Mammal Vocal Communication and Cognition Research Group, School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9RH, UK
- Equipe Neuro-Ethologie Sensorielle, ENES, CRNL, CNRS UMR5292, INSERM UMR_S 1028, University of Lyon, Saint-Etienne, France
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12
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A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, assessing the effect of a nutraceutical tablet in the management of stress in pet dogs. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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13
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Bednarek E, Sławinska A. Hunt Trials as a Measure to Assess Level of Training in Boarhounds. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11061661. [PMID: 34199674 PMCID: PMC8228753 DOI: 10.3390/ani11061661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 05/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Hunting dogs have been bred for centuries to assist people in their hunting activities. They possess excellent instincts and fitness. Evaluating the skills of hunting dogs is an important source of knowledge on how to use the hunting potential of dogs along with their training. Hunting trials consist of competitions that reflect different hunting situations. The results of the hunt trials of the boarhounds showed that there is a link between factors such as sex, age, breed group and breed and the performance of dogs. Boarhounds learn obedience easily, but they should practice other skills, such as tracking and announcing the game. Among different breed groups of boarhounds, the best performing ones were dachshunds. Abstract Boarhounds are hunting dogs bred for hunting wild boar, including terriers, dachshunds, and hounds. Hunt trials evaluate the individual hunting potential and trainability of the boarhounds in ten different competitions. The aim of this study was to determine the factors influencing the hunt trials for boarhounds in a large cohort of hunting dogs. The analysis was conducted based on the results of hunt trials for boarhounds conducted in 2005–2015. The database contained 1867 individuals belonging to 39 breeds. Effects of sex, age, breed group, and breed were estimated by non-parametric analysis of variance. Sex influenced (p < 0.01) the total score, and in almost all competitions dogs performed better than bitches. Age affected (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05) all competitions, indicating that the dogs perform better with age. The results analyzed by the breed group showed that the dachshunds performed better in courage (p < 0.01) and searching (p < 0.05). Breed influenced (p < 0.01) almost all scores except obedience and tracking on the lead. The best performing breed was Alpine Dachsbracke. In conclusion, all analyzed factors influenced the results of the hunt trials. The factors with the largest impact were breed and age, which reflect both the hunting potential and the level of training of the boarhounds.
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14
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Salonen M, Mikkola S, Hakanen E, Sulkama S, Puurunen J, Lohi H. Reliability and Validity of a Dog Personality and Unwanted Behavior Survey. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:1234. [PMID: 33923262 PMCID: PMC8147106 DOI: 10.3390/ani11051234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Dogs have distinct, consistent personalities, but the structure of dog personality is still unclear. Dog personality and unwanted behavior are often studied with behavioral questionnaires. Even though many questionnaires are reliable and valid measures of behavior, all new questionnaire tools should be extensively validated. Here, we examined the structure of personality and six unwanted behavior questionnaire sections: noise sensitivity, fearfulness, aggression, fear of surfaces and heights, separation anxiety and impulsivity/inattention with factor analyses. Personality consisted of seven factors: Insecurity, Training focus, Energy, Aggressiveness/dominance, Human sociability, Dog sociability and Perseverance. Most unwanted behavior sections included only one factor, but the impulsivity/inattention section divided into two factors (Hyperactivity/impulsivity and Inattention) and the aggression section into four factors (Barking, Stranger directed aggression, Owner directed aggression and Dog directed aggression). We also examined the internal consistency, test-retest reliability, inter-rater reliability and convergent validity of the 17 personality and unwanted behavior traits and discovered excellent reliability and validity. Finally, we investigated the discriminant validity of the personality traits, which was good. Our findings indicate that this personality and unwanted behavior questionnaire is a reliable and valid tool that can be used to study personality and behavior extensively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milla Salonen
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; (M.S.); (S.M.); (E.H.); (S.S.); (J.P.)
- Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Folkhälsan Research Center, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Salla Mikkola
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; (M.S.); (S.M.); (E.H.); (S.S.); (J.P.)
- Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Folkhälsan Research Center, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Emma Hakanen
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; (M.S.); (S.M.); (E.H.); (S.S.); (J.P.)
- Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Folkhälsan Research Center, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sini Sulkama
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; (M.S.); (S.M.); (E.H.); (S.S.); (J.P.)
- Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Folkhälsan Research Center, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jenni Puurunen
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; (M.S.); (S.M.); (E.H.); (S.S.); (J.P.)
- Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Folkhälsan Research Center, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Hannes Lohi
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; (M.S.); (S.M.); (E.H.); (S.S.); (J.P.)
- Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Folkhälsan Research Center, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
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15
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Brown KM, Feuerbacher EN, Hall NJ, Protopopova A. Minor procedural variations affect canine behavior during sociability assessments. Behav Processes 2020; 177:104145. [PMID: 32445855 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2020.104145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Revised: 05/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
A growing number of studies make claims about canine sociability in both applied and basic contexts. Yet, there is currently no standard for measuring sociability in dogs. The purpose of this two-part study was to determine whether procedural differences among canine sociability tests would affect dogs' behavior. In Experiment 1, we used a mixed-subjects design to assess whether experimenter position (standing, sitting, or kneeling) and presence of affection (petting and praise or none) affected leashed dogs' social behavior. Mixed-effect logistic regression modeling showed statistically significant main effects and interactions between posture and social contact. On average, dogs were more social when the experimenter knelt and provided social contact. However, there were individual differences in how dogs were affected by changes in procedure. In Experiment 2, we examined correspondence between leashed and unleashed dogs' social behaviors including time in proximity, following patterns, eye gaze, body orientation, jumping, and touching. Individual differences were examined by calculating a binomial mixed-effect logistic regression with condition (leashed, off-leash, following) and subject ID as fixed effects. Interactions were statistically significant for all behaviors, indicating that individual differences were present. The results have implications for the validity of sociability tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsea M Brown
- Animal and Food Science Department, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, United States.
| | - Erica N Feuerbacher
- Department of Animal and Poultry Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Nathaniel J Hall
- Animal and Food Science Department, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, United States
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Wallis LJ, Szabó D, Kubinyi E. Cross-Sectional Age Differences in Canine Personality Traits; Influence of Breed, Sex, Previous Trauma, and Dog Obedience Tasks. Front Vet Sci 2020; 6:493. [PMID: 31993445 PMCID: PMC6971055 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2019.00493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The dog has been suggested as a possible model for personality development over the lifespan, however, we know little about how aging may shape their personality or the magnitude of age-related changes. Previously we established that aging influences multiple dog demographics, which could also affect how personality traits change across different age periods. A demographic questionnaire and the Dog Personality Questionnaire were completed for a cross-sectional sample of 1,207 adult dogs living in Hungary (Mage = 7.71, SD = 4.12), split into six different age groups. Results revealed three of the five factors showed significant age effects. Activity/Excitability decreased with age, and whilst Responsiveness to training also decreased, only dogs older than 12 years differed significantly from the other groups. Aggressiveness toward animals showed a quadratic trajectory peaking in dogs aged 6–10 years. The greatest magnitude of age-related change was detected between late senior and geriatric ages, likely caused by compensatory behavioral changes to biological aging and owner attitudes to aging. When the models were re-run including the other explanatory variables, age group was no longer significant for the Responsiveness to training trait. The amount of time spent interacting/playing with the owner partially mediated the relationship between age and this trait, implying that interventions to increase play and training motivation may alleviate the negative effects of aging on dogs' trainability. Fifteen out of 28 explanatory variables were significantly associated with at least one of the five factors [weight, breed (pure/mixed breed), sex, off-leash activity, diet, previous trauma, age of dog when arrived in the household, play, dog training activities, number of known commands and dog obedience tasks]. Similarly to humans, dogs that had previously experienced trauma scored higher in fearfulness and aggression. A higher level of basic obedience was linked to some desirable dog personality traits (lower Fearfulness and Aggression, and higher Activity/Excitability and Responsiveness to training). Regardless of the direction of this relationship, obedience is an important aspect contributing to dog personality questionnaires and the dog-owner relationship. This study is unique in that it considered a wide variety of demographic variables which are influenced by aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa J Wallis
- Department of Ethology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Dóra Szabó
- Department of Ethology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Enikő Kubinyi
- Department of Ethology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
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Dollion N, Paulus A, Champagne N, St-Pierre N, St-Pierre É, Trudel M, Plusquellec P. Fear/Reactivity in working dogs: An analysis of 37 years of behavioural data from the Mira Foundation’s future service dogs. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2019.104864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Turcsán B, Wallis L, Virányi Z, Range F, Müller CA, Huber L, Riemer S. Personality traits in companion dogs-Results from the VIDOPET. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0195448. [PMID: 29634747 PMCID: PMC5892901 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0195448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2017] [Accepted: 03/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Individual behavioural differences in pet dogs are of great interest from a basic and applied research perspective. Most existing dog personality tests have specific (practical) goals in mind and so focused only on a limited aspect of dogs' personality, such as identifying problematic (aggressive or fearful) behaviours, assessing suitability as working dogs, or improving the results of adoption. Here we aimed to create a comprehensive test of personality in pet dogs that goes beyond traditional practical evaluations by exposing pet dogs to a range of situations they might encounter in everyday life. The Vienna Dog Personality Test (VIDOPET) consists of 15 subtests and was performed on 217 pet dogs. A two-step data reduction procedure (principal component analysis on each subtest followed by an exploratory factor analysis on the subtest components) yielded five factors: Sociability-obedience, Activity-independence, Novelty seeking, Problem orientation, and Frustration tolerance. A comprehensive evaluation of reliability and validity measures demonstrated excellent inter- and intra-observer reliability and adequate internal consistency of all factors. Moreover the test showed good temporal consistency when re-testing a subsample of dogs after an average of 3.8 years-a considerably longer test-retest interval than assessed for any other dog personality test, to our knowledge. The construct validity of the test was investigated by analysing the correlations between the results of video coding and video rating methods and the owners' assessment via a dog personality questionnaire. The results demonstrated good convergent as well as discriminant validity. To conclude, the VIDOPET is not only a highly reliable and valid tool for measuring dog personality, but also the first test to show consistent behavioural traits related to problem solving ability and frustration tolerance in pet dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Borbála Turcsán
- Clever Dog Lab, Comparative Cognition, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna and University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Ethology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
- Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Lisa Wallis
- Clever Dog Lab, Comparative Cognition, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna and University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Ethology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zsófia Virányi
- Clever Dog Lab, Comparative Cognition, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna and University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Friederike Range
- Clever Dog Lab, Comparative Cognition, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna and University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Corsin A. Müller
- Clever Dog Lab, Comparative Cognition, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna and University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ludwig Huber
- Clever Dog Lab, Comparative Cognition, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna and University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Stefanie Riemer
- Clever Dog Lab, Comparative Cognition, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna and University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Division of Animal Welfare, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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Olsen MR. A case for methodological overhaul and increased study of executive function in the domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris). Anim Cogn 2018; 21:175-195. [PMID: 29380086 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-018-1162-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2017] [Revised: 01/14/2018] [Accepted: 01/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Executive function (EF) allows for self-regulation of behavior including maintaining focus in the face of distraction, inhibiting behavior that is suboptimal or inappropriate in a given context, and updating the contents of working memory. While EF has been studied extensively in humans, it has only recently become a topic of research in the domestic dog. In this paper, I argue for increased study of dog EF by explaining how it might influence the owner-dog bond, human safety, and dog welfare, as well as reviewing the current literature dedicated to EF in dogs. In "EF and its Application to "Man's Best Friend" section, I briefly describe EF and how it is relevant to dog behavior. In "Previous investigations into EF in dogs" section, I provide a review of the literature pertaining to EF in dogs, specifically tasks used to assess abilities like inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, and working memory capacity. In "Insights and limitations of previous studies" section, I consider limitations of existing studies that must be addressed in future research. Finally, in "Future directions" section, I propose future directions for meaningful research on EF in dogs.
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Bálint A, Rieger G, Miklósi Á, Pongrácz P. Assessment of owner-directed aggressive behavioural tendencies of dogs in situations of possession and manipulation. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2017; 4:171040. [PMID: 29134099 PMCID: PMC5666282 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.171040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2017] [Accepted: 09/18/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Excessive aggression is a common behaviour problem in dogs that can have various destructive effects on the affected people and the implicated dog. Aggressive behaviour directed towards the owner or other family members is one of the most frequently occurring aggressive phenotypes. Here, we examine the reliability of a short questionnaire assessing aggressive behaviours by two, contextually different behavioural tests: 'take away bone' and 'roll over'. Based on dogs' behaviour in the tests, we sorted dogs (N = 93) in two groups for each test, namely a less and a more disobedient/resistant group. The two principal components obtained in our questionnaire-'obedient' and 'aggressive towards owner'-showed significant differences between the behaviour groups. While dogs in the less disobedient/resistant groups had significantly higher 'obedient' and significantly lower 'aggressive towards owner' scores, dogs in the more disobedient/resistant groups had significantly higher 'aggressive towards owner' and significantly lower 'obedient' scores. Dogs' age, sex and neuter/spay status expressed their effect through interactions. Males, young dogs and intact dogs were less 'obedient' than older ones, while resistant spayed/neutered dogs were more aggressive towards the owner. The questionnaire used is a safe, easy to deploy and time-efficient tool to reliably assess certain owner-directed aggressive tendencies of family dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Bálint
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Gabriella Rieger
- Department of Ethology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ádám Miklósi
- Department of Ethology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
- MTA-ELTE Comparative Ethology Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Péter Pongrácz
- Department of Ethology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
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Braem M, Asher L, Furrer S, Lechner I, Würbel H, Melotti L. Development of the "Highly Sensitive Dog" questionnaire to evaluate the personality dimension "Sensory Processing Sensitivity" in dogs. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0177616. [PMID: 28520773 PMCID: PMC5433715 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0177616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2016] [Accepted: 04/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In humans, the personality dimension 'sensory processing sensitivity (SPS)', also referred to as "high sensitivity", involves deeper processing of sensory information, which can be associated with physiological and behavioral overarousal. However, it has not been studied up to now whether this dimension also exists in other species. SPS can influence how people perceive the environment and how this affects them, thus a similar dimension in animals would be highly relevant with respect to animal welfare. We therefore explored whether SPS translates to dogs, one of the primary model species in personality research. A 32-item questionnaire to assess the "highly sensitive dog score" (HSD-s) was developed based on the "highly sensitive person" (HSP) questionnaire. A large-scale, international online survey was conducted, including the HSD questionnaire, as well as questions on fearfulness, neuroticism, "demographic" (e.g. dog sex, age, weight; age at adoption, etc.) and "human" factors (e.g. owner age, sex, profession, communication style, etc.), and the HSP questionnaire. Data were analyzed using linear mixed effect models with forward stepwise selection to test prediction of HSD-s by the above-mentioned factors, with country of residence and dog breed treated as random effects. A total of 3647 questionnaires were fully completed. HSD-, fearfulness, neuroticism and HSP-scores showed good internal consistencies, and HSD-s only moderately correlated with fearfulness and neuroticism scores, paralleling previous findings in humans. Intra- (N = 447) and inter-rater (N = 120) reliabilities were good. Demographic and human factors, including HSP score, explained only a small amount of the variance of HSD-s. A PCA analysis identified three subtraits of SPS, comparable to human findings. Overall, the measured personality dimension in dogs showed good internal consistency, partial independence from fearfulness and neuroticism, and good intra- and inter-rater reliability, indicating good construct validity of the HSD questionnaire. Human and demographic factors only marginally affected the HSD-s suggesting that, as hypothesized for human SPS, a genetic basis may underlie this dimension within the dog species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Braem
- Division of Animal Welfare, Veterinary Public Health Institute, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
| | - Lucy Asher
- Centre for Behaviour and Evolution, Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom
| | - Sibylle Furrer
- Division of Animal Welfare, Veterinary Public Health Institute, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland
| | - Isabel Lechner
- Veterinary Public Health Institute, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland
| | - Hanno Würbel
- Division of Animal Welfare, Veterinary Public Health Institute, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland
| | - Luca Melotti
- Division of Animal Welfare, Veterinary Public Health Institute, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland
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Owner-reported personality assessments are associated with breed groups but not with oxytocin receptor gene polymorphisms in domestic dogs (Canis familiaris). J Vet Behav 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2016.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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24
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Posluns JA, Anderson RE, Walsh CJ. Comparing two canine personality assessments: Convergence of the MCPQ-R and DPQ and consensus between dog owners and dog walkers. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2016.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Rayment DJ, Peters RA, Marston LC, Groef BD. Investigating canine personality structure using owner questionnaires measuring pet dog behaviour and personality. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2016.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Barnard S, Marshall-Pescini S, Passalacqua C, Beghelli V, Capra A, Normando S, Pelosi A, Valsecchi P. Does Subjective Rating Reflect Behavioural Coding? Personality in 2 Month-Old Dog Puppies: An Open-Field Test and Adjective-Based Questionnaire. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0149831. [PMID: 26977588 PMCID: PMC4792536 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0149831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2014] [Accepted: 02/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A number of studies have recently investigated personality traits in non-human species, with the dog gaining popularity as a subject species for research in this area. Recent research has shown the consistency of personality traits across both context and time for adult dogs, both when using questionnaire based methods of investigation and behavioural analyses of the dogs' behaviour. However, only a few studies have assessed the correspondence between these two methods, with results varying considerably across studies. Furthermore, most studies have focused on adult dogs, despite the fact that an understanding of personality traits in young puppies may be important for research focusing on the genetic basis of personality traits. In the current study, we sought to evaluate the correspondence between a questionnaire based method and the in depth analyses of the behaviour of 2-month old puppies in an open-field test in which a number of both social and non-social stimuli were presented to the subjects. We further evaluated consistency of traits over time by re-testing a subset of puppies. The correspondence between methods was high and test- retest consistency (for the main trait) was also good using both evaluation methods. Results showed clear factors referring to the two main personality traits 'extroversion,' (i.e. the enthusiastic, exuberant approach to the stimuli) and 'neuroticism,' (i.e. the more cautious and fearful approach to the stimuli), potentially similar to the shyness-boldness dimension found in previous studies. Furthermore, both methods identified an 'amicability' dimension, expressing the positive interactions the pups directed at the humans stranger, and a 'reservedness' dimension which identified pups who largely chose not to interact with the stimuli, and were defined as quiet and not nosey in the questionnaire.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanis Barnard
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Sarah Marshall-Pescini
- Comparative Cognition, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Wolf Science Centre, Ernstbrunn, Austria
| | - Chiara Passalacqua
- Sez. di Neuroscienze, Dipartimento di Fisiopatologia medico-chirurgica e dei Trapianti, Università di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Valentina Beghelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche Veterinarie, Università degli Studi di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Alexa Capra
- Gentle Team, Associazione Sportiva Dilettantistica, Asti, Italy
| | - Simona Normando
- Dipartimento di Biomedicina Comparata e Alimentazione, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Annalisa Pelosi
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Paola Valsecchi
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy
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Fadel FR, Driscoll P, Pilot M, Wright H, Zulch H, Mills D. Differences in Trait Impulsivity Indicate Diversification of Dog Breeds into Working and Show Lines. Sci Rep 2016; 6:22162. [PMID: 26963916 PMCID: PMC4785826 DOI: 10.1038/srep22162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2015] [Accepted: 02/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Impulsiveness describes the inability to inhibit behaviour in the presence of salient cues. Trait-level impulsivity exists on a continuum and individual differences can be adaptive in different contexts. While breed related differences in behavioural tendency in the domestic dog (Canis familiaris) are well established, the phenomenon within lines of a breed which have been selected more recently is not well studied, although it may challenge the popular notion of breed-typical behaviour. We describe differences in impulsivity between and within two dog breeds with working and show lines selected for different levels of impulsivity: Border Collies (herding work) and Labrador Retrievers (gun work). Recent show line selection might have lessened differences in impulsivity between breeds. We tested this hypothesis on a dataset of 1161 individuals assessed using a validated psychometric tool (Dog Impulsivity Assessment Scale - DIAS). Collies were more impulsive on average, consistent with the original purpose of breed selection. Regarding line, working Collies differed from working Labradors, but show lines from the two breeds were not significantly different. Altered or relaxed artificial selection for behavioural traits when appearance rather than behaviour become the primary focus for breeders may reduce average differences in impulsivity between breeds in show lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Ruiz Fadel
- University of Lincoln, School of Life Sciences, Joseph Banks Laboratories, Lincoln, LN6 7DL, UK
| | - Patricia Driscoll
- University of Lincoln, School of Life Sciences, Joseph Banks Laboratories, Lincoln, LN6 7DL, UK
| | - Malgorzata Pilot
- University of Lincoln, School of Life Sciences, Joseph Banks Laboratories, Lincoln, LN6 7DL, UK
| | - Hannah Wright
- University of Lincoln, School of Life Sciences, Joseph Banks Laboratories, Lincoln, LN6 7DL, UK
| | - Helen Zulch
- University of Lincoln, School of Life Sciences, Joseph Banks Laboratories, Lincoln, LN6 7DL, UK
| | - Daniel Mills
- University of Lincoln, School of Life Sciences, Joseph Banks Laboratories, Lincoln, LN6 7DL, UK
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Coleman JA, Green B, Garthe RC, Worthington EL, Barker SB, Ingram KM. The Coleman Dog Attitude Scale (C-DAS): Development, refinement, validation, and reliability. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2016.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Bradshaw JW, Blackwell EJ, Casey RA. Dominance in domestic dogs—A response to Schilder et al. (2014). J Vet Behav 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2015.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Rayment DJ, De Groef B, Peters RA, Marston LC. Applied personality assessment in domestic dogs: Limitations and caveats. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2014.11.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Temesi A, Turcsán B, Miklósi Á. Measuring fear in dogs by questionnaires: An exploratory study toward a standardized inventory. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2014.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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McGarrity ME, Sinn DL, Gosling SD. Which personality dimensions do puppy tests measure? A systematic procedure for categorizing behavioral assays. Behav Processes 2014; 110:117-24. [PMID: 25267465 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2014.09.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2014] [Revised: 09/15/2014] [Accepted: 09/18/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
With the recent increase in interest in personality in dogs, behavioral assays of their behavior have proliferated. There has been particularly strong interest in predicting adult behavior from puppy tests. As a result, researchers and practitioners seeking to measure personality in puppies are faced with a bewildering array of options and no clear guide as to what behavioral assays have been developed or which personality dimensions those assays measure effectively. To address this issue, we used an 'expert-categorization' procedure-a standardized method often used in the course of meta-analyses-to identify the subset of those assays consensually judged to measure major personality dimensions effectively. We used this procedure to identify all relevant puppy tests and to categorize them in terms of their ability to measure nine personality dimensions identified in previous research (activity, aggressiveness, boldness/self-assuredness, exploration, fearfulness/nervousness, reactivity, sociability, submissiveness, trainability/responsiveness). Specifically, we identified 264 assay subtests, derived from 47 studies, which were subjected to a standardized categorization procedure undertaken independently by six expert judges. These procedures yielded a set of behavioral tests judged to measure the nine dimensions effectively and also demonstrated a widely applicable method for developing and evaluating behavioral test batteries. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Canine Behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica E McGarrity
- University of Texas at Austin, Department of Psychology, 108 E. Dean Keeton Stop A8000, Austin, TX 78712-1043, USA; Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 4200 Smith School Rd., Austin TX 78744, USA
| | - David L Sinn
- University of Texas at Austin, Department of Psychology, 108 E. Dean Keeton Stop A8000, Austin, TX 78712-1043, USA; University of Tasmania, School of Biological Sciences, Private Bag 5, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia.
| | - Samuel D Gosling
- University of Texas at Austin, Department of Psychology, 108 E. Dean Keeton Stop A8000, Austin, TX 78712-1043, USA
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Patronek GJ, Sacks JJ, Delise KM, Cleary DV, Marder AR. Co-occurrence of potentially preventable factors in 256 dog bite-related fatalities in the United States (2000-2009). J Am Vet Med Assoc 2014; 243:1726-36. [PMID: 24299544 DOI: 10.2460/javma.243.12.1726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine potentially preventable factors in human dog bite-related fatalities (DBRFs) on the basis of data from sources that were more complete, verifiable, and accurate than media reports used in previous studies. DESIGN Prospective case series. SAMPLE 56 DBRFs occurring in the United States from 2000 to 2009. PROCEDURES DBRFs were identified from media reports and detailed histories were compiled on the basis of reports from homicide detectives, animal control reports, and interviews with investigators for coding and descriptive analysis. RESULTS Major co-occurrent factors for the 256 DBRFs included absence of an able-bodied person to intervene (n = 223 [87.1%]), incidental or no familiar relationship of victims with dogs (218 [85.2%]), owner failure to neuter dogs (216 [84.4%]), compromised ability of victims to interact appropriately with dogs (198 [77.4%]), dogs kept isolated from regular positive human interactions versus family dogs (195 [76.2%]), owners' prior mismanagement of dogs (96 [37.5%]), and owners' history of abuse or neglect of dogs (54 [21.1%]). Four or more of these factors co-occurred in 206 (80.5%) deaths. For 401 dogs described in various media accounts, reported breed differed for 124 (30.9%); for 346 dogs with both media and animal control breed reports, breed differed for 139 (40.2%). Valid breed determination was possible for only 45 (17.6%) DBRFs; 20 breeds, including 2 known mixes, were identified. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Most DBRFs were characterized by coincident, preventable factors; breed was not one of these. Study results supported previous recommendations for multifactorial approaches, instead of single-factor solutions such as breed-specific legislation, for dog bite prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary J Patronek
- Center for Animals and Public Policy, Department of Environmental and Population Health, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, North Grafton, MA 01536
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Foyer P, Bjällerhag N, Wilsson E, Jensen P. Behaviour and experiences of dogs during the first year of life predict the outcome in a later temperament test. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2014.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Mehrkam LR, Wynne CD. Behavioral differences among breeds of domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris): Current status of the science. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2014.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Mirkó E, Dóka A, Miklósi Á. Association between subjective rating and behaviour coding and the role of experience in making video assessments on the personality of the domestic dog (Canis familiaris). Appl Anim Behav Sci 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2013.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Ottenheimer Carrier L, Cyr A, Anderson RE, Walsh CJ. Exploring the dog park: Relationships between social behaviours, personality and cortisol in companion dogs. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2013.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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