Patrol dog training and its positive consequences: The Belgian example
1
temperamental stability (Multiple Regressions statistics) by multiple regressions of an adult dog’s behavior (PC at 15 months) on that of own behavior as a puppy (PC from 0 to 7 weeks of age, and at 2 months). Our results point to potential new variables from PCs that could be grouped under one or two behavioral traits: activity and vocalization (from birth to 7 weeks), fear of social and en- vironmental stimuli (at 2 months), and absence of fear of environmental stimuli (at 15 months). Preliminary findings suggest that variability of temperament of adult dogs could be foreseeable at 2 months of age and earlier, but the results are still under analysis. We will looking at other variables such as age of eye opening, duration of contact with the mother and age of appearance of auditory orien- tation, that may also help to predict adult dog behavior. This research suggests that the use of specific testing for aggressiveness and/or fearfulness during behavioral ontogeny might increase the accuracy of prediction of such traits. Key words: reactivity; ontogeny; coping strategies BEHAVIORAL DOG TESTING, HOW FAR FROM THE FIELD? C. Diederich*, G. Verplancke, J.-M. Giffroy Laboratory of Anatomy and Ethology of Domestic Animals, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Sciences, University of Namur (FUNDP), Namur, Belgium *Corresponding author: [email protected] Behavioral testing in dogs for particular purposes (i.e., for identification of individuals adapted to a particular work, or to adoption, or suspected to bite if challenged) has received deepened attention from the scientific world. Their data has come either from the dog’s usual environment (i.e., work- ing or training place, shelter) or from controlled laboratory situations. All of those works share the same requirements: standardization and validation from which results can be drawn. A critical review of their methodology will be presented. On the other hand, there is the ‘‘real world,’’ in which humans and dogs are engaged closely in common activities (i.e., dog breeding or dog training). To benefit from empirical experi- ence, we tried, after interviews of experienced breeders on ’’What are your behavioral indicators to select appropriate puppies within a litter?’’, to differentiate between individuals according to their feeding behavior (teat order during 1 and 2 weeks of age), resting behavior (sleeping place in the nest from birth to week 2), and exploratory behaviors (exploration out of the nest, weeks 3 and 4). Even if those variables were presented as useful selective tools and implemented by those experienced breeders, we were not able to validate them despite a protocol that planned to mimic an amateur breeding surrounding. Key words: standardization; generalization; validation; applied ethology PATROL DOG TRAINING AND ITS POSITIVE CONSEQUENCES: THE BELGIAN EXAMPLE A. Haverbeke a,b , F. Messaoudi a , E. Depiereux c , M. Stevens b , J.M. Giffroy a , C. Diederich a, * a Laboratory of Anatomy and Ethology of Domestic Animals, University of Namur (FUNDP), Namur, Belgium b Veterinary Service of the Belgian Defense, Evere, Belgium c Laboratory of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, URBM, University of Namur (FUNDP), Belgium *Corresponding author: [email protected] The study of human-dog interaction has increased over the past several years. It has been demonstrated that dogs can use a number of human social cues to successfully accom- plish a task, and that they do so better than apes. Many authors agree that these abilities stem from 10 000 years of domestication by humans. Domestication may have genet- ically predisposed dogs to accurately recognize human communication signals. However, only a few authors have studied the performance of working dogs, implying recog- nition of human communication signals. Haverbeke et al. (2008) found that military working dogs do not always perform as they are expected to do. To investigate this finding, we studied the performance of obedience and protection exercises between 2 groups of dog-handler teams: a control group (CG), trained with the actual training method used by the Belgian Defense, and an experimental group (EG) that underwent a new human familiarization and training program (HFTP). During obe- dience and protection work exercises, EG teams obtained better results than CG teams, and EG dogs exhibited a higher body posture than CG dogs. The results suggest that even if dogs are genetically predisposed toward the recog- nition of human communication signals, this aptitude alone does not explain the dogs’ performance and their interac- tions with humans in this study. Regular training combined with positive dog-handler interaction is also required to improve the dog-handler team’s performance. Key words: working dogs; human-animal interaction; welfare; distraction; training HERITABILITY OF MOTIVATION-RELATED TRAITS IN LABRADOR RETRIEVER DETECTOR DOGS Elizabeth Hare a, *, Scott G. Thomas b a Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX b TSA Canine Breeding and Development Center, Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX *Corresponding author: [email protected] In the United States Transportation Security Administration detector dog program, a dog’s motivation to learn and perform its work effectively relies on its desire to possess, 238 Journal of Veterinary Behavior, Vol 4, No 6, November/December 2009
-
Upload
a-haverbeke -
Category
Documents
-
view
214 -
download
0
Transcript of Patrol dog training and its positive consequences: The Belgian example
238 Journal of V
temperamental stability (Multiple Regressions statistics)by multiple regressions of an adult dog’s behavior (PCat 15 months) on that of own behavior as a puppy (PCfrom 0 to 7 weeks of age, and at 2 months). Our resultspoint to potential new variables from PCs that could begrouped under one or two behavioral traits: activity andvocalization (from birth to 7 weeks), fear of social and en-vironmental stimuli (at 2 months), and absence of fear ofenvironmental stimuli (at 15 months). Preliminary findingssuggest that variability of temperament of adult dogscould be foreseeable at 2 months of age and earlier, butthe results are still under analysis. We will looking at othervariables such as age of eye opening, duration of contactwith the mother and age of appearance of auditory orien-tation, that may also help to predict adult dog behavior.This research suggests that the use of specific testing foraggressiveness and/or fearfulness during behavioralontogeny might increase the accuracy of prediction ofsuch traits.
Key words: reactivity; ontogeny; coping strategies
BEHAVIORAL DOG TESTING, HOW FAR FROM THE FIELD?C. Diederich*, G. Verplancke, J.-M. GiffroyLaboratory of Anatomy and Ethology of DomesticAnimals, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty ofSciences, University of Namur (FUNDP), Namur, Belgium*Corresponding author: [email protected]
Behavioral testing in dogs for particular purposes (i.e., foridentification of individuals adapted to a particular work, orto adoption, or suspected to bite if challenged) has receiveddeepened attention from the scientific world. Their data hascome either from the dog’s usual environment (i.e., work-ing or training place, shelter) or from controlled laboratorysituations. All of those works share the same requirements:standardization and validation from which results can bedrawn. A critical review of their methodology will bepresented.On the other hand, there is the ‘‘real world,’’ in which humansand dogs are engaged closely in common activities (i.e., dogbreeding or dog training). To benefit from empirical experi-ence, we tried, after interviews of experienced breeders on’’What are your behavioral indicators to select appropriatepuppies within a litter?’’, to differentiate between individualsaccording to their feeding behavior (teat order during 1 and 2weeks of age), resting behavior (sleeping place in the nestfrom birth to week 2), and exploratory behaviors (explorationout of the nest, weeks 3 and 4).Even if those variables were presented as useful selectivetools and implemented by those experienced breeders, wewere not able to validate them despite a protocol thatplanned to mimic an amateur breeding surrounding.
Key words: standardization; generalization; validation;applied ethology
PATROL DOG TRAINING AND ITS POSITIVECONSEQUENCES: THE BELGIAN EXAMPLEA. Haverbekea,b, F. Messaoudia, E. Depiereuxc,M. Stevensb, J.M. Giffroya, C. Diedericha,*aLaboratory of Anatomy and Ethology of DomesticAnimals, University of Namur (FUNDP), Namur, BelgiumbVeterinary Service of the Belgian Defense, Evere,BelgiumcLaboratory of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, URBM,University of Namur (FUNDP), Belgium*Corresponding author: [email protected]
The study of human-dog interaction has increased over thepast several years. It has been demonstrated that dogs canuse a number of human social cues to successfully accom-plish a task, and that they do so better than apes. Manyauthors agree that these abilities stem from 10 000 years ofdomestication by humans. Domestication may have genet-ically predisposed dogs to accurately recognize humancommunication signals. However, only a few authors havestudied the performance of working dogs, implying recog-nition of human communication signals. Haverbeke et al.(2008) found that military working dogs do not alwaysperform as they are expected to do. To investigate thisfinding, we studied the performance of obedience andprotection exercises between 2 groups of dog-handlerteams: a control group (CG), trained with the actualtraining method used by the Belgian Defense, and anexperimental group (EG) that underwent a new humanfamiliarization and training program (HFTP). During obe-dience and protection work exercises, EG teams obtainedbetter results than CG teams, and EG dogs exhibited ahigher body posture than CG dogs. The results suggest thateven if dogs are genetically predisposed toward the recog-nition of human communication signals, this aptitude alonedoes not explain the dogs’ performance and their interac-tions with humans in this study. Regular training combinedwith positive dog-handler interaction is also required toimprove the dog-handler team’s performance.
Key words: working dogs; human-animal interaction;welfare; distraction; training
eterinary Behavior, Vol 4, No 6, November/December 2009
HERITABILITY OF MOTIVATION-RELATED TRAITSIN LABRADOR RETRIEVER DETECTOR DOGSElizabeth Harea,*, Scott G. Thomasb
aDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Texas HealthScience Center, San Antonio, TXbTSA Canine Breeding and Development Center, LacklandAFB, San Antonio, TX*Corresponding author: [email protected]
In the United States Transportation Security Administrationdetector dog program, a dog’s motivation to learn andperform its work effectively relies on its desire to possess,
