Testing fear and aggression in adult patrol dogs
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Abstracts GENETIC ANALYSIS OF HERDING BEHAVIOR IN SWEDISH BORDER COLLIE DOGS Per Arvelius a, *, Sofia Malm a , Kenth Svartberg b , Erling Strandberg a a Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden b Svartbergs hundkunskap, Sweden *Corresponding author: [email protected] From 1989 until 2003, the Swedish Sheep Dog Society used a standardized method, HBC (Herding Behavior Characteri- zation), to characterize herding behavior of individual border collies. The dogs’ typical herding behavior was described using predefined scales. During the period, 2 different record- ing protocols were used. In total, 2700 dogs participated. Heritability estimates for the 17 traits of the earlier version of the HBC ranged from 0.14-0.50 (average 0.30), all statistically significantly different from zero. Correspond- ing heritabilities for the later version were substantially lower. There are several possible explanations for this finding. For example the scales, that is, the way the traits were recorded, might have had a less appropriate construc- tion in the later version. A factor analysis suggested that the traits measured can be explained by 4 overall traits with heritabilities ranging from 0.30-0.55. Owing to the moderate to high heritabilities, it would be possible to accomplish effective selection of breeding animals for most of the measured traits. Key words: breeding; heritability; sheep dog; selection; herding TESTING FEAR AND AGGRESSION IN ADULT PATROL DOGS A. Haverbeke a,b , C. Rzepa a , E. Depiereux c , J. Deroo b , J.M. Giffroy a , C. Diederich a, * a Laboratory of Anatomy and Ethology of Domestic Animals, University of Namur (FUNDP), Namur, Belgium b Belgian Defence, Oud-Heverlee, Belgium c Laboratory of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, URBM, University of Namur (FUNDP), Belgium *Corresponding author: [email protected] It has been shown that Belgian military working dogs exhibit fearful and aggressive behavior toward humans and unknown environments. This study aims to assess the effects of a new Human Familiarization and Training Program (HFTP, based on positive and more frequent dog-handler interactions and training) on fearfulness and aggressiveness of military working dogs (MWDs). We predicted that an experimental group of dogs submitted to this program (5 EG dogs) would be less fearful and aggressive during an aggression test than a control group of dogs (CG dogs). We found a significant decrease of fearfulness (higher posture and less yawning) and aggressiveness among EG dogs. We interpreted this decrease of fearfulness and aggressiveness as a positive effect of the HFTP on the dogs’ self-confidence and welfare, as it offered a more social (intra- and interspecific) and environmentally enriched experience and induced a better working dog- handler relationship. Key words: working dogs; enrichment program; behavioral test; fear; MWD TEMPERAMENT TESTING, FROM PUPPIES TO ADULTHOOD C. Diederich*, 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 temperament can be defined as the emotional characteristic of an individual. Among other properties, temperament is precocious and stable across time and situations. Among temperament traits, boldness and aggressivity are traits that need special attention when dog-human relationships are considered. As part of efforts to help preventing biting by dogs, it appears important to be able to assess individual level of aggressiveness as early as possible in dogs. This early assessment will help proposing individually tailored education and training as well as best fitted dog placements. Our study was aimed at determining the stability of temperament over the course of behavioral development in domestic dogs, Canis famil- iaris. The behavior of 31 dogs was analyzed from birth to the age of 15 months in a three-stage research plan: Stage (1): Identification, among a set of 520 behavioral varia- bles, of the ones which best differentiate dogs. Stage (2): Summary of the information from the aforementioned variables and definition of new variables by means of Prin- cipal Component analysis (PC). Stage (3): Prediction of 1558-7878/$ - see front matter Ó 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Journal of Veterinary Behavior (2009) 4, 237–257
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Transcript of Testing fear and aggression in adult patrol dogs
1558-7878/$ - s
Journal of Veterinary Behavior (2009) 4, 237–257
Abstracts
GENETIC ANALYSIS OF HERDING BEHAVIOR IN SWEDISHBORDER COLLIE DOGSPer Arveliusa,*, Sofia Malma, Kenth Svartbergb,Erling Strandberga
aDepartment of Animal Breeding and Genetics, SwedishUniversity of Agricultural Sciences, SwedenbSvartbergs hundkunskap, Sweden*Corresponding author: [email protected]
From 1989 until 2003, the Swedish Sheep Dog Society used astandardized method, HBC (Herding Behavior Characteri-zation), to characterize herding behavior of individual bordercollies. The dogs’ typical herding behavior was describedusing predefined scales. During the period, 2 different record-ing protocols were used. In total, 2700 dogs participated.Heritability estimates for the 17 traits of the earlier versionof the HBC ranged from 0.14-0.50 (average 0.30), allstatistically significantly different from zero. Correspond-ing heritabilities for the later version were substantiallylower. There are several possible explanations for thisfinding. For example the scales, that is, the way the traitswere recorded, might have had a less appropriate construc-tion in the later version.A factor analysis suggested that the traits measured can beexplained by 4 overall traits with heritabilities ranging from0.30-0.55. Owing to the moderate to high heritabilities, itwould be possible to accomplish effective selection ofbreeding animals for most of the measured traits.
Key words: breeding; heritability; sheep dog; selection;herding
TESTING FEAR AND AGGRESSION IN ADULT PATROLDOGSA. Haverbekea,b, C. Rzepaa, E. Depiereuxc, J. Deroob,J.M. Giffroya, C. Diedericha,*aLaboratory of Anatomy and Ethology of DomesticAnimals, University of Namur (FUNDP), Namur, BelgiumbBelgian Defence, Oud-Heverlee, BelgiumcLaboratory of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, URBM,University of Namur (FUNDP), Belgium*Corresponding author: [email protected]
It has been shown that Belgian military working dogs exhibitfearful and aggressive behavior toward humans and unknown
ee front matter � 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
environments. This study aims to assess the effects of a newHuman Familiarization and Training Program (HFTP, basedon positive and more frequent dog-handler interactions andtraining) on fearfulness and aggressiveness of militaryworking dogs (MWDs). We predicted that an experimentalgroup of dogs submitted to this program (5 EG dogs) wouldbe less fearful and aggressive during an aggression test than acontrol group of dogs (CG dogs). We found a significantdecrease of fearfulness (higher posture and less yawning) andaggressiveness among EG dogs. We interpreted this decreaseof fearfulness and aggressiveness as a positive effect of theHFTP on the dogs’self-confidence and welfare, as it offered amore social (intra- and interspecific) and environmentallyenriched experience and induced a better working dog-handler relationship.
Key words: working dogs; enrichment program; behavioraltest; fear; MWD
TEMPERAMENT TESTING, FROM PUPPIES TO ADULTHOODC. Diederich*, 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 temperament can be defined as the emotionalcharacteristic of an individual. Among other properties,temperament is precocious and stable across time andsituations. Among temperament traits, boldness andaggressivity are traits that need special attention whendog-human relationships are considered. As part of effortsto help preventing biting by dogs, it appears important tobe able to assess individual level of aggressiveness asearly as possible in dogs. This early assessment will helpproposing individually tailored education and training aswell as best fitted dog placements. Our study was aimed atdetermining the stability of temperament over the courseof behavioral development in domestic dogs, Canis famil-iaris. The behavior of 31 dogs was analyzed from birth tothe age of 15 months in a three-stage research plan: Stage(1): Identification, among a set of 520 behavioral varia-bles, of the ones which best differentiate dogs. Stage(2): Summary of the information from the aforementionedvariables and definition of new variables by means of Prin-cipal Component analysis (PC). Stage (3): Prediction of
