Behavioral reactivity of Jindo dogs socialized at an early age compared with non-socialized dogs.
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The aim of this study was to determine whether socialized Jindo puppies would show different behavioral reactivity from non-socialized puppies. Puppies (n=12), 7 weeks of age, were divided into socialized and non-socialized groups. The socialized group from the 7th until 13th week after birth was provided a socialization program, and the non-socialized group was reared in a semi-isolated environment without being exposed to the program. At 13 weeks after birth, both groups were adopted by new families and raised as a family pet until adulthood. Both groups were tested in 5 behavioral tests at 7, 9, 11, 13 and 60 weeks of age, and their behavioral responses to the tests were recorded using video cameras. The contact, fearful and playful behaviors toward each behavioral test were scored on a scale of 1 to 5 points. Using all of the score data, a principal component analysis (PCA) extracted three primary factors: 'social reactivity towards humans and a dog', 'playful reactivity towards novel stimuli and a dog' and 'fearful reactivity towards social stimuli'. The three extracted factors were compared between the socialized and non-socialized groups in each test session (weeks). Based on the results, the socialized Jindo puppies in the test session at the 9th week after birth, in contrast to the non-socialized puppies, exhibited a higher intensity of playful reactivity towards novel stimuli and a dog. However, there were no effects of the socialization program on the Jindo puppies in terms of social reactivity towards humans and a dog as well as fearful reactivity towards social stimuli. (+info)
Important behavioral traits for predicting guide dog qualification.
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Guide dogs for the blind help blind people physically and mentally in their daily lives. Their qualifications are based on health, working performance and temperament; approximately 70% of dogs that fail to qualify are disqualified for behavioral reasons. In order to achieve early prediction of qualification, it would be essential as the first step to identify important temperament traits for guide dogs. Therefore, we administered a questionnaire consisting of 22 temperament items to experienced trainers to assess candidate dogs at the Japan Guide Dog Association after three months of training, which was at least three months prior to the final success (qualified as a guide dog) or failure (disqualified for behavioral reasons) judgment. Factor analyses of question items stably extracted three factors with high internal consistency, Distraction, Sensitivity and Docility. When we compared factor points between successful dogs and failed dogs, the successful dogs showed significantly and consistently lower Distraction points and higher Docility points. Additionally, Distraction points could predict qualification with 80.6% accuracy and detect 28.2% of the failed dogs that had higher Distraction points than any of the successful dogs. Of the nine question items not included in the three factors, two items (;Aggression' and ;Animal interest') were consistently associated with qualification. These results suggest that Distraction is stably assessable and has the strongest impact on success or failure judgment; therefore, it will be the first target to establish a behavioral test that may lead to early prediction of guide dog qualification. (+info)
Characteristics of six recent animal hoarding cases in Manitoba.
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Six recent cases of animal hoarding in Manitoba were compared to the relevant literature. Cases were similar to previous reports in age and demographics of hoarders. Five cases involved small mammals and 1 case involved horses. Understanding this phenomenon would be enhanced by consistent investigative format and reporting and closer working relationships with public health. (+info)