| Item Type | Journal Article |
|---|---|
| Author | Marta Krasuska |
| Author | Thomas L. Webb |
| URL | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167587718302137 |
| Volume | 159 |
| Pages | 40-50 |
| Publication | Preventive Veterinary Medicine |
| ISSN | 0167-5877 |
| Date | November 1, 2018 |
| Journal Abbr | Preventive Veterinary Medicine |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2018.08.016 |
| Accessed | 2018-09-10 02:02:31 |
| Library Catalog | ScienceDirect |
| Abstract | Objective The present review sought to evaluate whether – and to what extent – targeting owners’ behaviour is an effective way to reduce the problem of overweight and obesity among companion dogs. Methods A systematic search of electronic databases identified 14 studies that evaluated the effect of an intervention targeting owners’ behaviour on (i) the owner’s behaviour or (ii) the weight, (iii) body fat, or (iv) body condition of the dog. We coded aspects of the study design (e.g., the outcome variable), intervention (e.g., use of theory, specific behaviour change techniques or BCTs, inclusion of nutritional intervention alongside the behavioural intervention), and sample (e.g., age, gender, and weight of the dogs at baseline) that could influence the effect sizes. Results The interventions had, on average, a medium sized effect on outcomes (d+ = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.23 to 0.96, k = 14, N = 384). The effect sizes from the primary studies were relatively homogenous, Q(13) = 12.10, p = .52 and the nature of the intervention, methodological and sample characteristics did not moderate the effect sizes. Conclusions and clinical relevance The findings of the review suggest that targeting owners’ behaviour can be an effective way to reduce overweight and obesity among companion dogs. However, this conclusion is based on a limited number of studies and so we hope that the present findings serve as the impetus for further research in this area. |
| Short Title | How effective are interventions designed to help owners to change their behaviour so as to manage the weight of their companion dogs? |
| Item Type | Journal Article |
|---|---|
| Author | Emma C. Tecwyn |
| Author | Daphna Buchsbaum |
| Publication | Journal of Comparative Psychology (Washington, D.C.: 1983) |
| ISSN | 1939-2087 |
| Date | Nov 01, 2018 |
| Extra | PMID: 30382710 |
| Journal Abbr | J Comp Psychol |
| DOI | 10.1037/com0000145 |
| Library Catalog | PubMed |
| Language | eng |
| Abstract | It has been suggested that domestic dogs-like young human children-have a "gravity bias"; they expect an unsupported object to fall straight down, regardless of any obstacles that redirect or halt its path. In the diagonal tube task, this bias is revealed by a persistent tendency to search the incorrect location directly beneath the top of the tube the item is dropped into, rather than the correct location attached to the bottom of the tube. We presented dogs (N = 112) with seven different versions of the diagonal tube task, to examine what factors influence their search behavior for an object dropped down a diagonal tube, and investigate their physical reasoning skills more generally. Contrary to previous claims, we found no evidence for dogs exhibiting a persistent, or even a Trial 1, gravity bias. However, dogs were also unable to search correctly for the reward, even when it could be heard rolling through the tube, though they succeeded when the tube was transparent (Experiments 1a-c). Experiment 2 suggested that dogs might search on the basis of proximity, but Experiments 3a-b ruled this out and showed that they prefer to commence searching at the center of the apparatus. Finally, when potential sources of bias were eliminated from the task (Experiment 4), dogs' performance was improved, but still not above chance, suggesting that they are unable to reason about the tube's physical-causal mechanism. We conclude that, on current evidence, the gravity bias might be unique to some primate species. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved). |
| Short Title | What factors really influence domestic dogs' (Canis familiaris) search for an item dropped down a diagonal tube? |
| Item Type | Journal Article |
|---|---|
| Author | Greg T. Bishop |
| Author | Brian A. Evans |
| Author | Krystal L. Kyle |
| Author | Lori R. Kogan |
| Volume | 253 |
| Issue | 9 |
| Pages | 1151-1157 |
| Publication | Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association |
| ISSN | 1943-569X |
| Date | Nov 01, 2018 |
| Extra | PMID: 30311532 |
| Journal Abbr | J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. |
| DOI | 10.2460/javma.253.9.1151 |
| Library Catalog | PubMed |
| Language | eng |
| Abstract | OBJECTIVE To evaluate owner satisfaction with a home-based, synchronous videoconferencing telemedicine application as an alternative to in-clinic appointments for conducting recheck examinations after surgical sterilization in dogs. DESIGN Randomized controlled clinical trial. ANIMALS 30 client-owned dogs undergoing elective surgical sterilization and postsurgical recheck examination between September 27, 2017, and February 23, 2018. PROCEDURES Dogs were randomly assigned to have their recheck examinations performed remotely (the telemedicine group) or at the veterinary clinic (the control group). After the recheck examination, owners completed a survey regarding their satisfaction with the recheck examination and their dogs' behavior during it. Information regarding the surgery and recheck examination was obtained from the electronic medical record. Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare results between the telemedicine and control groups. RESULTS Owners were equally satisfied with recheck examinations performed by videoconference and in-clinic appointments. Owners of dogs in the telemedicine group indicated that their dogs were less afraid during the virtual appointment, compared with what was typical for them during in-clinic appointments, but the difference was not statistically significant. Most owners who completed a postsurgical recheck examination by videoconferencing preferred this method for similar appointments in the future. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggested that owners were satisfied with videoconferencing as a means of conducting a postsurgical recheck examination. Further research is needed to assess videoconferencing's ability to reduce signs of fear in dogs during veterinary examinations, its economic feasibility, and the willingness of veterinarians and animal owners to adopt the technology. |
| Item Type | Journal Article |
|---|---|
| Author | Ashley L. Melco |
| Author | Larry Goldman |
| Author | Aubrey H. Fine |
| Author | Jose M. Peralta |
| Pages | 1-19 |
| Publication | Journal of applied animal welfare science: JAAWS |
| ISSN | 1532-7604 |
| Date | Oct 31, 2018 |
| Extra | PMID: 30376724 |
| Journal Abbr | J Appl Anim Welf Sci |
| DOI | 10.1080/10888705.2018.1536979 |
| Library Catalog | PubMed |
| Language | eng |
| Abstract | This study evaluated the impact that participation in sessions with children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has on therapy dogs. Nine certified therapy dogs were paired for 6 sessions with groups of 3-4 children. Sessions consisted of 5 different activities. Activities 1 and 5 involved interactions solely with each dog and their owner, as a control. Activities 2-4 consisted of interactions with the dogs and the children which included social skills training, dog training, and reading in the company of dogs. One-zero interval sampling of stress-associated behaviors was conducted at 20-second intervals for a 10-minute duration during each of the 5 activities. At the end of each activity, heart rate was monitored, and a saliva sample was obtained for cortisol analysis. Dogs demonstrated only occasional behavioral responses and no significant findings related to cortisol or heart rate when the different activities were compared. The results indicate that with proper supervision and well-trained therapy staff, including suitable therapy dogs and their handlers, canine stress can be minimal in a therapy setting. |
| Item Type | Journal Article |
|---|---|
| Author | Lauren Powell |
| Author | Adam J. Guastella |
| Author | Paul McGreevy |
| Author | Adrian Bauman |
| Author | Kate M. Edwards |
| Author | Emmanuel Stamatakis |
| URL | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1558787818301709 |
| Publication | Journal of Veterinary Behavior |
| ISSN | 1558-7878 |
| Date | October 25, 2018 |
| Journal Abbr | Journal of Veterinary Behavior |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.jveb.2018.10.008 |
| Accessed | 2018-10-31 20:18:25 |
| Library Catalog | ScienceDirect |
| Abstract | Oxytocin is increasingly recognized to have a role in human-dog bonding and interactions, and a positive influence on various health outcomes including cardiovascular function and stress reactivity. This review summarizes current research investigating human-dog interactions and endogenous oxytocin to highlight the potentially beneficial role of oxytocin within human-dog relationships and overall human health. We discuss progress and challenges for the field, including the assessment of endogenous oxytocin concentrations, and recommend avenues for future research. |
| Short Title | The physiological function of oxytocin in humans and its acute response to human-dog interactions |
| Item Type | Journal Article |
|---|---|
| Author | Kate Elizabeth Milroy |
| Author | Martin Whiting |
| Author | Siobhan Abeyesinghe |
| Publication | The Veterinary Record |
| ISSN | 2042-7670 |
| Date | Oct 24, 2018 |
| Extra | PMID: 30355589 |
| Journal Abbr | Vet. Rec. |
| DOI | 10.1136/vr.104753 |
| Library Catalog | PubMed |
| Language | eng |
| Abstract | Dog fighting became unlawful in the UK in 1835, yet it continues today (as reported by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) and Crown Prosecution Service), although with an unknown prevalence. We used an online questionnaire to (1) determine the occurrence of dogs suspected of use in fighting in UK veterinary practices; (2) explore relative reporting of incidents to police, RSPCA or equivalent charity by registered veterinary nurses (RVN) and veterinarians; and (3) determine factors influencing reporting. Emails (n=2493) containing the questionnaire were sent to UK veterinary practices: 423 questionnaires (159 by RVNs, 264 by veterinarians) were completed. One or more cases of dog fighting were suspected by 14.4 per cent of respondents in 2015; 182 cases suspected in total. Proportionately more RVNs suspected dog fighting than veterinarians (P=0.0009). Thirty-two respondents (7.6 per cent, n=422) claimed to have reported suspicions to the police, the RSPCA or equivalent charity previously; 59 respondents (14.2 per cent) had previously chosen not to. Reasons not to report included: uncertainty of illegal activity (81.4 per cent), fear of the client not returning to the practice (35.6 per cent) and concerns regarding client confidentiality (22.0 per cent). Further work is required to address under-reporting of dog fighting by veterinary professionals. |
| Item Type | Journal Article |
|---|---|
| Author | Deborah L. Wells |
| Author | Peter G. Hepper |
| Author | Adam D. S. Milligan |
| Author | Shanis Barnard |
| URL | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159118303174 |
| Publication | Applied Animal Behaviour Science |
| ISSN | 0168-1591 |
| Date | October 12, 2018 |
| Journal Abbr | Applied Animal Behaviour Science |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.applanim.2018.10.008 |
| Accessed | 2018-10-22 00:58:57 |
| Library Catalog | ScienceDirect |
| Abstract | Evidence suggests that paw preferences are related to emotional functioning in the domestic dog. Whether motor bias in this species is related to the display of behaviour problems, which often have their basis in emotional reactivity, is still unknown. This study therefore explored the relationship between lateralised motor behaviour in the form of paw preferences and the occurrence of canine behaviour problems. Fifty-two dogs presenting with one or more behaviour problems, and 61 control animals, had their paw preferences assessed using the commonly employed KongTM ball test. The dogs’ behavioural profile was determined using the C-BARQ, a psychometric tool designed to provide standardized evaluations of canine behaviour. Analysis revealed a roughly equal split in the proportion of dogs classified as ambilateral and lateralised, although dogs were more like to be ambilateral than left- or right-pawed. Dogs differed significantly in their behavioural profile, with animals in the behaviour problem group displaying more severe patterns of stranger- and dog-directed aggression and fear, non-social fear and touch sensitivity than those in the control group. There was no significant difference in the distribution, direction or strength of the dogs’ paw use between the two groups of animals. The dogs’ paw preference classification was significantly associated with one of the C-BARQ subscale scores, namely stranger-directed aggression, with left-pawed dogs having lower scores on this subscale than right-pawed or ambilateral animals. The direction of the dogs’ paw use in the behaviour problem group was significantly correlated with C-BARQ scores for the subscales of stranger-directed aggression, stranger-directed fear and attention-seeking behaviour, with higher subscale scores associated with increasing right-pawedness. There was no significant correlation between the direction of the dogs’ paw use and any of the other C-BARQ subscale scores. The strength of the dogs’ paw preferences was not significantly correlated with any of the C-BARQ subscale scores for either the control or behaviour problem group of animals. Canine sex was not significantly related to either the dogs’ paw preferences or the presentation of behaviour problems. Overall, this study provides little evidence in support of a relationship between paw preference and the occurrence of behaviour problems in the domestic dog. Further, longitudinal, work is recommended in an effort to unravel the ontogeny of lateralisation and its association with emotional reactivity in this species. |
| Item Type | Journal Article |
|---|---|
| Author | Colleen S. Koch |
| URL | https://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/abs/10.2460/javma.253.9.1110 |
| Volume | 253 |
| Issue | 9 |
| Pages | 1110-1112 |
| Publication | Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association |
| ISSN | 0003-1488 |
| Date | October 12, 2018 |
| Journal Abbr | Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association |
| DOI | 10.2460/javma.253.9.1110 |
| Accessed | 2018-10-22 00:55:50 |
| Library Catalog | avmajournals.avma.org (Atypon) |
| Item Type | Journal Article |
|---|---|
| Author | Greg T. Bishop |
| Author | Brian A. Evans |
| Author | Krystal L. Kyle |
| Author | Lori R. Kogan |
| URL | https://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/abs/10.2460/javma.253.9.1151 |
| Volume | 253 |
| Issue | 9 |
| Pages | 1151-1157 |
| Publication | Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association |
| ISSN | 0003-1488 |
| Date | October 12, 2018 |
| Journal Abbr | Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association |
| DOI | 10.2460/javma.253.9.1151 |
| Accessed | 2018-10-22 00:51:10 |
| Library Catalog | avmajournals.avma.org (Atypon) |
| Abstract | OBJECTIVE To evaluate owner satisfaction with a home-based, synchronous videoconferencing telemedicine application as an alternative to in-clinic appointments for conducting recheck examinations after surgical sterilization in dogs. DESIGN Randomized controlled clinical trial. ANIMALS 30 client-owned dogs undergoing elective surgical sterilization and postsurgical recheck examination between September 27, 2017, and February 23, 2018. PROCEDURES Dogs were randomly assigned to have their recheck examinations performed remotely (the telemedicine group) or at the veterinary clinic (the control group). After the recheck examination, owners completed a survey regarding their satisfaction with the recheck examination and their dogs' behavior during it. Information regarding the surgery and recheck examination was obtained from the electronic medical record. Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare results between the telemedicine and control groups. RESULTS Owners were equally satisfied with recheck examinations performed by videoconference and in-clinic appointments. Owners of dogs in the telemedicine group indicated that their dogs were less afraid during the virtual appointment, compared with what was typical for them during in-clinic appointments, but the difference was not statistically significant. Most owners who completed a postsurgical recheck examination by videoconferencing preferred this method for similar appointments in the future. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggested that owners were satisfied with videoconferencing as a means of conducting a postsurgical recheck examination. Further research is needed to assess videoconferencing's ability to reduce signs of fear in dogs during veterinary examinations, its economic feasibility, and the willingness of veterinarians and animal owners to adopt the technology. |
| Item Type | Journal Article |
|---|---|
| Author | Mathieu Taroni |
| Author | Jean-Pierre Genevois |
| Author | Eric Viguier |
| Author | Paul Pillard |
| Author | Véronique Livet |
| Author | Thibaut Cachon |
| Author | Claude Carozzo |
| Publication | Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology: V.C.O.T |
| ISSN | 2567-6911 |
| Date | Oct 09, 2018 |
| Extra | PMID: 30300916 |
| Journal Abbr | Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol |
| DOI | 10.1055/s-0038-1668087 |
| Library Catalog | PubMed |
| Language | eng |
| Abstract | OBJECTIVES: The main purpose of this article is to evaluate the correlation between the distraction index (DI) and Norberg angle values in distracted hips (distraction Norberg angle, DNA) at 4 months of age and the official hip score based on the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) grid at 12 months of age. METHODS: For dogs (n = 215) from two guide dog training organizations, the DI and DNA were measured by a single expert on distraction radiographs performed at 4 months of age. The FCI score was determined by the same expert at 12 months of age on a standard hip-extended view.Statistical analysis included receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and concordance correlation coefficient calculation. RESULTS: The mean DI was 0.48, the mean DNA was 86.5° and 59.5% of hips had an A FCI score. The concordance correlation coefficient of DI and DNA was 0.78. The DI threshold for D- and E-scored hips that was associated with the least misclassification was 0.58 (sensitivity [Se] = 0.6, specificity [Sp] = 0.82). The DNA threshold that was associated with the least misclassification was 85° (Se = 0.83, Sp = 0.68). CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: DNA has a fair correlation with DI at 4 months and reflects hip passive laxity. D and E FCI scores at 12 months cannot be reliably predicted from the 4 months value of DI or DNA but 96% of hips with DI < 0.58 at 4 months had an A, B or C FCI score at 12 months of age. Similarly, 98% of hips with DNA > 85° at 4 months had an A, B or C FCI score at 12 months of age. |
| Item Type | Journal Article |
|---|---|
| Author | Kathleen E. Burns |
| Author | John J. M. Dwyer |
| Author | Jason B. Coe |
| Author | Gloriana C. Y. Tam |
| Author | Samantha N. R. Wong |
| Pages | 1-12 |
| Publication | Journal of Veterinary Medical Education |
| ISSN | 0748-321X |
| Date | Oct 04, 2018 |
| Extra | PMID: 30285600 |
| Journal Abbr | J Vet Med Educ |
| DOI | 10.3138/jvme.0117-011r1 |
| Library Catalog | PubMed |
| Language | eng |
| Abstract | Dog wal king is beneficial to dogs and their owners, and it supports One Health, an initiative devoted to improving the health of animals and humans. Despite the benefits of dog walking, many dogs and their owners are not engaging in adequate dog-walking exercise. One way to encourage dog walking is for veterinarians to counsel owners on dog walking during veterinary appointments. This pilot study used individual in-person or telephone interviews to understand veterinarians' perceptions of and experiences with counseling about dog walking in companion animal practice. Seventeen veterinarians licensed to provide canine care in Ontario participated in an interview in 2015. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the interview transcripts. Participants thought dog walking was important for both dogs and owners and discussed physical, social, and mental benefits of dog walking. Participants described barriers to dog-walking counseling including dog owners' lack of compliance or physical condition, dogs' behavior, and lack of time or low priority during appointments. Also, participants discussed how dog walking was not addressed in their professional veterinary education. These findings can be used to educate veterinary students and practicing veterinarians on the value of dog walking for people and dogs and the barriers they may face when counseling clients about dog walking. |
| Item Type | Journal Article |
|---|---|
| Author | Ashley Prichard |
| Author | Raveena Chhibber |
| Author | Kate Athanassiades |
| Author | Mark Spivak |
| Author | Gregory S. Berns |
| URL | https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-32990-2 |
| License | 2018 The Author(s) |
| Volume | 8 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 14614 |
| Publication | Scientific Reports |
| ISSN | 2045-2322 |
| Date | 2018-10-02 |
| DOI | 10.1038/s41598-018-32990-2 |
| Accessed | 2018-10-08 19:31:41 |
| Library Catalog | www.nature.com |
| Language | en |
| Abstract | Dogs may follow their nose, but they learn associations to many types of sensory stimuli. Are some modalities learned better than others? We used awake fMRI in 19 dogs over a series of three experiments to measure reward-related learning of visual, olfactory, and verbal stimuli. Neurobiological learning curves were generated for individual dogs by measuring activation over time within three regions of interest: the caudate nucleus, amygdala, and parietotemporal cortex. The learning curves showed that dogs formed stimulus-reward associations in as little as 22 trials. Consistent with neuroimaging studies of associative learning, the caudate showed a main effect for reward-related stimuli, but not a significant interaction with modality. However, there were significant differences in the time courses, suggesting that although multiple modalities are represented in the caudate, the rates of acquisition and habituation are modality-dependent and are potentially gated by their salience in the amygdala. Visual and olfactory modalities resulted in the fastest learning, while verbal stimuli were least effective, suggesting that verbal commands may be the least efficient way to train dogs. |
| Short Title | Fast neural learning in dogs |
| Item Type | Journal Article |
|---|---|
| Author | Giuseppe Lippi |
| Author | Mario Plebani |
| Publication | Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine |
| ISSN | 1437-4331 |
| Date | Sep 29, 2018 |
| Extra | PMID: 30267628 |
| Journal Abbr | Clin. Chem. Lab. Med. |
| DOI | 10.1515/cclm-2018-0842 |
| Library Catalog | PubMed |
| Language | eng |
| Abstract | Owing to their virtually incomparable olfactory apparatus and the mutual loving relationship with man, the use of dogs for assisting humans in many activities has become commonplace. Dogs have been used for long for livestock herding, hunting and pulling. More recently, they have been employed for servicing or assisting people with disabilities, for rescuing, for pet therapy and, last but not least, for detecting a vast array of volatile organic compounds related to drugs, narcotics, explosives and foods. Although cancer detection seems the most distinguished use of "man's best friends" in science and medicine, increasing emphasis is being placed on their capacity to perceive chemical changes or human expressions associated with harmful, even life-threating, blood glucose variations. The evidence available in the current scientific literature attests that diabetes alerting dogs (DADs) have a heterogeneous efficiency for warning owners of episodes of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia, with sensitivities and specificities ranging between 0.29-0.80 and 0.49-0.96, respectively. Although the adoption of DADs seems effective for improving the quality of life of many diabetics patients, some important drawbacks can be highlighted. These typically include adoption and keeping expenditures, lack of certification or accreditation of dog providers, poor harmonization of training procedures, significant inter-breed, intra-breed and intra-dog variabilities, wide-ranging alert behaviors, ability of owners to identify dog's alerts, as well as lack of quality assessment of a dog's "diagnostic" performance. Overcoming many of these limitations shall probably make DADs more efficient tools for improving diabetes management. |
| Short Title | Diabetes alert dogs |
| Item Type | Journal Article |
|---|---|
| Author | Eric A. Thrailkill |
| Author | Fay Porritt |
| Author | Alex Kacelnik |
| Author | Mark E. Bouton |
| Volume | 157 |
| Pages | 161-170 |
| Publication | Behavioural Processes |
| ISSN | 1872-8308 |
| Date | Sep 28, 2018 |
| Extra | PMID: 30273753 |
| Journal Abbr | Behav. Processes |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.beproc.2018.09.012 |
| Library Catalog | PubMed |
| Language | eng |
| Abstract | Scent-detecting dogs perform a sequence, or chain, of behaviors that, at minimum, includes searching followed by a detection behavior that signals the presence of a target stimulus to the handler. However, when working, dogs often engage in prolonged periods of searching without encountering a target. It is therefore important for trainers to use methods that promote persistent search behavior and target detection accuracy. Laboratory models can provide insights to the important variables that influence search persistence and accuracy. The present experiments examined a rat model of detection dog behavior. Two experiments assessed the use of practice with a single target stimulus to maintain search and detection of another previously-trained target. In Experiment 1, after learning a search→detection chain with two auditory targets, rats received either brief or extended training with only one of the targets before being tested for detection of both targets in extinction. The results suggest that single-target training strengthened the ability of the other target to control the detection behavior. Experiment 2 found that even infrequent target encounters were still effective at maintaining detection behavior to the other trained target. Importantly, the treatment was effective when the target stimuli were from different sensory modalities. Overall, the results support the utility of the rat model of search-dog behavior for evaluating novel training methods. We suggest several useful procedures for enhancing search persistence and accuracy in detection dogs that can be implemented in training protocols. |
| Short Title | Maintaining performance in searching dogs |
| Item Type | Journal Article |
|---|---|
| Author | Denny Meyer |
| Author | Jahar Bhowmik |
| Author | Fakir M. Amirul Islam |
| Author | Lil Deverell |
| Pages | 1-10 |
| Publication | Disability and Rehabilitation |
| ISSN | 1464-5165 |
| Date | Sep 28, 2018 |
| Extra | PMID: 30264598 |
| Journal Abbr | Disabil Rehabil |
| DOI | 10.1080/09638288.2018.1494211 |
| Library Catalog | PubMed |
| Language | eng |
| Abstract | PURPOSE: This Australian study piloted a new measure of Orientation and Mobility to better understand the functional mobility of guide dog handlers with low vision or blindness. It is expected that this measure can be used to better match guide dogs to their handlers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The new Orientation and Mobility Outcomes tool scores a client in Stable/Familiar and Dynamic/Unfamiliar conditions, also considering Travel-Related Wellbeing. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 51 guide dog handlers, during which travel skills were co-rated with an interviewer. RESULTS: A cluster analysis of the Orientation and Mobility Outcomes data identified four mobility styles: intrepid explorers, social navigators, independent roamers and homebodies. The differences between these clusters had more to do with mental mapping skills than level of vision, and different guide dog characteristics were needed to support the travel styles identified for each cluster. CONCLUSIONS: The results confirm the importance of the Orientation and Mobility Outcomes tool as a sensitive, person-centred measure of the impact of Orientation and Mobility and guide dog training. In particular, the four mobility clusters provide a new perspective on matching guide dogs with clients, also suggesting the need for a more personalised look at the guide dog training process. Implications for Rehabilitation Orientation and Mobility Outcomes data seem precise enough to support and inform the process of matching guide dogs to handlers. Uniform results cannot be expected from guide dog mobility in handlers - age, stage of life, health and spatial cognition impact the competence and travel style of guide dog handlers, whereas vision is less important. Sharing the work of visual interpretation and decision making with a guide dog makes independent travel more possible. Valuable dog characteristics that are specific to handler requirements might be bred or trained from puppy raising onwards, creating a more diverse pool of dogs to draw upon. |
| Item Type | Journal Article |
|---|---|
| Author | Enikő Kovács |
| Author | András Kosztolányi |
| Author | Anna Kis |
| Publication | Learning & Behavior |
| ISSN | 1543-4508 |
| Date | Sep 27, 2018 |
| Extra | PMID: 30264371 |
| Journal Abbr | Learn Behav |
| DOI | 10.3758/s13420-018-0355-9 |
| Library Catalog | PubMed |
| Language | eng |
| Abstract | Dogs (Canis familiaris) are excellent models of human behavior as during domestication they have adapted to the same environment as humans. There have been many comparative studies on dog behavior; however, several easily measurable and analyzable psychophysiological variables that are widely used in humans are still largely unexplored in dogs. One such measure is rapid eye movement density (REMD) during REM sleep. The aim of this study was to test the viability of measuring REMD in dogs and to explore the relationship between the REMD and different variables (sex, age, body size, and REM sleep duration). Fifty family dogs of different breeds and ages (from 6 months to 15 years old) participated in a 3-h non-invasive polysomnography recording, and the data for 31 of them could be analyzed. The signal of the electro-oculogram (EOG) was used to detect the rapid eye movements during REM sleep, and REMD was calculated based on these data. The duration of REM sleep had a quadratic effect on REMD. Subjects' REMD increased with age, but only in male dogs with short REM sleep duration. Furthermore, in the case of dogs with short REM sleep, the interaction of body mass and REM sleep duration had a significant effect on REMD. No such effects were found in dogs with long REM duration. These results suggest that relationships may exist between REMD and several different variables. |
| Item Type | Journal Article |
|---|---|
| Author | Dessa Bergen-Cico |
| Author | Yvonne Smith |
| Author | Karen Wolford |
| Author | Collin Gooley |
| Author | Kathleen Hannon |
| Author | Ryan Woodruff |
| Author | Melissa Spicer |
| Author | Brooks Gump |
| Publication | Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (New York, N.Y.) |
| ISSN | 1557-7708 |
| Date | Sep 25, 2018 |
| Extra | PMID: 30256652 |
| Journal Abbr | J Altern Complement Med |
| DOI | 10.1089/acm.2018.0179 |
| Library Catalog | PubMed |
| Language | eng |
| Abstract | OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to measure the potential impact of a therapeutic dog ownership and training program for Veterans with symptoms of post-traumatic stress. DESIGN: The study used a quasi-experimental design with two cohorts of Veterans-a dog owner-trainer intervention and a wait list control group. Participants completed baseline and 12-month follow-up assessments. SETTING: Clear Path for Veterans, a nonclinical, open recreation facility whose mission is to support Veterans and their families in the reintegration process after military service. SUBJECTS: Participants (n = 48) were either enrolled in the veterans therapeutic dog owner-trainer program (Dogs2Vets) or were placed in the wait list control group. INTERVENTION: Veterans were enrolled in the Dogs2Vets program, a 12-month structured dog owner-trainer program that engages veterans in the training and care of a dog that they ultimately adopt. The Dogs2Vets Program focuses on the healing aspects of the human-animal bond. OUTCOME MEASURES: PTSD Checklist, Military Version (PCL-M), perceived stress scale, self-compassion scale (SCS) composite, and SCS subscales for isolation and self-judgment. RESULTS: Veterans participating in the Dogs2Vets owner-trainer program experienced significant reductions in symptoms of post-traumatic stress, perceived stress, isolation, and self-judgment accompanied by significant increases in self-compassion. In contrast there were no significant improvements in these measures among veterans in the wait list control group. Qualitative data reinforced the statistical findings with themes of decreased isolation, unconditional acceptance and companionship, and a renewed sense of safety and purpose from their relationships with their dogs. CONCLUSION: Veterans benefit significantly from dog ownership in combination with a structured dog training program. Not only do they experience significant decreases in stress and post-traumatic stress symptoms but also they experience less isolation and self-judgment while also experiencing significant improvements in self-compassion. |
| Short Title | Dog Ownership and Training Reduces Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms and Increases Self-Compassion Among Veterans |
| Item Type | Journal Article |
|---|---|
| Author | Patrizia Piotti |
| Author | Dóra Szabó |
| Author | Zsófia Bognár |
| Author | Anna Egerer |
| Author | Petrouchka Hulsbosch |
| Author | Rachel Sophia Carson |
| Author | Enikő Kubinyi |
| Publication | Learning & Behavior |
| ISSN | 1543-4508 |
| Date | Sep 24, 2018 |
| Extra | PMID: 30251103 |
| Journal Abbr | Learn Behav |
| DOI | 10.3758/s13420-018-0357-7 |
| Library Catalog | PubMed |
| Language | eng |
| Abstract | Several studies on age-related cognitive decline in dogs involve laboratory dogs and prolonged training. We developed two spatial tasks that required a single 1-h session. We tested 107 medium-large sized dogs: "young" (N=41, aged 2.5-6.5 years) and "old" (N=66, aged 8-14.5 years). Our results indicated that, in a discrimination learning task and in a reversal learning task, young dogs learned significantly faster than the old dogs, indicating that these two tasks could successfully be used to investigate differences in spatial learning between young and old dogs. We also provide two novel findings. First, in the reversal learning, the dogs trained based on the location of stimuli learned faster than the dogs trained based on stimulus characteristics. Most old dogs did not learn the task within our cut-off of 50 trials. Training based on an object's location is therefore more appropriate for reversal learning tasks. Second, the contrast between the response to the positive and negative stimuli was narrower in old dogs, compared to young dogs, during the reversal learning task, as well as the cognitive bias test. This measure favors comparability between tasks and between studies. Following the cognitive bias test, we could not find any indication of differences in the positive and negative expectations between young and old dogs. Taken together, these findings do not support the hypothesis that old dogs have more negative expectations than young dogs and the use of the cognitive bias test in older dogs requires further investigation. |
| Item Type | Journal Article |
|---|---|
| Author | J. Solomon |
| Author | A. Beetz |
| Author | I. Schöberl |
| Author | N. Gee |
| Author | K. Kotrschal |
| Pages | 1-29 |
| Publication | Attachment & Human Development |
| ISSN | 1469-2988 |
| Date | Sep 24, 2018 |
| Extra | PMID: 30246604 |
| Journal Abbr | Attach Hum Dev |
| DOI | 10.1080/14616734.2018.1517812 |
| Library Catalog | PubMed |
| Language | eng |
| Abstract | This exploratory study describes the development of a classification system for dogs' attachment security to caregivers that adheres closely to Ainsworth's seminal methodology. Fifty-nine adult dogs and caregivers participated in a mildly threatening laboratory encounter with a stranger (TS) and the Strange Situation (SSP). Dog and attachment experts adapted Ainsworth's classification system for the behavioral repertoire of the dog. Four potentially comparable patterns of attachment were identified. The proportions of secure and insecure classifications (61% and 39%) were similar to those found in human toddlers. Caregivers' sensitivity to their dogs during the TS procedure significantly differentiated dogs with secure vs. insecure classifications Lower scores on the Active/excited personality scale on the Monash Canine Personality Questionnaire-Revised (MCPQ-R) also were related to secure classification. This system now makes it possible to compare directly the effects of human and dog attachment patterns on the health and emotional well-being of humans and dogs. |
| Short Title | Attachment security in companion dogs |
| Item Type | Journal Article |
|---|---|
| Author | Candice Dwyer |
| Author | Mark R. Cole |
| URL | https://doi.org/10.3758/s13420-018-0356-8 |
| Publication | Learning & Behavior |
| ISSN | 1543-4508 |
| Date | 2018-09-24 |
| Journal Abbr | Learn Behav |
| DOI | 10.3758/s13420-018-0356-8 |
| Accessed | 2018-10-01 22:34:51 |
| Library Catalog | Springer Link |
| Language | en |
| Abstract | There is abundant evidence that domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) readily follow pointing and other cues given by humans. But there has been much less research into the question of whether dogs can learn to discriminate between different humans giving repeated honest or dishonest cues as to food location, by ignoring the information imparted by the deceiver. Prior research has demonstrated that even after repeated exposures to deceptive cues with respect to food location, dogs failed to learn to ignore those cues completely. Kundey, De Los Reyes, Arbuthnot, Coshun, Molina, and Royer (2010) found the same outcome in a similar experiment. The purpose of the current experiment was to determine if dogs could learn to discriminate between an honest and a deceptive human by ignoring the deceiver’s cues even when it was obvious that the container being pointed at was not baited by using two transparent containers. Eight dogs were tested. On 20 cooperator trials, the experimenter stood behind the baited container and cued the dog, located midway between the containers and 3 m away, to approach it. On 20 deceiver trials, a different experimenter stood behind the empty container and cued the dog to approach that container. Results replicated prior research in that, even though the containers were transparent, the dogs failed to learn to distrust the deceiver completely and went to the empty and indicated container on more than half of the deceiver trials. |
| Item Type | Journal Article |
|---|---|
| Author | Alizée A. A. Vernouillet |
| Author | Laura R. Stiles |
| Author | J. Andrew McCausland |
| Author | Debbie M. Kelly |
| URL | https://doi.org/10.3758/s13420-018-0354-x |
| Publication | Learning & Behavior |
| ISSN | 1543-4508 |
| Date | 2018-09-24 |
| Journal Abbr | Learn Behav |
| DOI | 10.3758/s13420-018-0354-x |
| Accessed | 2018-10-01 22:33:46 |
| Library Catalog | Springer Link |
| Language | en |
| Abstract | Inhibitory control, the ability to restrain a prepotent but ineffective response in a given context, is thought to be indicative of a species’ cognitive abilities. This ability ranges from “basic” motoric self-regulation to more complex abilities such as self-control. During the current study, we investigated the motoric self-regulatory abilities of 30 pet dogs using four well-established cognitive tasks – the A-not-B Bucket task, the Cylinder task, the Detour task, and the A-not-B Barrier task – administered in a consistent context. One main goal of the study was to determine whether the individual-level performance would correlate across tasks, supporting that these tasks measure similar components of motoric self-regulation. Dogs in our study were quite successful during tasks requiring them to detour around transparent barriers (i.e., the Cylinder and Detour tasks), but were less successful with tasks requiring the production of a new response (i.e., A-not-B Bucket and A-not-B Barrier tasks). However, individual dog performance did not correlate across tasks, suggesting these well-established tasks likely measure different inhibitory control abilities, or are strongly influenced by differential task demands. Our results also suggest other aspects such as perseveration or properties of the apparatus may need to be carefully examined in order to better understand canine motoric self-regulation or inhibitory control more generally. |
| Item Type | Journal Article |
|---|---|
| Author | Patrizia Piotti |
| Author | Dóra Szabó |
| Author | Zsófia Bognár |
| Author | Anna Egerer |
| Author | Petrouchka Hulsbosch |
| Author | Rachel Sophia Carson |
| Author | Enikő Kubinyi |
| URL | https://doi.org/10.3758/s13420-018-0357-7 |
| Publication | Learning & Behavior |
| ISSN | 1543-4508 |
| Date | 2018-09-24 |
| Journal Abbr | Learn Behav |
| DOI | 10.3758/s13420-018-0357-7 |
| Accessed | 2018-10-01 22:32:44 |
| Library Catalog | Springer Link |
| Language | en |
| Abstract | Several studies on age-related cognitive decline in dogs involve laboratory dogs and prolonged training. We developed two spatial tasks that required a single 1-h session. We tested 107 medium-large sized dogs: “young” (N=41, aged 2.5–6.5 years) and “old” (N=66, aged 8–14.5 years). Our results indicated that, in a discrimination learning task and in a reversal learning task, young dogs learned significantly faster than the old dogs, indicating that these two tasks could successfully be used to investigate differences in spatial learning between young and old dogs. We also provide two novel findings. First, in the reversal learning, the dogs trained based on the location of stimuli learned faster than the dogs trained based on stimulus characteristics. Most old dogs did not learn the task within our cut-off of 50 trials. Training based on an object’s location is therefore more appropriate for reversal learning tasks. Second, the contrast between the response to the positive and negative stimuli was narrower in old dogs, compared to young dogs, during the reversal learning task, as well as the cognitive bias test. This measure favors comparability between tasks and between studies. Following the cognitive bias test, we could not find any indication of differences in the positive and negative expectations between young and old dogs. Taken together, these findings do not support the hypothesis that old dogs have more negative expectations than young dogs and the use of the cognitive bias test in older dogs requires further investigation. |
| Item Type | Journal Article |
|---|---|
| Author | Karen E. DeMatteo |
| Author | Linsey W. Blake |
| Author | Julie K. Young |
| Author | Barbara Davenport |
| Volume | 8 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 13830 |
| Publication | Scientific Reports |
| ISSN | 2045-2322 |
| Date | Sep 14, 2018 |
| Extra | PMID: 30218000 PMCID: PMC6138736 |
| Journal Abbr | Sci Rep |
| DOI | 10.1038/s41598-018-32244-1 |
| Library Catalog | PubMed |
| Language | eng |
| Abstract | Detection dogs, specially trained domestic dogs (Canis familiaris), have become a valuable, noninvasive, conservation tool because they remove the dependence of attracting species to a particular location. Further, detection dogs locate samples independent of appearance, composition, or visibility allowing researchers to collect large sets of unbiased samples that can be used in complex ecological queries. One question not fully addressed is why samples from nontarget species are inadvertently collected during detection dog surveys. While a common explanation has been incomplete handler or dog training, our study aimed to explore alternative explanations. Our trials demonstrate that a scat's genetic profile can be altered by interactions of nontarget species with target scat via urine-marking, coprophagy, and moving scats with their mouths, all pathways to contamination by nontarget species' DNA. Because detection dogs are trained to locate odor independent of masking, the collection of samples with a mixed olfactory profile (target and nontarget) is possible. These scats will likely have characteristics of target species' scats and are therefore only discovered faulty once genetic results indicate a nontarget species. While the collection of nontarget scats will not impact research conclusions so long as samples are DNA tested, we suggest ways to minimize their collection and associated costs. |
| Item Type | Journal Article |
|---|---|
| Author | Benjamin Keep |
| Author | Helen E. Zulch |
| Author | Anna Wilkinson |
| URL | https://doi.org/10.3758/s13420-018-0344-z |
| Publication | Learning & Behavior |
| ISSN | 1543-4508 |
| Date | 2018-09-05 |
| Journal Abbr | Learn Behav |
| DOI | 10.3758/s13420-018-0344-z |
| Accessed | 2018-09-10 02:02:03 |
| Library Catalog | Springer Link |
| Language | en |
| Abstract | Visual illusions are objects that are made up of elements that are arranged in such a way as to result in erroneous perception of the objects’ physical properties. Visual illusions are used to study visual perception in humans and nonhuman animals, since they provide insight into the psychological and cognitive processes underlying the perceptual system. In a set of three experiments, we examined whether dogs were able to learn a relational discrimination and to perceive the Müller-Lyer illusion. In Experiment 1, dogs were trained to discriminate line lengths using a two-alternative forced choice procedure on a touchscreen. Upon learning the discrimination, dogs’ generalization to novel exemplars and the threshold of their abilities were tested. In the second experiment, dogs were presented with the Müller-Lyer illusion as test trials, alongside additional test trials that controlled for overall stimulus size. Dogs appeared to perceive the illusion; however, control trials revealed that they were using global size to solve the task. Experiment 3 presented modified stimuli that have been known to enhance perception of the illusion in other species. However, the dogs’ performance remained the same. These findings reveal evidence of relational learning in dogs. However, their failure to perceive the illusion emphasizes the importance of using a full array of control trials when examining these paradigms, and it suggests that visual acuity may play a crucial role in this perceptual phenomenon. |
| Short Title | Truth is in the eye of the beholder |
| Item Type | Journal Article |
|---|---|
| Author | Thomas L. Webb |
| Author | Marta Krasuska |
| URL | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167587718302460 |
| Publication | Preventive Veterinary Medicine |
| ISSN | 0167-5877 |
| Date | September 3, 2018 |
| Journal Abbr | Preventive Veterinary Medicine |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2018.08.017 |
| Accessed | 2018-09-10 02:02:22 |
| Library Catalog | ScienceDirect |
| Abstract | The present research sought to (i) understand the challenges that dog owners encounter in helping their pet lose weight, and (ii) develop and test an intervention designed to help dog owners to deal with these challenges. A series of focus groups (N = 79 dog owners, veterinarians, and industry experts) informed the content of an intervention designed to prompt owners to form if-then plans (or “implementation intentions”) identifying challenges (e.g., inclement weather) and specifying how to respond (e.g., play with the dog indoors). This intervention was evaluated in a single-blind, randomized controlled trial (N = 106 owners of overweight dogs) against a control condition who were simply asked to set relevant goals. Changes in the owners’ beliefs, behaviour, and the dog’s weight and body condition were measured around 2 months later. The primary finding was that dogs in the intervention condition lost the same percentage of their body weight on average each week (M = -0.065, SD = 0.65) as dogs in the control condition (M = -0.24, SD = 0.55), F(1, 36) = 0.70, p = .41, eta2 = .019, although it should be noted that follow-up data was only available for around half of the sample. Analysis of the factors that were associated with changes in weight among the dogs in the trial suggested that owners’ lack of knowledge about appropriate feeding and exercise was associated with poorer outcomes, suggesting that future interventions may need to provide information and help owners to set appropriate goals before encouraging them to make if-then plans to support the implementation of those goals. |