TY - JOUR
T1 - The effects of exercise and calm interactions on in-kennel behavior of shelter dogs
AU - Protopopova, Alexandra
AU - Hauser, Hagar
AU - Goldman, Kissel J.
AU - Wynne, Clive D.L.
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was supported in part by a grant from the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association and Merial Veterinary Scholars Program . The authors thank Kelly Cathey, Avi Hershkowitz, Justyna Resztak, Jennifer Taylor, Jessica Vondran, Courtney Alexander, Kaila Ames, Rachel Bradley, Lauren Burstein, Sarah Weinsztok, Nancy Ordax, Jonathan Pruitt, Jennifer Higgins, Devin Bogart, Estefania Junco, Austin Folger, and Jessica Jeong for assisting in data collection. The authors also thank the staff and the dogs of Alachua County Humane Society.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2018/1
Y1 - 2018/1
N2 - Over-activity, or excessive locomotion and barking in the kennel, may be unattractive to adopters and an indicator of poor welfare of kenneled dogs. The study assessed the efficacy of two common enrichment strategies, providing calm interaction and additional exercise, on in-kennel behavior in 16 shelter dogs. Both interventions resulted in appropriate behavior just prior to the sessions (t = 2.10, df = 7, p = 0.03 and F [2216] = 7.58, p = 0.0007, respectively), but both also resulted in an increase of some undesirable behaviors immediately after the dogs were taken back to their kennels (F [3216] = 7.77, p = 0.0001 and F (5216) = 10.1, p < 0.0001 respectively). Right after receiving additional exercise, the dogs spent more time in back and forth motion in the kennel. Right after receiving the calm interaction, the dogs spent less time in the front of the kennel, less time facing forward, and more time engaging in back and forth motion. However, dogs also spent less time barking and jumping on the kennel door right after the calm interaction. The results suggest that both interventions may be useful, but shelter administrators and volunteers must take all of the behavioral changes into account when administering these interventions.
AB - Over-activity, or excessive locomotion and barking in the kennel, may be unattractive to adopters and an indicator of poor welfare of kenneled dogs. The study assessed the efficacy of two common enrichment strategies, providing calm interaction and additional exercise, on in-kennel behavior in 16 shelter dogs. Both interventions resulted in appropriate behavior just prior to the sessions (t = 2.10, df = 7, p = 0.03 and F [2216] = 7.58, p = 0.0007, respectively), but both also resulted in an increase of some undesirable behaviors immediately after the dogs were taken back to their kennels (F [3216] = 7.77, p = 0.0001 and F (5216) = 10.1, p < 0.0001 respectively). Right after receiving additional exercise, the dogs spent more time in back and forth motion in the kennel. Right after receiving the calm interaction, the dogs spent less time in the front of the kennel, less time facing forward, and more time engaging in back and forth motion. However, dogs also spent less time barking and jumping on the kennel door right after the calm interaction. The results suggest that both interventions may be useful, but shelter administrators and volunteers must take all of the behavioral changes into account when administering these interventions.
KW - Behavior
KW - Dog
KW - Enrichment
KW - Exercise
KW - Learning
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85034812205&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85034812205&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.beproc.2017.11.013
DO - 10.1016/j.beproc.2017.11.013
M3 - Article
C2 - 29158026
AN - SCOPUS:85034812205
SN - 0376-6357
VL - 146
SP - 54
EP - 60
JO - Behavioural processes
JF - Behavioural processes
ER -