Dog

Reinforcer effectiveness in dogs—The influence of quantity and quality

Reinforcer effectiveness refers to the reinforcer's ability to control the subject's target behaviour and is therefore critical to training success. Yet animals' preferences, and the effectiveness of different rewards to function as reinforcers, are often assumed without scientific investigation. Here...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Animal TrainingAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Riemer, S., Ellis, S. L. H., Thompson, H. et al. 2018. Reinforcer effectiveness in dogs—The influence of quantity and quality. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 206, 87-93.

Can clicker training facilitate conditioning in dogs?

In the attempt to verify clicker training efficacy in shaping dogs' novel behaviours, we studied 51 domestic dogs. Learning was evaluated in three different conditions: when the primary reinforcer (food) was presented in association with (a) a clicker; (b) a...

Year Published: 2016Topics: Animal TrainingAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Chiandetti, C., Avella, S., Fongaro, E. et al. 2016. Can clicker training facilitate conditioning in dogs? Applied Animal Behaviour Science 184, 109-116.

Why do dogs play? Function and welfare implications of play in the domestic dog

Play is an enigmatic behaviour, the function of which is still debated, despite more than a century of research. We discuss the evolutionary function of play behaviour, focusing on the domestic dog (Canis familiaris), a unique species due to its...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Sommerville, R., O'Connor, E. A., Asher, L. 2017. Why do dogs play? Function and welfare implications of play in the domestic dog. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 197, 1-8.

Do aversive-based training methods actually compromise dog welfare?: A literature review

The methods by which dogs are trained vary between methods involving mainly negative reinforcement and positive punishment (aversive-based methods) and methods based essentially in positive reinforcement and negative punishment (reward-based methods). However, the use of aversive-based methods is highly controversial....

Year Published: 2017Topics: Animal TrainingAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Fernandes, J. G., Olsson, I. A. S., Vieira de Castro, A. C. 2017. Do aversive-based training methods actually compromise dog welfare?: A literature review. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 196, 1-12.

Can you spare 15?min? The measurable positive impact of a 15-min petting session on shelter dog well-being

It is well established that human interaction has positive effects on shelter dogs. This work set out to answer the question: “Does one 15-min petting session make a difference for shelter dogs?” Fifty-five dogs were subject to one 15-min petting...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: McGowan, R. T. S., Bolte, C., Barnett, H. R. et al. 2018. Can you spare 15?min? The measurable positive impact of a 15-min petting session on shelter dog well-being. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 203, 42-54.

The behavioural effects of olfactory stimulation on dogs at a rescue shelter

Many domestic dogs are kept in rescue and rehoming shelters which are frequently stressful and under-stimulating environments. Dog welfare is often compromised within these environments and there is a need to determine new practical and effective methods of improving the...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Binks, J., Taylor, S., Wills, A. et al. 2018. The behavioural effects of olfactory stimulation on dogs at a rescue shelter. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 202, 69-76.

The effects of kennel size and exercise on the behaviour and stress physiology of individually-housed greyhounds

Greyhounds are routinely bred and managed for racing and are usually housed in individual kennels. To address the question of whether greyhounds would benefit from an increase in the minimum kennel size specified in the Victorian Code of Practice, the...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Housing, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Jongman, E.C., Butler, K.L., Hemsworth, P.H. 2018. The effects of kennel size and exercise on the behaviour and stress physiology of individually-housed greyhounds. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 199, 29-34.

The effects of exercise and calm interactions on in-kennel behavior of shelter dogs

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...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Protopopova, A., Hauser, H., Goldman, K. J. et al. 2018. The effects of exercise and calm interactions on in-kennel behavior of shelter dogs. Behavioural Processes 146, 54-60.

Implementing a successful positive reinforcement training protocol in laboratory-housed dogs

Training is recognised as important for laboratory animals, both to improve welfare and increase the efficiency of conducting husbandry and regulated procedures. Despite the acknowledged need for such training in the laboratory-housed dog and the availability of training protocols for...

Year Published: 2016Topics: Animal TrainingAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Scullion Hall, L. E. M., Robinson, S. 2016. Implementing a successful positive reinforcement training protocol in laboratory-housed dogs. Animal Technology and Welfare 15(2), 83-88.

Improving safety assessment studies by the introduction of a refined ECG vest for dogs

This study describes a refined/modified vest and jacket worn by dogs to capture ECG data after they are given a compound of interest. The modified vest and jacket prevents dogs from chewing the leads and avoiding the need to repeat...

Year Published: 2018Topics: External Bodily EquipmentAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Fisher, P. 2018. Improving safety assessment studies by the introduction of a refined ECG vest for dogs. Animal Technology and Welfare 17(1), 48-49.