Human-Animal Interaction

Tactile stimulation of adult rats modulates hormonal responses, depression-like behaviors, and memory impairment induced by chronic mild stress: Role of angiotensin II

Physical touch can help to decrease the effects of stress. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of tactile stimulation on the hormonal and behavioral responses of young adult rats submitted to chronic mild unpredictable stress (CMS),...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Handling, Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Costa, R., Leite Tamascia, M., Sanches, A. et al. 2020. Tactile stimulation of adult rats modulates hormonal responses, depression-like behaviors, and memory impairment induced by chronic mild stress: Role of angiotensin II. Behavioural Brain Research 379, 112250.

Temperament in domestic cats: A review of proximate mechanisms, methods of assessment, its effects on human—cat relationships, and one welfare

Temperament can be defined as interindividual differences in behavior that are stable over time and in different contexts. The terms ‘personality’, ‘coping styles’, and ‘behavioral syndromes’ have also been used to describe these interindividual differences. In this review, the main...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Human-Animal Interaction, Personality, Relocation & TransportAnimal Type: Cat

Citation: de Castro Travnik, I., de Souza Machado, D., de Silva Gonçalves, L. et al. 2020. Temperament in domestic cats: A review of proximate mechanisms, methods of assessment, its effects on human—cat relationships, and one welfare. Animals 10(9), 1516.

The effects of the frequency and method of gentling on the behavior of cats in shelters

Gentling of cats in a shelter has been shown to increase contented behaviors and reduce anxiety, but it is not clear how gentling should be provided. Two experiments were conducted in cats confined to cages, each having a central room...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Handling, Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Cat

Citation: Liu, S., Paterson, M., Camarri, S. et al. 2020. The effects of the frequency and method of gentling on the behavior of cats in shelters. Journal of Veterinary Behavior 39, 47-56.

The influence of human interaction on guinea pigs: Behavioral and thermographic changes during animal-assisted therapy

Guinea pigs are often involved in animal-assisted therapy (AAT) but there is little knowledge about the effects of human contact on guinea pigs involved in AAT. The aim of this study was to investigate effects of availability of a retreat,...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Guinea Pig, Rodent

Citation: Wirth, S., Gebhardt-Henrich, S. G., Riemer, S. et al. 2020. The influence of human interaction on guinea pigs: Behavioral and thermographic changes during animal-assisted therapy. Physiology & Behavior 225, 113076.

The power of a positive human–animal relationship for animal welfare

Domestic animals often seek and enjoy interacting with humans. Positive human–animal relationships can elicit positive emotions and other positive welfare outcomes. Nevertheless, our understanding of the underlying processes that govern the positive perception of humans by animals is incomplete. We...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: All/General, Bird, Cat, Cattle, Chicken, Dog, Goat, Parrot, Pig, Rat, Rodent, Sheep

Citation: Rault, J.-L., Waiblinger, S., Boivin, X. et al. 2020. The power of a positive human–animal relationship for animal welfare. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 7, 590867.

Alpaca and llama behaviour during handling and its associations with caretaker attitudes and human-animal contact

The behaviour of new world camelids towards humans has received little research attention so far. Our aims were to assess the response of alpacas and llamas to handling, and to investigate its associations with caretaker attitudes and handling practices (i.e.,...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Other Animal

Citation: Windschnurer, I., Eibl, C., Franz, S. et al. 2020. Alpaca and llama behaviour during handling and its associations with caretaker attitudes and human-animal contact. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 226, 104989.

Association between attitude and empathy with the quality of human-livestock interactions

The human-animal interactions are a key component of human and animal welfare. The quality of this interaction can therefore be assessed by measuring the reaction response of the animals to the handler’s behavior. The aim of this study was to...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Cattle

Citation: Leon, A. F., Sanchez, J. A., Romero, M. H. 2020. Association between attitude and empathy with the quality of human-livestock interactions. Animals 10(8), 1304.

Behavioural outcomes of housing for domestic dog puppies (Canis lupus familiaris)

Domestic dogs experience a sensitive period for learning during early life and conditions during this time can have important consequences in the adult. We investigated the effects of kennel environment during early life, comparing the temperaments of puppies reared in...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Housing, Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Majecka, K., Pąsiek, M., Pietraszewski, D. 2020. Behavioural outcomes of housing for domestic dog puppies (Canis lupus familiaris). Applied Animal Behaviour Science 222, 104899.

Broadcasting human voice to piglets (Sus scrofa domestica) modifies their behavioural reaction to human presence in the home pen and in arena tests

The human-pig relationship develops through visual, tactile, olfactory, and auditory interactions. Our objective was to determine the effect of human voices on the development of the human-pig relationship. We hypothesised that human voice facilitates the development of the human-pig relationship....

Year Published: 2020Topics: Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Bensoussan, S., Tigeot, R., Meunier-Salaün, M.-C. et al. 2020. Broadcasting human voice to piglets (Sus scrofa domestica) modifies their behavioural reaction to human presence in the home pen and in arena tests. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 225, 104965.

Changing human behavior to improve animal welfare: A longitudinal investigation of training laboratory animal personnel about heterospecific play or “rat tickling”

Despite evidence for rat tickling’s animal welfare benefits, the technique is rarely implemented in part because of a lack of training. This study’s purpose was to determine the efficacy of online-only or online + hands-on training programs on key outcomes...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: LaFollette, M. R., Cloutier, S., Brady, C. M. et al. 2020. Changing human behavior to improve animal welfare: A longitudinal investigation of training laboratory animal personnel about heterospecific play or “rat tickling”. Animals 10(8), 1435.