What Makes a Dog Adoptable? An Eye-Tracking Investigation

Humans readily attribute personality and behavioral traits to dogs, and these attributions influence decisions about adoption. This study focused on how these attributions could be influenced by breed and pose by using pictures of four breeds (Doberman Pinscher, Golden Retriever, pit bull, and Rottweiler) in 4 poses (dog sitting alone, sitting with a human, standing alone, and walking on a leash with a human). Participants rated each picture on friendliness, aggressiveness, and adoptability. Eye-tracking technology identified which specific features were represented in each picture to determine whether they had any effect on the judgments. Although the Golden Retriever was seen as most adoptable, pose differences had many significant effects that could be useful for increasing the adoptability of all breeds. Data also revealed facial areas that attracted more attention (e.g., faster time to first fixation and longer fixation duration), particularly when the dog was alone. Focus on these areas could help to optimize photographs to present dogs in the friendliest, least aggressive, and most adoptable way.     

Effects of Video Footage Versus Photographs on Perception of Dog Behavioral Traits

Photographs are frequently used to promote adoption of dogs on rescue shelter websites. While physical traits are well illustrated via photographs, conveying a dog's behavioral traits is more problematic. Traits such as sociability, obedience, and friendliness are likely to be better displayed via video footage. This study explored the effects of video versus photographs on the perception of dog behavioral traits. Four dogs from a Gloucestershire Rescue Shelter (2 desirable breeds, 2 from a stigmatized breed) were individually photographed, and a 30-s video of each was recorded. Two questionnaires were produced containing either a video or photograph of each dog. Each questionnaire presented all 4 dogs but via different media. Participants rated their agreement with 12 statements relating to their perceptions of the dog seen. Dogs viewed via video were considered to be more trainable, intelligent, friendly, and gentle and less dominant, aggressive, and unsociable. This finding was observed in desired and stigmatized breeds. Perceived behavioral traits can impact the likelihood of adoption. These findings suggest that greater use of video footage by rehoming shelters could help promote dog adoptions.     

MC1R studies in dogs with melanistic mask or brindle patterns

Black mask is a characteristic pattern in which red, yellow, tan, fawn, or brindle dogs exhibit a melanistic muzzle which may extend up onto the ears. Melanistic mask is inherited in several breeds as an autosomal dominant trait, and appears to be a fixed trait in a few breeds of dogs. A MC1R nonsense mutation, R306ter, has been shown to cause a completely red or yellow coat color in certain breeds such as Irish setters, yellow Labrador retrievers, and golden retrievers. The amino acid sequence for the melanocortin receptor 1 gene (MC1R) was examined in 17 dogs with melanistic masks from seven breeds, 19 dogs without melanistic masks, and 7 dogs in which their coat color made the mask difficult to distinguish. We also examined nine brindle dogs of four breeds, including three dogs who also had a black mask. No consistent amino acid change was observed in the brindle dogs. All dogs with a melanistic mask had at least one copy of a valine substitution for methionine at amino acid 264 (M264V) and none were homozygous for the premature stop codon (R306ter). These results suggest that black mask, but not brindle, is caused by a specific MC1R allele.     

The Canine Cuteness Effect: Owner-Perceived Cuteness as a Predictor of Human–Dog Relationship Quality

ABSTRACT

The modern domestic dog's primary function is as a human companion. A strong human–dog relationship may be beneficial to both parties but not all relationships are successful. There is currently no consensus on why some dog–owner relationships flourish and others fail, but relationship quality may be partly influenced by canine characteristics. The extent to which canine cuteness and canine personality factors predict human–dog relationship quality was examined. In study 1, 668 dog owners completed two relationship-quality surveys, rated their dog's personality and physical cuteness, and were invited to submit a photograph of their dog. Personality measures and cuteness ratings predicted each measure of relationship quality, with cuteness being the strongest unique predictor in three of seven standard multiple regression models (all p<0.001). In study 2, 873 independent participants were presented with one of 42 images selected from those provided in study 1. Participants rated the dog's cuteness and its likely personality attributes. Strangers (M=6.69, SD=0.83) typically rated each dog as being less cute than did the owner (M=8.93, SD=1.80; t(41₎=7.39, p<0.001, two tailed), and how cute they perceived the dog to be influenced their ratings of some aspects of its likely personality. Measures of relationship quality provided by owners were not significantly associated with stranger cuteness ratings or with the degree of difference between owner and stranger cuteness ratings. These results suggest a bi-directional relationship between perceived cuteness and other attributes: cute dogs are perceived to have more desirable personality traits, but having a strong relationship with a dog may also inflate its perceived cuteness. These findings have implications for those involved in dog breeding, selection, and training, as well as shelter management.     

Are extraversion and openness indicators of a slow life history strategy?

Theory and data generally concur that a slower Life History Strategy (LHS) is associated with higher Conscientiousness, Agreeableness and Emotional Stability. Whether Extraversion and Openness are indicators of a slow LH, or whether they include both fast and slow LH components, remains unresolved. I addressed these questions in two studies: one of university students observed via periodic brief audio recordings during 72 h of their daily lives, and the second a re-analysis of data from Block and Block's (2006) longitudinal study. In both studies, I operationalized LHS as the correlation between an individual's California Q-Sort (CAQ) profile and the slow Life History (SLH) CAQ template created by Sherman et al. (2013) and Dunkel et al. (2015). I calculated Five Factor Model dimension scores using McCrae et al's (1986) method. In both samples, individuals whose CAQ profile more closely resembled the SLH template were higher in Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, and Emotional Stability than those pursuing a faster LHS. Extraversion was unrelated to LHS, while Openness in the Block and Block data set was actually associated with a faster LHS. Analysis of individual CAQ items revealed some differences between the studies. Generally, Extraversion-loading items tapping excitement-seeking and self-dramatization, and Openness-loading items tapping nonconformity, were associated with a faster LHS. Participants in the audio recording study also completed a HEXACO personality inventory and the Arizona Life History Battery. LHS as measured by the ALHB was uncorrelated with LHS as measured by the CAQ. Controlling for Extraversion yielded a significant positive relationship between the two LHS measures, suggesting that their poor convergent validity resulted from differences in their coverage of Extraversion-related content.     

TYRP1 and MC1R genotypes and their effects on coat color in dogs

We used PCR amplification of cDNA prepared from skin biopsies to determine the nearly full-length, protein-coding sequence of dog TYRP1, and to define sequence variants potentially responsible for the B locus. One common variant contained a premature stop codon in exon 5 (Q331ter), and the other deleted a proline residue in exon 5 (345delP). A third variant in exon 2 (S41C) occurred less frequently. We genotyped 43 brown (including brown and white) and 34 black (including tricolor, black-and-tan, and black and white) dogs. All 43 of the brown group carried two or more of these sequence variants likely to interfere with TYRP1 function, whereas 0 of 34 in the black group carried two or more of these variants (10 carried one variant). We also genotyped 13 black-nosed and 10 brown-nosed dogs whose coat color was described as red, yellow, gold, apricot, or orange (including various degrees of white). All these dogs were homozygous for a R306X MC1R variant shown to be associated with these coat color phenotypes. The black or brown nose correlated perfectly with the absence or presence of the same three TYRP1 variants described above. TYRP1 was linkage mapped to dog chromosome 11, with a SNP in exon 7.     

Melanocortin 1 receptor variation in the domestic dog

The melanocortin 1 receptor (Mc1r) is encoded by the Extension locus in many different mammals, where a loss-of-function causes exclusive production of red/yellow pheomelanin, and a constitutively activating mutation causes exclusive production of black/brown eumelanin. In the domestic dog, breeds with a wild-type E allele, e.g., the Doberman, can produce either pigment type, whereas breeds with the e allele, e.g., the Golden Retriever, produce exclusively yellow pigment. However, a black coat color in the Newfoundland and similar breeds is thought to be caused by an unusual allele of Agouti, which encodes the physiologic ligand for the Mc1r. Here we report that the predicted dog Mc1r is 317 residues in length and 96% identical to the fox Mc1r. Comparison of the Doberman, Newfoundland, Black Labrador, Yellow Labrador, Flat-coated Retriever, Irish Setter, and Golden Retriever revealed six sequence variants, of which two, S90G and R306ter, partially correlated with a black/brown coat and red/yellow coat, respectively. R306ter was found in the Yellow Labrador, Golden Retriever, and Irish Setter; the latter two had identical haplotypes but differed from the Yellow Labrador at three positions other than R306ter. In a larger survey of 194 dogs and 19 breeds, R306ter and a red/yellow coat were completely concordant except for the Red Chow. These results indicate that the e allele is caused by a common Mc1r loss-of-function mutation that either reoccurred or was subject to gene conversion during recent evolutionary history, and suggest that the allelic and locus relationships for dog coat color genes may be more analogous to those found in other mammals than previously thought.     

Dog Pups’ Attractiveness to Humans Peaks at Weaning Age

The domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) is characterized by greatly reduced parenting investment compared with the wild type wolf (C. l. lupus) from which it is descended. Unlike wolf pups, which are reared by both parents into their second year of life, dog pups are abandoned by their mother at weaning around eight weeks of age. This relatively small parental involvement may contribute to the high pup mortality observed in dogs not living as pets. We hypothesized that people would find dog pups most attractive around weaning age when conspecific parental care is significantly reduced and pup mortality rate is high. Younger and older pups would benefit less from human intervention because in the former case the mother is providing care, and in the latter their survival is already compromised. To test this hypothesis, 51 participants rated the attractiveness of 39 black and white headshot photographs presented on a computer screen of dog pups from three breeds (Jack Russell Terrier, Cane Corso, and White Shepherd), from birth to 7 months old. In line with our hypothesis, attractiveness of Cane Corsos peaked at 6.3 weeks of age; Jack Russell Terriers’ attractiveness peaked at 7.7 weeks; and White Shepherds were most attractive at 8.3 weeks. There were also differences in attractiveness between the breeds, with Cane Corsos rated less attractive than the other two breeds. If this attractiveness motivates humans to care for the dog pups and thereby improves pup survival, this could confer significant advantages to dogs, and may contribute to our understanding of the process of domestication.     

Personality profiles of youngsters with velo-cardio-facial syndrome

The personality profile of 48 youngsters (24 males and 24 females, mean age 8 years, 5 months) with Velo-Cardio-Facial Syndrome (VCFS) was compared with a group of 240 non VCFS control youngsters (matched on age and gender), and, in addition, with groups of youngsters with Prader-Willi (PWS), Fragile X (FXS), and Williams Syndromes (WS). Personality characteristics of each youngster were rated by both parents, using the California Child Q-set (CCQ). The scores on eight personality dimensions were compared, i.e., Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Emotional Stability, Openness, Motor Activity, Irritability, and Dependency. Moreover, Individual differences in personality of VCFS youngsters were related to IQ level, presence or absence of cardiac defects, and de novo versus familial origin of VCFS. The personality profile of VCFS youngsters was markedly different from all non-VCFS groups. Compared to the 240 control children, they were equally extravert and agreeable, less conscientious and emotional stable and more Irritable and dependent. Some personality characteristics in youngsters with VCFS were related to IQ and Age, but not to cardiac defects or de novo versus familial genetic origin of the 22q11 deletion.     

Seeing Dogs: Human Preferences for Dog Physical Attributes

ABSTRACT

This study systematically investigated peoples' preferences for dog physical attributes in images of real-life dogs. Participants (n = 124) completed an aesthetic-preference test wherein they viewed 80 image pairs of mixed-breed adult dogs and were asked which image they “liked best.” In each image pair, the two dog images appeared to be nearly identical, but unbeknownst to participants, the images differed slightly in that one physical characteristic had been manipulated. By altering a single physical characteristic in each image pair, participant preference for each of 14 different physical attributes could be investigated over the course of the study. The feature manipulations examined theories relating to Kindchenschema (an infantile appearance, per Konrad lorenz), ostensive human similarity, the process of domestication, as well as differences in attribute size and symmetry. The results showed that participants preferred some features associated with the infant schema—large eyes and wider-set eyes. They also preferred certain human-like attributes: colored irises and a distinct upturn of the commissure, seeming to capture a smile. By contrast, participants did not reveal a preference for physical characteristics relating to feature size, symmetry or the process of domestication. The findings suggest that identifiable physical attributes of domestic dogs have aesthetic value and, additionally, that human preferences for aesthetic differences can be systematically investigated. Given that people attend to and care about the way dogs look, the effects of particular physical attributes on peoples' preferences merit investigation.     

Dream emotions, waking emotions, personality characteristics and well-being--A positive psychology approach.

The study aimed to discover whether personality characteristics and waking emotions relate to dreaming emotions. There were 123 participants, ranging in age from 17 to 82 years. It was hypothesized that participants with significant positive emotional trait and state ratings in waking life would experience more positive dreams. Data collection utilized diaries and questionnaires, including Hartmann's Boundary Questionnaire, IPIP Emotional Stability Scale, Staats' Hope Scale, Adult Dispositional Hope Scale, and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule to assess personality and attitudinal characteristics. Participants recorded and rated their waking and dream emotions over a 3-week period. Median correlations between corresponding waking and dream emotions were .58 for positive emotions and .47 for negative emotions. There were also low, but significant correlations between some personality characteristics and participants' tendency to experience positive or negative emotions in dreams. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Factors Influencing Adult Physical Health after Controlling for Current Health Conditions: Evidence from a British Cohort

This study explored a longitudinal data set of 6875 British adults examining the effects of parental social status (measured at birth), cognitive ability (at age 11 yrs), personality traits, education and occupational attainment on physical health and functioning (all measured at age 50 yrs), after taking account of current health conditions (number of illness). Correlation analysis showed that parental social class, childhood cognitive ability, education and occupation, and two personality traits (Emotional Stability/Neuroticism, and Conscientiousness) were all significantly associated with adult physical health variables. Structural equation modelling showed that health conditions and personality traits were significantly, and inversely, associated with physical health (indicated by good daily physical functioning, relative absence of pain, perceived health, and low level of limitations at work due to physical health). Parental social status, childhood intelligence, educational and occupational attainment were all modestly, but significantly and directly, associated with adult physical health. The effect of childhood intelligence on adult physical health was, in part, mediated through Emotional Stability and Conscientiousness. After controlling for health conditions Emotional Stability was the strongest predictor of physical health. Implications and limitations are discussed.     

A threshold model analysis of deafness in Dalmatians

To elucidate the inheritance of deafness in Dalmatian dogs, 825 dogs in 111 litters were evaluated for abnormalities in hearing through the brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER). Recorded along with their quality of hearing (normal, unilaterally deaf, or bilaterally deaf) were the sex, coat color, eye color and the presence or absence of a color patch. The analysis considered deafness an ordered categorical trait in a threshold model. The underlying, unobservable continuous variate of the threshold model was assumed to be a linear function of sex of dog, coat color (black or liver and white), color patch (presence or absence), eye color, the deafness phenotype of the parents and a random family effect. Twenty-six percent of dogs were deaf in at least one ear. Eye color, color patch, sex and the hearing status of the parents were all significant contributions to deafness. The heritability of deafness, on the continuous unobservable scale, was 0.21. This value was computed after correction for eye color, color patch, parental hearing status and sex, implying that significant genetic variation exists beyond the contribution of several single loci. Received: 15 February 1996 / Accepted: 11 June 1996     

Putting (Big) Black Dog Syndrome to the Test: Evidence from a Large Metropolitan Shelter

Most support for Black Dog Syndrome or Big Black Dog Syndrome is anecdotal or theoretical. Yet some animal shelters/organizations have implemented strategies to address what they believe are lower rates of adoption and/or higher rates of euthanasia for “Big Black Dogs.” This study examines the persistent anecdotes and theories on humans’ preferences and aversions to dogs of various shades, using hierarchical multinomial logistic regression to predict outcomes for an analytic sample of 7,440 dogs from 2010–2011 in an urban, public animal shelter serving Louisville, Kentucky, USA. The relationship between coat shade and dog outcomes was not straightforward; while no relationship existed at the bivariate level, after controls were added, entirely black dogs showed somewhat lower odds of adoption—and higher euthanasia risk—than those characterized as secondarily black or sans black. Breed category, breed size, and purebred status were stronger predictors of dog outcomes than coat shade. Big Black Dog Syndrome was not supported by these data; smaller dogs were more likely to be euthanized if they were partly or wholly black. These findings may offer nuances to adoption strategies employed by shelters/organizations, help make better use of resources, and, perhaps, improve the likelihood of homing or rehoming shelter animals.     

Exclusion of melanocortin-1 receptor (mc1r) and agouti as candidates for dominant black in dogs

The domestic dog exhibits a variety of coat colors that encompass a wide range of variation among different breeds. Very little is known about the molecular biology of dog pigmentation; current understanding is based mostly on traditional breeding experiments, which in some cases have suggested genetic interactions that are different from those reported in other mammals. We have examined the molecular genetics of dominant black, a uniform coat color characteristic of black Labrador retrievers or Newfoundlands that has been proposed to be caused by either variation in the melanocortin-1 receptor gene (Mc1r) or by variation in the Agouti gene (A). We identified several coding polymorphisms within Mc1r and several simple sequence repeat polymorphisms closely linked to A, and examined their inheritance in a Labrador retriever x greyhound cross that segregates dominant black. No single Mc1r allele was found consistently in animals carrying dominant black, and neither Mc1r nor A cosegregated with dominant black. These results refine our understanding of mammalian coat color inheritance and suggest that dominant black coat color in dogs is caused by a gene not previously implicated in pigment type switching.     

Identification of a premature stop codon in the melanocyte-stimulating hormone receptor gene (MC1R) in Labrador and Golden retrievers with yellow coat colour

We have examined whether black/yellow coat colour in Labrador retrievers is controlled by allelic variants at the extension locus. As the gene encoding the melanocyte-stimulating hormone receptor (MC1R) has been shown to correspond to the extension locus in several species, we have determined the genomic MC1R sequence in Labrador retrievers with black and with yellow coat colour. Using primers based on the fox (Vulpes vulpes) MC1R sequence we initially isolated and sequenced the innerpart of the canine MC1R. By means of inverse PCR we succeeded in the characterization of both flanking regions of the MC1R gene (Genbank: AF064455). Comparison of the complete MC1R sequences of a yellow and a black Labrador retriever revealed a single C-->T mutation at nucleotide position 916 in the yellow dog. This transition changed the codon for arginine at position 305 into a stop codon, resulting in the elimination of the evolutionary strongly conserved 10 carboxyterminal amino acid residues. With an allele-specific-oligonucleotide (ASO) test it was shown that the mutation cosegregated with the recessively inherited yellow coat colour in the Labrador retriever. Golden retrievers also appeared to be homozygous for the mutation. Seventeen other breeds were all negative for the mutation. Since the Labrador and Golden retriever are closely related, we suggest a common founder for the yellow coat colour in Labrador and Golden retrievers.     

Congenital sensorineural deafness in Australian stumpy-tail cattle dogs is an autosomal recessive trait that maps to CFA10

Background

Congenital sensorineural deafness is an inherited condition found in many dog breeds, including Australian Stumpy-tail Cattle Dogs (ASCD). This deafness is evident in young pups and may affect one ear (unilateral) or both ears (bilateral). The genetic locus/loci involved is unknown for all dog breeds. The aims of this study were to determine incidence, inheritance mechanism, and possible association of congenital sensorineural deafness with coat colour in ASCD and to identify the genetic locus underpinning this disease.

Methodology/Principal Findings

A total of 315 ASCD were tested for sensorineural deafness using the brain stem auditory evoked response (BAER) test. Disease penetrance was estimated directly, using the ratio of unilaterally to bilaterally deaf dogs, and segregation analysis was performed using Mendel. A complete genome screen was undertaken using 325 microsatellites spread throughout the genome, on a pedigree of 50 BAER tested ASCD in which deafness was segregating. Fifty-six dogs (17.8%) were deaf, with 17 bilaterally and 39 unilaterally deaf. Unilaterally deaf dogs showed no significant left/right bias (p = 0.19) and no significant difference was observed in frequencies between the sexes (p = 0.18). Penetrance of deafness was estimated as 0.72. Testing the association of red/blue coat colour and deafness without accounting for pedigree structure showed that red dogs were 1.8 times more likely to be deaf (p = 0.045). The within family association between red/blue coat colour and deafness was strongly significant (p = 0.00036), with red coat colour segregating more frequently with deafness (COR = 0.48). The relationship between deafness and coat speckling approached significance (p = 0.07), with the lack of statistical significance possibly due to only four families co-segregating for both deafness and speckling. The deafness phenotype was mapped to CFA10 (maximum linkage peak on CFA10 −log10 p-value = 3.64), as was both coat colour and speckling. Fine mapping was then performed on 45 of these 50 dogs and a further 48 dogs (n = 93). Sequencing candidate gene Sox10 in 6 hearing ASCD, 2 unilaterally deaf ASCD and 2 bilaterally deaf ASCD did not reveal any disease-associated mutations.

Conclusions

Deafness in ASCD is an incompletely penetrant autosomal recessive inherited disease that maps to CFA10.     

Inheritance of seed coat color genes in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica napus</Emphasis> (L.) and tagging the genes using SRAP,SCAR and SNP molecular markers

Seed coat color inheritance in Brassica napus was studied in F₁, F₂, F₃ and backcross progenies from crosses of five black seeded varieties/lines to three pure breeding yellow seeded lines. Maternal inheritance was observed for seed coat color in B. napus, but a pollen effect was also found when yellow seeded lines were used as the female parent. Seed coat color segregated from black to dark brown, light brown, dark yellow, light yellow, and yellow. Seed coat color was found to be controlled by three genes, the first two genes were responsible for black/brown seed coat color and the third gene was responsible for dark/light yellow seed coat color in B. napus. All three seed coat color alleles were dominant over yellow color alleles at all three loci. Sequence related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) was used for the development of molecular markers co-segregating with the seed coat color genes. A SRAP marker (SA12BG18388) tightly linked to one of the black/brown seed coat color genes was identified in the F₂ and backcross populations. This marker was found to be anchored on linkage group A9/N9 of the A-genome of B. napus. This SRAP marker was converted into sequence-characterized amplification region (SCAR) markers using chromosome-walking technology. A second SRAP marker (SA7BG29245), very close to another black/brown seed coat color gene, was identified from a high density genetic map developed in our laboratory using primer walking from an anchoring marker. The marker was located on linkage group C3/N13 of the C-genome of B. napus. This marker also co-segregated with the black/brown seed coat color gene in B. rapa. Based on the sequence information of the flanking sequences, 24 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified between the yellow seeded and black/brown seeded lines. SNP detection and genotyping clearly differentiated the black/brown seeded plants from dark/light/yellow-seeded plants and also differentiated between homozygous (Y2Y2) and heterozygous (Y2y2) black/brown seeded plants. A total of 768 SRAP primer pair combinations were screened in dark/light yellow seed coat color plants and a close marker (DC1GA27197) linked to the dark/light yellow seed coat color gene was developed. These three markers linked to the three different yellow seed coat color genes in B. napus can be used to screen for yellow seeded lines in canola/rapeseed breeding programs.     

Labradors to Persians: Perceptions of pets in the workplace

Abstract

This article reports the findings of a study examining the effects of the presence of pets in an office on people's perceptions of the work environment, the company, and the people who work there. Participants were 482 college students from a medium-sized university in the Southeast who were randomly assigned to view a slide of an office that contained one of six breeds of dogs, one of four breeds of cats, or no animal at all, and then completed a survey. Results indicated that pets are perceived to improve the moods of both customers and employees, to increase social interaction, and to make the employees appear less busy. However, they do make an office appear less professional and less clean and safe. There were few differences in perceptions based upon the various breeds of cats and dogs, with the exception of shorthaired black cats, which were generally rated less favorably.