Behavioural differences between three breed groups of hunting dogs confronted with domestic sheep

When running free in open fields, domestic dogs occasionally display predatory behaviour towards domestic sheep. This has not yet been studied scientifically. The aim of the present study was to investigate the inclination to chase sheep in three breed groups of hunting dogs that are most frequently used in areas with grazing sheep. We studied 41 elkhounds, 29 hare hunting dogs and 68 English setters. Behaviours indicative of motivation for chasing or attacking sheep were examined in three different ways. A path test examined functional traits such as hunting ability, contact willingness, reactivity to sudden noise, and response towards a lone sheep. In a sheep confrontation test, loose-leashed dogs were observed in a fenced enclosure with sheep and given electric shocks through an electronic dog collar if within 1-2m from the sheep. A questionnaire to the dog owners supplied information on their dog's previous experience with sheep and behavioural responses to various types of novel stimuli. No significant sex differences were found. The elkhounds showed the highest interest in a lone sheep in the path test, and displayed the highest initial hunting motivation, the highest percentage of dogs starting a sheep attack, the highest attack severity, and were most frequently given el. shocks. The hare hunting dogs were intermediate, while setters showed the lowest values for these variables. Dogs reported as showing low fearfulness more frequently acted as potential sheep chasers in the tests. Dogs up to 3 years of age showed a more pronounced initial hunting motivation and more frequent attacks than older dogs, although there were no age differences in the number of el. shocks given in the test. The latter may be related to the more frequent abruption of attacks among younger dogs. The main factors predicting a high hunting motivation and attack severity were lack of previous opportunity to chase sheep, low fearfulness towards gunshots and unfamiliar people, and general interest in sheep shown when encountering them. Probability of sheep chasing differed between dog breeds and age groups. Previous experience and certain character traits were indicative of a high predatory motivation towards sheep.     

Behavioural changes and aversive conditioning in hunting dogs by the second-year confrontation with domestic sheep

Domesticated dogs occasionally exhibit predatory behaviour towards domestic sheep when running loose in pasture. Both young and old dogs of either sex may chase sheep. Electronic dog collars applying electric shocks are utilised as one method of training dogs to refrain from attacking sheep. This device is used for a number of other training purposes which have raised concern for the welfare of the dogs being trained. This study aims at testing long-term learning effects of previous sheep tests on sheep chasing in hunting dog breeds (Norwegian elkhounds (grey), English setters, and hare hunting dogs), in particular with use of electronic dog collars, in addition to uncovering potential secondary negative effects on dogs' behaviour and mental stability. The dogs (N=114) were subjected to three tests for two subsequent years, the second year being reported here. Dogs were tested for reactions to different stimuli, including a sheep, in a path test. In a sheep confrontation test, dogs were fenced in with a sheep group and given el. shocks when approaching 1-2m from sheep. A questionnaire to the dog owners reported differences in dogs' behaviour between the years.Dogs showed weaker or delayed behavioural responses in both tests in the second year. No dogs showed interest in or attacked a lone sheep in the path test in the second year, while almost two thirds of them did so the first year. In the sheep confrontation test, the dogs exhibited comparatively hesitant initial hunting motivation the second year, being more evident in dogs which received el. shocks the first year. No dogs chased or attacked sheep as their first response in this test, while half of them did so the first year. The proportion of dogs attacking sheep during the entire test was reduced to almost one fourth. The number of el. shocks administered reduced by the second year, and only one of the dogs that received el. shocks the first year received el. shocks the second year. The owners reported no negative effect on the dogs' behaviour during the year ensuing el. shock treatment. Eighteen of the 24 dogs reported by owners to exhibit behavioural changes lost their previous interest in sheep.The second-year tests indicate that aversive conditioning with the use of electronic dog collar may be an efficient method for reducing the probability of a dog chasing or attacking grazing sheep. No adverse effects were observed with our test procedure.     

繁殖期高原鼠兔的攻击行为

通过室内配对实验对高原鼠兔（Ｏｃｈｏｔｏｎａ ｃｕｒｚｏｎｉａｅ）繁殖期的攻击行为进行了研究。结果表明,雌雄动物的攻击水平相同,同性个体间的攻击性明显高于异性个体间。雌雄动物具有不同的攻击模式。雌性个体遇到陌生个体首先以攻击中的进攻和追逐为主,然后通过相互接触确定个体的性别,若为同性个体,以防御为主,若为异性个体,则有防御和亲昵两种选择;雄性动物遇到陌生个体同样首先以攻击为主,相互接触后,若为异性     

Wolf or dog? Genetic identification of predators from saliva collected around bite wounds on prey

Wolf predation on livestock is a management problem in many areas and is often used to justify control measures against the wolves. However, wolves coexist with dogs across their range, and dogs could be responsible for attacks blamed on wolves. In this study we evaluate the possibility of obtaining sufficient DNA for species identification of the predator from saliva remaining close to bite wounds following a canid attack. Predator DNA of reasonably high quality was successfully extracted from bite wounds on two sheep that had been attacked on a farm and were genotyped using six informative microsatellite markers. A single consensus genotype could be constructed from the bite wounds of both sheep which we compared to genotypes obtained from Scandinavian wolves and dogs. The results clearly showed that the saliva sampled originated from a single dog. This report thus demonstrates the feasibility of predator species identification from bite wounds and also illustrates that it can not be taken for granted that wolves are responsible for canid livestock kills.     

Insects feeding on desert bighorn sheep, domestic rabbits, and Japanese quail in the Santa Rosa mountains of southern California.

Desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis cremnobates), a domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), and Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) were used as bait animals to collect blood-feeding flies in an area of active blue-tongue and epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus transmission. Precipitin tests were used to confirm the blood source where feasible. Eight species of Culicoides, members of the Leptoconops kerteszi group, Simulium spp., Anopheles franciscanus, and Stomoxys calcitrans were collected from the bighorn sheep. Feeding on the bighorn sheep by Culicoides brookmani (n = 25), C. variipennis (n = 6), C. cacticola (n = 1), and Simulium spp. (n = 3) was confirmed by precipitin testing. Primary species attacking the rabbit were C. brookmani, C. variipennis, and the L. kerteszi group. The quail were attacked primarily by members of the C. copiosus group and the L. kerteszi group.     

Predatory versatility in a larval dragonfly, Hemianax papuensis (Odonata: Aeshnidae)

Larvae of the large dragonfly Hemianax papuensis used four disparate, prey-specific predatory behaviours. Arthropod prey moving on a substratum were stalked and then attacked from a distance. Arthropod prey moving in the water column or at the water surface were approached using 'jet' propulsion and then attacked from a distance. Snails, an unusual prey for an arthropod, were stalked; then the larva manoeuvred about them until a specific orientation was achieved before an attack was made from close range. Dead snails were scavenged, using tactics very similar to those used with live snails, but non-snail carrion was rarely taken. There was no evidence that the possession, by H. papuensis , of specialized behaviours for an atypical prey-snails-lowered its success when attacking other types of 'typical' prey.     

The Predictive Value of Early Behavioural Assessments in Pet Dogs – A Longitudinal Study from Neonates to Adults

Studies on behavioural development in domestic dogs are of relevance for matching puppies with the right families, identifying predispositions for behavioural problems at an early stage, and predicting suitability for service dog work, police or military service. The literature is, however, inconsistent regarding the predictive value of tests performed during the socialisation period. Additionally, some practitioners use tests with neonates to complement later assessments for selecting puppies as working dogs, but these have not been validated. We here present longitudinal data on a cohort of Border collies, followed up from neonate age until adulthood. A neonate test was conducted with 99 Border collie puppies aged 2–10 days to assess activity, vocalisations when isolated and sucking force. At the age of 40–50 days, 134 puppies (including 93 tested as neonates) were tested in a puppy test at their breeders'' homes. All dogs were adopted as pet dogs and 50 of them participated in a behavioural test at the age of 1.5 to 2 years with their owners. Linear mixed models found little correspondence between individuals'' behaviour in the neonate, puppy and adult test. Exploratory activity was the only behaviour that was significantly correlated between the puppy and the adult test. We conclude that the predictive validity of early tests for predicting specific behavioural traits in adult pet dogs is limited.     

Owner-companion dog interactions: Relationships between demographic variables,potentially problematic behaviours,training engagement and shared activities

Many companion dogs occupy a privileged position in our society, living closely with human caretakers who go to great lengths to provide for their needs and desires. Others fare less well, being abandoned or killed, many because they are believed to exhibit behaviour problems. The aim in this study was to investigate the frequency of potentially problematic behaviours experienced by a convenience sample of companion dog owners and to establish if the presence of these behaviours was associated with demographic variables, involvement in dog training activities and participation in other dog-human interactions. Potentially problematic behaviours were reported to occur by the 413 adult participants only infrequently, but fell into five factors; disobedience, unfriendliness/aggression, nervousness, anxiety/destructiveness and excitability. Each of these factors was associated with a number of owner and dog characteristics. Engagement in training activities was predictive of lower scores being obtained for many of the behaviours, as well as increased involvement in shared activities. Some of the behaviours, particularly the perceived friendliness of the dog, were also predictive of involvement in shared activities. This confirms that strategies designed to increase participation in dog training activities and promote canine sociability may have significant benefits for both companion dog owners and their dogs.     

The Effects of Human Age,Group Composition,and Behavior on the Likelihood of Being Injured by Attacking Pumas

ABSTRACT

Documentation from the years 1890 to 2000 of 185 instances of pumas (Puma concolor) attacking humans in the United States and Canada has provided statistical evidence that pumas are less likely to kill or injure humans in certain circumstances. We identified incidents of fatal attacks, severe injuries, light injuries, and no injuries as a function of human age class, group size, body posture, and conspicuous action, such as noise making, running, or shooting. Ordinal multinomial regression revealed that age class (< 13 years old vs. older) was not a statistically reliable predictor of attack severity. This statistical method also revealed that there was no reliable association between the number of individuals present during the attack and attack severity. Nevertheless, examination of specific attack outcomes indicated that the likelihood of escaping injury increased when two or more people were present. The speed that individuals moved during the attack did not predict attack severity, but it was apparent that the lowest likelihood of escaping injury (26%) and greatest frequency of severe injuries (43%) occurred when individuals remained stationary. In contrast, half of the individuals who ran when they were attacked escaped injury, whereas running was associated with only a small increase in the frequency of fatal attacks (28%), compared with remaining stationary (23%). Evidence that half of the individuals who ran escaped injury suggests that pumas are assessing immobility in humans as they might with other prey, using it as an index of prey inattention or disablement and hence greater vulnerability.     

Cover Caption

Artificial sentinel prey can be useful to measure and compare predation pressure in various habits. Green‐coloured plasticine caterpillars are readily attacked by up to 14 groups of predatory organisms, and can be identified by their attack marks. Predators include various arthropods, birds, and mammals. Information collected by using sentinel prey is summarised in the review article by Lövei and Ferrante (see pages 528‐542). The cover photo shows the carabid Carabus cancellatus attacking an artificial caterpillar. Photo by C.B. Eötvös.     

Characteristics of owned dogs on the island of New Providence, The Bahamas

This study reports the findings from street interviews on owned dogs (N = 442) in New Providence, The Bahamas. Many households kept dogs outside, and roughly 43% of households allowed at least 1 dog to roam. Dogs kept inside most likely were considered a companion, whereas dogs used for security were kept outside. With 36.1% of the dog population neutered and 4.4 puppies per litter surviving to breeding age (6 months), the population continues to produce more dogs than are required just to maintain its numbers. Potcakes, the local mongrel, followed by pit bulls, were the most commonly kept dogs. Comparison with a study conducted in the Yucatan, Mexico (A. Ortega-Pacheco et al., 2005), suggests that the hostile subtropical environment of New Providence well may be responsible for checking the growth of the dog population. The study also suggests that until less than 20% of the females breed, there will continue to be a dog problem on the island.     

Characteristics of Owned Dogs on the Island of New Providence,The Bahamas

This study reports the findings from street interviews on owned dogs (N = 442) in New Providence, The Bahamas. Many households kept dogs outside, and roughly 43% of households allowed at least 1 dog to roam. Dogs kept inside most likely were considered a companion, whereas dogs used for security were kept outside. With 36.1% of the dog population neutered and 4.4 puppies per litter surviving to breeding age (6 months), the population continues to produce more dogs than are required just to maintain its numbers. Potcakes, the local mongrel, followed by pit bulls, were the most commonly kept dogs. Comparison with a study conducted in the Yucatan, Mexico (A. Ortega-Pacheco et al., 2005), suggests that the hostile subtropical environment of New Providence well may be responsible for checking the growth of the dog population. The study also suggests that until less than 20% of the females breed, there will continue to be a dog problem on the island.     

Does Physical Contact with a Dog or Person Affect Performance of a Working Memory Task?

ABSTRACT

Working memory (WM) plays a critical role in the execution of a wide variety of cognitive tasks and predicts academic success. This study was designed to compare the impact of the presence of a dog or a person, and physical contact with them, on the performance of a WM task. It also exam- ined whether the impact differed for two dogs, and whether these factors im- pacted arousal during the WM task. College students (n=31, aged 18–23 years) performed a WM task in five counterbalanced conditions; dog-touch, dog-no-touch, person-touch, person-no-touch, and alone. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two dogs; Miniature Poodle (n=16) or Border Collie (n=15). The WM task involved replicating increasingly complicated se- quences of colored lights by touching them on an iPad^®. Linear mixed model analyses revealed there was a significant interaction between collaborator and touch (p=0.05); best WM scores occurred without touch with either the per- son or the dog present, and worst WM scores occurred when the participant was touching a dog. Analyzing WM test during the dog conditions, touch (p=0.027) and dog breed (p=0.042) contributed independently to it; task completion was worse when the poodle was present and better without touch. Physiological measures [heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability] during the ex- periment indicated that the WM task was physiologically arousing (p<0.001) compared with listening, and HR was higher when touching a person than a dog during the task (p<0.046). These results are consistent with facilitation of performance by the presence of an observer. If there is a beneficial effect on cognition from a dog, physical contact with the dog might not be a necessary component. Aspects of the dog (e.g., breed) are also likely factors in WM task performance. This study highlights the importance of situational characteristics in studies evaluating the impact of companion animals.     

Rumen bacterial and fungal degradation of Digitaria pentzii grown with or without sulfur.

Sheep fed the forage Digitaria pentzii fertilized with sulfur were compared with those fed unfertilized forage for the rumen microbial population involved with fiber degradation. No differences were detected in the bacterial population as determined by anaerobic cultures on a habitat-simulating medium, xylan, or pectin, by 35S labeling techniques for microbial protein, or by transmission electron microscopic studies of bacterium-fiber interactions. Rumen volume and water flow from the rumen were not different for sheep fed each of the forages. Rumen fungi were prevalent in sheep fed sulfur-fertilized D. pentzii as shown by sporangia adhering to forage fiber and by colonies developing from zoospores in roll tubes with cellobiose plus streptomycin and penicillin. Fungi were absent or in extremely small numbers in sheep fed unfertilized forage. Nylon bag digestibility studies showed that the fungi preferentially colonized the lignified cells of blade sclerenchyma by 6 h and caused extensive degradation by 24 h. In the absence of bacteria in in vitro studies, extensive hyphal development occurred; other lignified tissues in blades (i.e., mestome sheath and xylem) were attacked, resulting in a residue with partially degraded and weakened cell walls. Nonlignified tissues were also degraded. Breaking force tests of leaf blades incubated in vitro with penicillin and streptomycin and rumen fluid from sheep fed sulfur-fertilized forage or within nylon bags in such sheep showed a residue at least twice as fragile as that from sheep fed unfertilized forage. In vitro tests for dry matter loss showed that rumen fungi, in the absence of actively growing bacteria, could remove about 62% of the forage material. The response of rumen fungi in sheep fed sulfur-fertilized D. pentzii afforded a useful in vivo test to study the role of these microbes in fiber degradation. Our data establish that rumen fungi can be significant degraders of fiber and further establish a unique role for them in attacking and weakening lignocellulosic tissues. The more fragile residues resulting from attack by fungi could explain the greater intake consistently observed by sheep eating sulfur-fertilized compared with unfertilized D. pentzii forage.     

Physical Activity and Welfare of Guide Dogs and Walking Activity of Their Partners

ABSTRACT

Appropriate physical activity is beneficial for physical and psychosocial wellbeing, and it is recommended for people to have 30 minutes of activity on most days of the week, to yield 150 minutes per week. Getting sufficient physical activity particularly challenges people with visual disabilities, and few health-promotion interventions have focused on adults with this disability. Recently, dog walking has been promoted in communities as a way to increase people's physical activity. We surveyed guide-dog partners to assess whether their guide dogs facilitated walking. We also assessed the welfare of these dogs, including their physical activity and social interactions with other dogs and people, especially as there is some concern that these dogs have too little freedom. For comparison, we assessed large and small companion dogs and their handlers, as well. A web-based survey was conducted among people living with guide dogs or companion (pet) dogs: large companion dogs (51 lb or more) and small companion dogs (50 lb or less). Guide-dog partners walked significantly more than handlers of either small or large companion dogs (Guide-dog partners met the healthy standard of 150 min per week of walking, at a level 10 times more than owners of large companion dogs). Guide dogs walked with their partners more frequently and for longer durations per day than owners of companion dogs. Guide dogs with their handlers met more people outside of their homes than did owners of companion dogs, but the groups did not differ in the number of dogs they greeted outside of the house. The frequencies of going to off-leash areas did not differ among the three groups. The findings indicate that having a dog as a guide can lead to a higher amount of walking among guide-dog partners, and that guide dogs have a higher quality of life, in terms of quantity of physical activity and social interactions, compared with large or small companion dogs.     

模拟捕食者风险对大黄鱼幼鱼行为、游泳能力及应激水平的影响

许多研究表明适当强度的抄网追赶训练能够提高幼鱼感知风险的能力, 塑造出敏捷应对捕食者追赶的行为。大黄鱼生性敏感, 对外界刺激反应较为强烈, 抄网追赶训练能否提高其应对风险的能力尚未知。研究通过对大黄鱼(Larimichthys crocea)幼鱼(80 dpf)进行为期15d和30d, 每天2次, 每次分别0、2.5min、5.0min和7.5min的抄网追赶, 探究了大黄鱼幼鱼在不同水平的抄网追赶下生长、行为、游泳能力和应激水平的变化; 并且在30d刺激结束后的第8天, 再次给予抄网追赶刺激, 以测试停训后大黄鱼幼鱼再次面对刺激时应激水平的变化。结果表明: 不管是短期(15d), 还是较长期(30d)的刺激, 显著性检验表明不同水平的追赶训练对生长的影响不显著, 但效应量和贝叶斯因子表明, 30d的刺激效应更为明显。经过15d刺激后, 显著性检验及效应量都表明追赶刺激对大黄鱼幼鱼对陌生环境的探索能力无显著影响;刺激30d后, 显著性检验以及效应量均表明30 d的追赶刺激大黄鱼幼鱼对陌生环境探索能力的影响要比15d强。此外, 显著性检验、效应量及贝叶斯因子均表明一定水平的刺激能降低大黄鱼幼鱼的皮质醇水平。另外, 显著性检验表明15 d的追赶训练仅对绝对临界游泳速度(U_crita)负面影响显著, 但效应量表明15d和30d的刺激对绝对(U_crita)和相对临界游泳速度(U_critr)负面效应都相当明显。同时, 显著性检验、效应量和贝叶斯因子都表明停训后第8天的大黄鱼幼鱼再次受到刺激时, 其应激水平明显低于未受过训练的个体。总体而言, 抄网刺激训练能有效提高人工养殖大黄鱼幼鱼的野外适应能力。研究结果为深入研究大黄鱼的行为及为大黄鱼放流前的驯化技术研发奠定了一定的基础。     

Kennel enrichment: exercise and socialization of dogs

In the last 50 years, there has been a growing need for storage and management systems for the production and maintenance of large numbers of dogs. Unwanted dogs and strays, detained in kennels, stay for various lengths of time. Large kennels also produce dogs for sale as companion animals, for the service dog industry (police and guide dogs), for biomedical research, and for use by dog food companies. Across the United States, literally tens of thousands of dogs are born in kennels and spend their lives in kennels. The laboratory dog, the kennel dog, the service dog, and the companion dog are in an evolutionary transition period, accompanied by concomitant adaptation to stresses signaled by a high frequency of genetic disease and behavioral abnormalities. For kennel enrichment programs, such as socialization and exercise, the modern kenneled dog is a genetically moving target. Specific recommendations apply neither to all breeds nor to the variations within a single breed.     

Aggressive displays by male House Wrens are composed of multiple components that predict attack

Aggressive signals should predict whether the sender of the signal will attack the receiver, yet this criterion has been little studied. We conducted experiments with male House Wrens (Troglodytes aedon) in north‐central Illinois in 2009 to test the hypothesis that rates of song delivery and wing‐quivering (putative aggressive signals) signal aggressive intent. We simulated a conspecific territorial intrusion by combining playback of male song with a male taxidermic mount, predicting that these signals would be related to a male's likelihood of attacking a conspecific. All males (N = 37) sang in response to the intrusion. Males attacking the mount sang at significantly higher rates and performed significantly more wing quivers than males that did not attack. In addition, all males that attacked the mount performed wing quivers (9/9), whereas only 53.6% (15/28) of males that did not attack did so (P = 0.011). Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that both song and wing quivering indicate a signaler's aggressive intent and that these signals are likely components of a multi‐component, hierarchical display.     

Prey-capture techniques and prey preferences of Habrocestum pulex, an ant-eating jumping spider (Araneae, Salticidae) from North America

The prey-catching techniques and prey preferences of Habrocestum pulex (Hentz), ant-eating jumping spider (Araneae: Salticidae) from North America, were studied in the laboratory. H. pulex uses prey-specific, prey-catching behaviour against ants. Ants, but not other insects, were consistently attacked head-on. After attacking an ant, but not after attacking other insects, H. pulex kept its forelegs extended laterally and forwards without touching the ground. H. pulex feeds on ants in preference to other insects. Preference for ants and prey-specific predatory behaviour do not depend on prior experience with ants. As in earlier studies of other ant-eating salticids, three different types of tests for prey preference were carried out, using active, living prey: Type 1 (one type of prey presented to salticid at a time on alternate days); Type 2 (two types of prey presented to salticid simultaneously); and Type 3 (salticid feeding on one type of prey presented with alternative prey of another type). However, newly-designed apparatus made testing more efficient. Preference for ants over other insects is shown not to depend on level of activity or any other cues from prey movement pattern: Type 1 and Type 2 tests were carried out using motionless (dead) lures, and again ants were taken in preference to other insects. Findings from this study are discussed in relation to recent findings on other ant-eating salticids.     

Selective aliphatic and aromatic carbon-hydrogen bond activation catalysed by mutants of cytochrome p450cam

The substrate range of the haem monooxygenase cytochrome P450_cam (CYP101) has been broadened by site-directed mutagenesis. The hydroxylation selectivity of five mutants at the 96 position towards a range of substrates has been used to investigate P450_cam -substrate molecular recognition. The substrates contained aromatic and activated and unactivated aliphatic C---H bonds, as well as reactive functional groups. Diphenylmethane, diphenylether, diphenylamine, and 1,1-di-phenylethylene were all hydroxylated regiospecifically at the para position, with no attack at the amine or the olefinic double bond. With benzylcyclohexane the activated benzylic and tertiary C---H bonds were not attacked, and the reactions catalysed by the Y96G and Y96A mutants were highly diastereoselective, with 4-trans-benzylcyclohexanol constituting 90% of the products. 1-Phenyl-1-cyclohexylethylene was oxidised predominantly at the 4-position of the cyclohexane ring without attack at the olefinic double bond, and approximately equal amounts of cis- and trans-4-phenylethenylcyclohexanol were formed. These results show that P450_cam can be engineered to oxidise C---H bonds without attacking more reactive functional groups.