A test for the evaluation of emotional reactivity in Labrador retrievers used for explosives detection

Sherman, Barbara L.; Gruen, Margaret E.; Case, Beth; Foster, Melanie L.; Fish, Richard E.; Lazarowski, Lucia; DePuy, Venita; Dorman, David C.

doi:10.1016/j.jveb.2014.12.007

Cited by 35 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…In the same population of dogs, Sherman et al, (2015) saw differences between individuals in their "emotional reactivity" and the dogs showed consistency in individual response across a large number of stimuli. Such responses may be affected by both personality and past history.…”

Section: The Influence or Prior Learning As Well As Temperamentmentioning

confidence: 92%

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Minimizing fear and anxiety in working dogs: A review

Rooney

Clark

Casey

2016

Journal of Veterinary Behavior

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The causes of fear and anxiety in working dogs are multifactorial and may include inherited characteristics that differ between individuals (e.g. Goddard and Beilharz, 1982; 1984a,b), influences of the environment (Lefebvre et al., 2007), and learned experiences during particular sensitive periods (Appleby et al., 2002) and throughout life. Fear-related behavior compromises performance, leads to significant numbers of dogs failing to complete training (e.g., Murphy, 1995;Batt et al., 2008), early withdrawals from working roles (Caron-Lormier et al., 2016), and can jeopardize dog and handler safety. Hence, amelioration of fear and anxiety is critical to maintain dogs in working roles and to ensure their well-being. Although current methods of selection and training are seemingly effective at producing many dogs which work in a remarkable array of environments, some dogs do not make the grade, and longevity of service is not always maximized. Programs should strive for optimal efficiency and they need to continually analyze the value of each component of their program, seek evidence for its value and explore potential evidence-based improvements. Here we discuss scientific evidence for methods and strategies which may be of value in reducing the risk of fear behaviors developing in the working dog population and suggest potentially valuable techniques and future research to explore the benefit of these approaches. The importance of environmental influences, learning opportunities, and effects of underlying temperament on the outward expression of fear and anxiety should not be underestimated. Identification of characteristics which predict resilience to stress are valuable, both to enable careful breeding for these traits and to develop predictive tests for puppies and procured animals. It is vitally important to rear animals in optimal environments and introduce them to a range of stimuli in a positive, controlled, and gradual way, as these can all help minimize the number of dogs which develop workinhibiting fears. Future research should explore innovative methods to best measure the relative resilience of dogs to stressful events. This could include developing optimal exposure protocols to minimize the development of fear and anxiety, and exploring the influence of social learning and the most effective elements of stimulus presentation.

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Section: The Influence or Prior Learning As Well As Temperamentmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…These stimuli could sensitize dogs during testing, resulting in increased fear behavior on subsequent presentation (Davis, 1974). Because tests are conducted consecutively (Wilsson and Sundgren, 1997;Sherman et al, 2015), sensitization risk is increased (De Meester et al, 2011).…”

Section: Presentation Of High-intensity Stimulimentioning

confidence: 99%

Minimizing fear and anxiety in working dogs: A review

Rooney

Clark

Casey

2016

Journal of Veterinary Behavior

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“…Dogs exhibiting these anxious and panicky signs in response to a noise stimulus experience both physical and behavioral debility and compromise (Dykman et al, 1966;Murphree et al, 1967;Overall et al, 2001;Dreschel and Granger, 2005;Dreschel, 2010;Siniscalchi et al, 2014). Noise reactivity and phobia interferes with performance in working dogs (Tomkins et al, 2006(Tomkins et al, , 2007Gazzano et al, 2007;Batt et al, 2008;Asher et al, 2013;Arvelius et al, 2014;Sherman et al, 2014;Evans et al, 2015) and interferes routine patterns of daily life in pet dogs (Overall et al, 2001). Noise reactivity and phobia is associated with patterns of brain organization (Branson and Rogers, 2006;Siniscalchi et al, 2008), which may be one mechanism through which pathological changes occur.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Phenotypic determination of noise reactivity in 3 breeds of working dogs: A cautionary tale of age, breed, behavioral assessment, and genetics

Overall

Dunham

Juarbe-Diaz

2016

Journal of Veterinary Behavior

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Noise reactivity is a common problem for dogs, and may progress to true phobia. Survey studies report that some type of noise reaction occurs in up to half of all pet dogs throughout their lifetimes, indicating that noise reactivity/phobia is a welfare issue. Familial aggregations of affected dogs have been reported and increased prevalence in certain breeds has been suggested. Reactivity to noise can severely compromise function in both pet and working dogs. Noise reactivity may be co-morbid with many anxiety disorders for both canines and humans and is postulated to effect information processing in associated human, rodent and dog conditions. Any putative effect of noise on information processing becomes a concern for problem solving and other aspects of cognition that are important to working dogs. Accordingly, we sought to phenotype 3 breeds of herding dogs commonly used for work as detection dogs, police/patrol dogs, search and rescue dogs, and/or service dogs: Australian shepherds (AUS), Border collies (BOC) and German shepherds (GSD). We analyzed demographic information and behavioral responses to noises (guns, storms, fireworks) known to provoke fearful or phobic responses for 59 AUS, 81 BOC, and 58 GSD, who were also included in a genetic analysis. Behaviors were compared using a metric constructed from information on type, frequency and intensity of response, the Anxiety Intensity Rank (AIR score). Reactivity to noise was found to segregate in some family lines for the dogs in this study, although individuals expressed considerable variation in noise response. Such variation may be time and exposure dependent and presents a phenotyping challenge. In this study, the presence and intensity of reactivity as represented by AIR scores varied by breed, but only slightly with age. The BOC studied were older, and BOC and AUS were more severely affected (higher AIR scores) than were GSD. Source/purpose of dog may also affect severity of affliction. Determination of crisp, accurate phenotypes is essential for understanding underlying genetic contributions. For noise reactivity/phobia accurate phenotypes include age of onset and specific behavioral characterization. Standardized, objective assessments are essential for assessment of progression and co-morbidity. Our data imply that accurate phenotypic assessment is possible at a relatively early age, providing for both humane treatment and accurate phenotyping that facilitates good genotyping.

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“…The prognosis for return to full active duty is improved when military working dogs with degenerative lumbosacral stenosis are treated at a younger age and when they have mild or moderate clinical signs. Labrador Retrievers are commonly used as detection dogs …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

CT measures of lumbosacral paraspinal muscle size are not correlated with CT measures of lumbosacral stability in military working Labrador Retrievers

Jones

Kimmett

Sharp

et al. 2019

Vet Radiology Ultrasound

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Management of degenerative lumbosacral stenosis in military working dogs more frequently utilizes core conditioning exercise programs. Future research on the effectiveness of these programs may benefit from an improved understanding of relationships between paraspinal muscle size and lumbosacral stability. The aim of this retrospective, secondary analysis, cross-sectional study was to test the following hypotheses related to CT measures: (a) transverse paraspinal muscle area ratios differ between hip flexion and extension, (b) lumbosacral angle and lumbosacral range of motion differ by lumbosacral angle measurement technique, and (c) transverse paraspinal muscle area ratios are correlated with CT measures of lumbosacral stability (parasagittal and parasagittal oblique foraminal area changes) regardless of hip position and with lumbosacral range of motion within each hip position. Lumbosacral CT scans in hip flexion and extension were retrieved from a previous prospective study of military working Labrador Retrievers. A single observer performed triplicate measurements of transverse paraspinal muscle area ratios, parasagittal foraminal area, and parasagittal oblique foraminal area for each hip position and another observer independently performed triplicate measurements of lumbosacral angle and lumbosacral range of motion at L7-S1 using two published techniques. Thirty-nine dogs were analyzed and significant differences were identified between hip flexion and extension for all mean transverse paraspinal muscle area ratio values (P ≤ .05). Mean lumbosacral angles also significantly differed between the published techniques in both hip flexion and extension. When comparing mean lumbosacral range of motion values, one of the published techniques produced significantly smaller values. No significant correlation was found between transverse paraspinal muscle area ratios and parasagittal foraminal area changes, parasagittal oblique foraminal area changes, or lumbosacral range of motion. These results should be considered when designing studies using these CT measures in military working dogs.

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A test for the evaluation of emotional reactivity in Labrador retrievers used for explosives detection

Cited by 35 publications

References 28 publications

Minimizing fear and anxiety in working dogs: A review

Minimizing fear and anxiety in working dogs: A review

Phenotypic determination of noise reactivity in 3 breeds of working dogs: A cautionary tale of age, breed, behavioral assessment, and genetics

CT measures of lumbosacral paraspinal muscle size are not correlated with CT measures of lumbosacral stability in military working Labrador Retrievers

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