Does the attachment system towards owners change in aged dogs?

Mongillo, Paolo; Pitteri, Elisa; Carnier, Paolo; Gabai, Gianfranco; Adamelli, Serena; Marinelli, Lieta

doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2013.07.011

Cited by 58 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…Immediately after the two experiments (T1), another saliva sample was collected in the test room by the trainer for the measurement of OXT levels. Finally, the dogs were led back to their crates for an additional 15 min, when the last samples were collected (T2), in accordance with the timings previously reported for determining salivary cortisol concentrations in dogs after exposure to a stressor [43,44]. All samples were immediately refrigerated and brought to the Etovet laboratory of the Department of Veterinary Sciences-University of Pisa (Italy) for centrifugation and stocking at −20 • C, until they were analyzed for oxytocin quantification with a Cayman Chemical ELISA Kit ® (Item #500440) (Ann Arbor, MI, USA), previously validated for use in dogs [33], and cortisol quantification by Diametra Cortisol Enzyme Immunoassay Kit ® (Spello, PG, Italy), according to the manufacturer's instructions.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Stroking on Salivary Oxytocin and Cortisol in Guide Dogs: Preliminary Results

Ogi

Mariti

Baragli

et al. 2020

Animals

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This pilot study aimed at investigating how salivary oxytocin levels are affected by human interaction and isolation in eight guide dogs (six Labrador retrievers and two golden retrievers; four males and four females, 21.87 ± 1.36 months old) just before assignment to the blind person. Each dog engaged, at one-week intervals, in a positive (5 min of affiliative interaction with their trainer) and a negative (5 min of isolation) condition. Saliva samples used for Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA) quantification of salivary oxytocin were collected before and immediately after both experimental conditions. In order to assess potential hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis activation that could have affected oxytocin levels, saliva samples were collected 15 min after both experimental conditions for EIA quantification of salivary cortisol and a behavioral assessment was performed during the negative condition. The results were compared using the Wilcoxon test (p < 0.05). Oxytocin concentrations showed a statistically significant increase after the positive interaction (p = 0.036) and no difference after the negative one (p = 0.779). Moreover, no difference (p = 0.263) was found between the cortisol concentrations after each experimental condition and no signs of distress were observed during the isolation phase. These preliminary findings support the hypothesis that stroking dogs has positive effects on their emotional state independently of hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis activation.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Stroking on Salivary Oxytocin and Cortisol in Guide Dogs: Preliminary Results

Ogi

Mariti

Baragli

et al. 2020

Animals

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“…For example, a recent study video-recorded owners and their dogs under natural circumstances during walks in both city centers and in green areas (Mongillo et al, 2013), but this study did not attempt to evaluate the behavior or temperament of the dogs in a broader context. The small number of studies performed in the natural environment of dogs is probably due to the difficulty in standardizing and evaluating these kinds of tests.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing companion dog behavior in a social setting

Roth

Jensen

2015

Journal of Veterinary Behavior

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1There is a growing and important need for large-scale characterisation of dog 2 behaviour, for example to conduct genetic analyses or to assess welfare. An extensive 3 number of standardised tests and questionnaires are used for this, but few focus on the 4 normal behaviour in situations which are frequently encountered in the everyday life 5 of companion dogs. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a fast, but 6 standardised method to characterise behavioural variation in pet dogs, based on a brief 7 observation in a situation often encountered by many dogs, namely during training 8classes. The spontaneous behaviour of dogs was video-recorded during 3 minutes in a 9 standardised setting, while their owners were occupied filling in a short questionnaire, 10 and during 30 seconds of walking on leash. Behaviours, including contact seeking 11 behaviour with both the owner, a stranger and other dogs, together with general 12 activity and interaction with a novel object were later analysed and further processed 13 in two separate Principal Component Analyses (PCA). The PCs from the two test 14 parts correlated significantly with each other and aspects of both home and test 15 environment influenced several components in both PCAs. Age and sex also showed 16 significant effects on test outcome, e.g. age affected how social and explorative the 17 dog was and females jumped more on their owner, whilst males pulled the leash more. 18In addition, dogs that were perceived as cooperative by their owner, looked more at 19 their owner and pulled the leash less. In conclusion, this simple test captures essential 20 parts of the normal, everyday behaviour profile of dogs, such as owner-and dog-21 directed social behaviour, which are not usually measured in the commonly used test 22 batteries for dogs. 23 24

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“…However, Mongillo et al (4) have reported that aged dogs cope less efficiently with the emotional distress caused by a change of caretaker. For this reason, they need a longer time to develop trust for unfamiliar staff members and relax their guard.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is hypothesized that the elderly dogs have difficulty in adapting themselves to the novel circumstances in the shelter. For example, Mongillo et al (4) reported that aged dogs (7 years or older) cope less efficiently with emotional distress caused by a change of caretaker.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Sheltering on Behavior and Fecal Corticosterone Level of Elderly Dogs

et al. 2016

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In Japan, the human population is aging rapidly, and the abandonment of dogs by the elderly people who have died or been hospitalized becomes a problem. It is hypothesized that elderly dogs have difficulty adapting to the novel circumstances when brought to an animal shelter. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess stress levels and demonstrate stress responses of elderly dogs just after admission to an animal shelter. As stress indicators, fecal corticosterone levels and changes in the ethogram of the dogs were investigated during the first week of admittance. Fecal corticosterone levels (mean ± SE) stayed high during the first week of residence, although they fell gently from the day after admittance (16650.1 ± 3769.7 ng/g) to the seventh day (12178.4 ± 2524.4 ng/g) (P < 0.001). The proportions of behavioral expressions changed as the days passed (P < 0.001). In particular, stereotypies decreased from 35.7% on the first day to 2.6% on the sixth day, and time spent sleeping increased from 0.0 to 42.7%. These results indicate that elderly dogs admitted to an animal shelter seem to behaviorally adapt themselves to their novel circumstances but might be stressed even on the seventh day of residence.

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Does the attachment system towards owners change in aged dogs?

Cited by 58 publications

References 56 publications

Effects of Stroking on Salivary Oxytocin and Cortisol in Guide Dogs: Preliminary Results

Effects of Stroking on Salivary Oxytocin and Cortisol in Guide Dogs: Preliminary Results

Assessing companion dog behavior in a social setting

Effects of Sheltering on Behavior and Fecal Corticosterone Level of Elderly Dogs

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