Genetic evaluation of traits in a standardized behavioral test for potential guide dog puppies using crossbreed models

Evans, Katy; Lewis, Thomas M.; Asher, Lucy; Blythe, Simon; Bottomley, Matthew J.; Tootill, Lisa; Roberts, Rena; Whiteside, Helen; Blott, Sarah

doi:10.1016/j.jveb.2015.08.004

Cited by 16 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…The implication is that by 20 months of age noise reactivity/phobia is fully developed. Social maturity, when neurochemical liability is thought to develop or become characteristic as has been suggested in rodents and humans (see Kerestes et al, 2014 for an review of imaging studies; Whittaker et al, 2016), appears to occur between ~10 and 36 months, with the most common manifestations being apparent at 12-18 months (Overall, 2013), the time when behavioral tests become reliable (Asher et al, 2013;Foyer et al, 2014;Evans et al, 2015;Harvey et al, 2015;2016). That GSD who were older had lower AIR scores than those who were younger may suggest that as dogs age, those GSD who react to noise were excluded from the trialing population.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…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.…”

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confidence: 99%

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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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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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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“…Retrieval of objects in young dogs seems indicative of their ability to work cooperatively with people ( 22 , 23 ). Scores on the retrieval element of the PPA have previously been found to be heritable above chance levels ( 18 ), suggesting this behavior could be selected for. In this study, Dam was an important effect in the survival models, which is further suggestion that behavior measured in this test could be heritable, or at least responsive to Dam environment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Scores of the PPA have previously been found to be associated with qualification as a guide dog, supporting the predictive criterion validity of the test ( 17 ). Some scores on the PPA are also heritable ( 18 ) and Guide Dogs use this test routinely to record behavior of puppies. In the PPA, puppies are scored according to their response or recovery to stimuli and the human assessor.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In brief, previously, we presented controlled observations of 6- to 8-week-old puppy behavior, the Puppy Profiling Assessment (PPA), where three (stroking, fake prey, ramp) of seven stimuli presented (also including following, retrieve, gentle restraint, noise, tunnel) could be usefully combined and associated with whether dogs completed guide dogs training to become a working guide dog (success) ( 17 ). Reactions to these stimuli could be applied to identify a small number of dogs that were later withdrawn from guide dog training with high specificity but low sensitivity, and a subsequent study suggested responses to stimuli were heritable ( 18 ). Using a questionnaire approach, completed by Guide Dog staff for trainee guide dogs of 5, 8, and 12 months of age, seven behavior traits were identified, adaptability; body sensitivity; distractibility; excitability; general anxiety; trainability and stair anxiety, which all showed associations with later success in guide dog training ( 15 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Application of Survival Analysis and Multistate Modeling to Understand Animal Behavior: Examples from Guide Dogs

2017

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Epidemiology is the study of patterns of health-related states or events in populations. Statistical models developed for epidemiology could be usefully applied to behavioral states or events. The aim of this study is to present the application of epidemiological statistics to understand animal behavior where discrete outcomes are of interest, using data from guide dogs to illustrate. Specifically, survival analysis and multistate modeling are applied to data on guide dogs comparing dogs that completed training and qualified as a guide dog, to those that were withdrawn from the training program. Survival analysis allows the time to (or between) a binary event(s) and the probability of the event occurring at or beyond a specified time point. Survival analysis, using a Cox proportional hazards model, was used to examine the time taken to withdraw a dog from training. Sex, breed, and other factors affected time to withdrawal. Bitches were withdrawn faster than dogs, Labradors were withdrawn faster, and Labrador × Golden Retrievers slower, than Golden Retriever × Labradors; and dogs not bred by Guide Dogs were withdrawn faster than those bred by Guide Dogs. Multistate modeling (MSM) can be used as an extension of survival analysis to incorporate more than two discrete events or states. Multistate models were used to investigate transitions between states of training to qualification as a guide dog or behavioral withdrawal, and from qualification as a guide dog to behavioral withdrawal. Sex, breed (with purebred Labradors and Golden retrievers differing from F1 crosses), and bred by Guide Dogs or not, effected movements between states. We postulate that survival analysis and MSM could be applied to a wide range of behavioral data and key examples are provided.

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Fear of noises affects canine problem solving behavior and locomotion in standardized cognitive tests

Overall

Dunham

Scheifele

et al. 2019

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

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Genetic evaluation of traits in a standardized behavioral test for potential guide dog puppies using crossbreed models

Cited by 16 publications

References 21 publications

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

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

Application of Survival Analysis and Multistate Modeling to Understand Animal Behavior: Examples from Guide Dogs

Fear of noises affects canine problem solving behavior and locomotion in standardized cognitive tests

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