Investigation of behavioral developments of Kangal puppies using open field and barrier tests

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate behavioral developments and breed specific characteristics of Kangal puppies. To this aim, Kangal puppies (23 male, 17 female) were weekly exposed to the repeated open field test (OFT) and barrier test between 3 to 8 weeks after birth. It was detected that 3 weeks old Kangal puppies were able to display explorative behaviors. True thigmotactic behaviors and unsteady walking were only observed when the puppies were 3-weeks-old. When the puppies were 4 weeks old, time spent for standing and walking increased (p˂0.05) and running behavior was first displayed. Sum of durations of passive behaviors increased in general (p˂0.05) and durations of escape behaviors decreased in the 2nd part of the OFT (p˂0.05) in 5-weeks-old puppies. Five weeks old Kangal puppies also started to show success in the barrier test. Common body postures of the puppies were recorded as self confident and attendant along test weeks. These findings suggest that Kangal puppies achieved fine motor abilities such as steady walking and running at 4 weeks of age. Five weeks of age, on the other hand, seemed to be important for development of emotional memory, habituation and problem solving in Kangal puppies. Considering activity levels and body postures of the puppies in repeated OFT exposures, Kangal puppies might be classified as bold puppies according to "Shyness-Boldness" axis.

Acute and chronic stress alter behavioral laterality in dogs

“…It was conducted at the Behavioral Unit of Ankara University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. The dogs were left alone in a room with a rectangular floor area of 14 m 2 and were recorded with four GoPro Hero 7 cameras (1920 × 1440-pixel resolution) for 5 min 86 . They were monitored from a separate observation room where the dogs could not see the other side.…”