July 12, 2013Comments are closed.Getting 2 Zero
Dog appeal, dangerous dogs and dogmanship – Prof Paul McGreevy (Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney)
PROJECT #1 Dog appeal – risk factors of being of low appeal on PetRescue
PetRescue
– Australia’s largest online directory of pets needing adoption
– Awareness of pet adoption
Advertising for ponies
– People just like to look through pictures from ‘Horse Sense’ (horse porn!)
– Some ‘warning descriptor’ equals less cost for the animal
– Sum of experience – drove up price
– Age – older horses cheaper
No safety descriptors (‘Bomb proof’, ‘good in traffic’, ‘mothers dream’) drove up the price – people disbelieved the descriptions.
PetRescue dog listings
Photographs
– Ear placement
– White of the eye
– Mouth open/closed
– Teeth showing
– Coat colour/patterns
Text
– If you ask people about their dogs, you end up with a pool of adjectives. 67 personality adjectives, clustered into five groups
— Energetic, extroverted
— Self-assured/movitated
— Responsive to training
— Friendly sociable
Are we using these terms too often?
PetRescue data pool – 26,000 dogs (photos) & 122,000 dogs in text
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PROJECT #2 Types of aggression in dogs
Behavioural genetics.
Many types of aggression
Can be controlled by different factors
Combination of nature and nuture
Can we identify dogs of high risk of aggression by examining their DNA (will be used with a behaviour evaluation)
Similarities between parent and offspring?
Differences between breeds and of families from different breeds
Clear evidence of different levels of aggression in lines of rats. Differences in brain chemistry.
Nature = heritability. Much higher than we thought. Genetics aren’t the full story, but they are important.
Better approach than breed specific legislation – BSL ignores the ability for good dogs to exist in so called ‘risky’ breeds. Also breeders selecting for good temperament.
Risk factors for all breeds. Each breed is unique.
Will collect DNA from aggressive and non-aggressive breed representatives.
There is evidence that genes might impact aggression in Golden Retrievers and Labradors.
There are several genes. Some are unique to breed, some are general.
Aim to identify a set of genetic markers that a predictive of propensity to aggressive behaviours. Help breeders to choose stable dogs – reward good breeding.
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PROJECT #3 Dogmanship – investigating the dog/human bond
What characterises a successful dog/human bond.
Determine the behaviour and personality of a successful dog owner
Can enhance the well being of both species if this is achieved.
Disfunction = disaster.
– Unwanted behaviour
– Risks to human safety
– Relinquishment
Failed communication/anthropomorphisation
‘Dog people’ – have a way with dogs. Dog Whisperers. Tend to promote techniques, ‘energy’ – the problem is those techniques can’t be applies by all people/don’t guarantee success.
Work to improve the skills of average owners.
Successful
– timing
– consistent
– effective communicate with their trainees
‘Horsemanship’ vs ‘Dogmanship’
Equitation science examines horse/human bond. Enhances safety.
Want to create a similar model for dog/human interaction.
Identify relationships in need of targeted intervention. Reduce relinquishment.
