In the fourth installment of a series, Dr. Melissa Bain discusses owner factors that play a role when assessing pet behavior problems.
Risk Analysis of Behavior Problems: Owner Factors
Related Articles
-
New AVSAB/UCD Webinar Now Available
Megan Maxwell, , General Behavior, 0
Webinar title and description: Use of Psychotropic Medications and Alternatives, with Liz Stelow, DVM, DACVB This webinar presents the...
-
Study: Dopamine involved in learning under both positive and negative reinforcement
Megan Maxwell, , General Behavior, 0
A study published this month demonstrates that dopamine is involved in learning under both positive and negative reinforcement contingencies....
-
Your Dog Can’t Be In Pain As He Runs and Plays? Think Again!
Megan Maxwell, , General Behavior, 0
In this blog from Psychology Today’s Decoding your Pet series, Dr. Emily Levine discusses the relationship between pain and...
-
A recent study by E. Garde, G.E. Pérez, R Vanderstichel, P.F. Dalla Villa, and J.A. Serpell and published in November 2015 in Preventive Veterinary Medicine, furthers our understanding of the behavioral effects of sterilization. The study's abstract is presented here. Population management of free-roaming domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) is of interest due to the threat these animals pose to people, other animals and the environment. Current sterilization procedures for male dogs include surgical and chemical methods. However, little is known about how these procedures affect their behavior. The primary objective of this study was to investigate changes in selected behaviors following chemical and surgical sterilization in a male free-roaming dog (FRD) population in southern Chile. We also examined the association between serum testosterone levels and behaviors thought to be influenced by circulating androgens. A total of 174 dogs were randomly assigned to either a surgical or chemical sterilization group, or a control group. At the onset of the intervention period, 119 dogs remained and 102 dogs successfully completed the study. Each dog was monitored pre- and post-intervention using video recordings, GPS collars, and blood samples for the measurement of testosterone. Analysis of behavior revealed that surgically castrated dogs showed no reduction of sexual activity or aggression when compared to their pre-intervention behavior. Chemically sterilized dogs showed a statistically significant increase in dog-directed aggression, but no change in sexual activity. There was no change in home range size in any groups between the pre- and post-intervention measurement. We found no consistent association between levels of serum testosterone concentration and behavioral changes in any of the groups. This study presents the first detailed behavioral observations following surgical and chemical sterilization in male FRDs. The information generated is highly relevant to communities struggling with the control of FRDs. Complementary studies to further our understanding of the effects of male sterilization on the behavioral and reproductive dynamics of FRD populations are needed.
Megan Maxwell, , General Behavior, 0
In this excerpt from her pet behavior advice column, Dr. Megan Maxwell encourages pet owners to find opportunities to...
-
Risk Analysis of Behavior Problems: Owner Factors
Josh, , General Behavior, 0
In the fourth installment of a series, Dr. Melissa Bain discusses owner factors that play a role when assessing...
-
Patient Like the Chipmunks: The Story of Animal Behavior Enterprises
Megan Maxwell, , General Behavior, Videos, 0
This video provides an excellent history of the work of Keller and Marion Breland, early behavioral psychologists who pioneered...
-
Risk Analysis of Behavior Problems: Environmental Factors 3
Megan Maxwell, , General Behavior, 0
Dr. Melissa Bain provides a quick overview of environmental factors that can influence an owner’s risk assessment of their...
-
AVSAB Webinar: Top 10 Behavioral Tips You Can Introduce Today
Megan Maxwell, , General Behavior, 0
Incorporation of behavior into veterinary practice is part of the standard of care, but it can be challenging to...
Become A Member Today!
Become a member today, and join our growing community of animal behavior specialists!
Join Now
Who’s Online
There are no users currently online
Recently Active Members
Featured Members
-
42 friends
-
27 friends -
23 friends -
22 friends
Popular Member Links:
Find a Behavior Consultant!
No Records Found
Sorry, no records were found. Please adjust your search criteria and try again.
Google Map Not Loaded
Sorry, unable to load Google Maps API.
