Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Behavioral indicators are widely used to assess welfare of domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris). They can offer an accessible and non-invasive alternative to technically demanding measurements of physiological and emotional states of dogs. There is, however, a need for more studies that validate behavioral indicators against physiological parameters. Furthermore, examining the interrelationships between different behavioral indicators may provide a more nuanced understanding of these measures. This study aimed to examine and validate postural positions (lying, sitting, standing) and micro-behaviors as indicators of physiological arousal, measured by heart rate (HR). It also explored potential patterns between these behavioral indicators.
Data were derived from a previous study involving 16 working dogs monitored in stationary transport crates. The data included behavior observations (body positions and micro-behaviors) and heart rate (HR) registrations collected over five minutes.
The result showed that body position was associated with HR. In pairwise comparisons, dogs lying down had significantly lower HR than when standing
(P<0,02). Furthermore, body position was significantly associated with the occurrence of micro-behavior (P<0,001). A significant difference was noticed between all three positions (P<0,05) with an increase of micro-behavior in more upright postures. Micro-behavior was significantly associated with HR when analyzed within the positions laying and sitting (P<0,001). However, micro-behavior alone did not predict HR when analyzed independently from body position (P=0,39).
In conclusion, body position did independently indicate arousal, whereas micro-behavior did not. Micro-behavior did, however, indicate arousal within the lying and sitting positions. Combining both body positions and micro-behavior yielded a more nuanced and specific indication of arousal within two of three body positions.