Applied Animal Behaviour Science最新文献

{"title":"Can I touch you? A pilot study comparing consensual and non-consensual human-dog touch interactions","authors":"Amir Sarrafchi ,&nbsp;Natassja de Zwaan ,&nbsp;Maya Tucker ,&nbsp;Katrina Merkies","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106560","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106560","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Choice and consent are critical welfare elements, especially in interactions between humans and animals. Dogs incorporated in therapeutic settings (therapy dogs) may encounter human touch interactions where they have limited control over their circumstances. The present study examined how forced and free-choice touch treatments during interaction with humans influenced the behaviour of therapy dogs and hypothesized that therapy dogs would display a higher frequency of stress-related behaviours during forced in comparison to free-choice touch treatment. The study involved 18 certified therapy dogs with 44 human participants. Each human interacted individually with up to four therapy dogs in forced and free-choice touch treatments for 3 min. During forced touch treatments, dogs were held on a leash by their owners while participants continuously touched the dog, but during free-choice touch treatments dogs roamed freely in a pen and participants were directed to touch them only if they approached within arm’s reach. Treatments were videoed for retrospective behavioural coding. A GLIMMIX for repeated measures tested the effect of treatment on dog behaviours. During forced touch there was a higher frequency of ear back behaviour (p = .0115) compared to free-choice touch treatment. Sniffing behaviour (p &lt; .0001) and avoidance of the participants (p &lt; .0001) occurred more frequently during free-choice touch compared to forced touch treatments. Dogs spent 77.9 % of their time within reach of the participants during free-choice touch treatments. Male dogs demonstrated a higher frequency of avoidance of participants (p = .0031) and interaction with owners (p = .0352) than female dogs, regardless of treatment. The findings revealed subtle behavioural differences in therapy dogs between forced and free-choice touch treatments with humans, highlighting the importance of incorporating choice and agency in human-dog interactions within therapy programs to enhance dog welfare.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"285 ","pages":"Article 106560"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143429755","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"","authors":"John Eddison","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106558","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106558","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"285 ","pages":"Article 106558"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143437891","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Fifty years of equine behavior research","authors":"Katherine A. Houpt ,&nbsp;Charles E. Houpt","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106553","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106553","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Horse behavior has been a steady topic of interest in Applied Animal Behavior Science. In order to quantify the number of papers on equine behavior published during the first fifty years, we searched Applied Animal Ethology and Applied Animal Behaviour Science on Science Direct for papers on horses (<em>Equus caballus</em>) from 1974 through 2023. The papers on equine behavior can be divided by subject matter into eleven categories: welfare, maintenance, learning, personality, communication, Przewalski horse, foal behavior and development, cribbing, sexual, and maternal behavior. For cross-species comparison, all papers were further classified by the most common domestic animals. There have been 428 research papers on equine behavior published in Applied Animal Ethology and Applied Animal Behaviour Science. The number of papers on equine behavior was smaller than those on the behavior of food producing animals, but larger than those on cats and wild animals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"285 ","pages":"Article 106553"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143429754","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Increasing cage complexity reduces abnormal behaviours in farmed blue foxes","authors":"Eeva A. Ojala ,&nbsp;Anna Valros ,&nbsp;Jaakko Mononen","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106559","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106559","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We studied the long-term effects of biweekly rotated enrichment objects and a permanent shelter screen on abnormal behaviour, daily activity, and stress physiology in juvenile female blue foxes (aged 3–9 months). The experiment lasted seven months, from August to February, following a 2 × 2 factorial design with groups of 8–10 foxes. We compared extra enrichment (E) versus basic enrichment (B) and the presence of a shelter screen (S) versus no screen (N). In the final month, we analysed stereotypic and fur chewing behaviours in 38 blue foxes using 48-hour video recordings. Daily activity was measured through instantaneous sampling at 10-minute intervals (IS-10 min), while abnormal behaviours were monitored using IS-1 min during active periods. Faecal cortisol metabolite (FCM) concentrations were analysed from 24-hour faecal samples collected in January. Monthly weighing tracked bodyweight loss towards the spring and breeding season. Scrabbling (scratching/digging) and oral stereotypies were the most common categories of abnormal behaviour, with IS scores of 1.1–1.2 % during active periods. Foxes losing more than 10 % of their bodyweight were scrabbling more, though three individuals with high weight loss exhibited low scrabbling scores, indicating a non-linear association. Enrichment reduced oral stereotypies and inter-individual differences in activity rates. The shelter screen did not influence the occurrence of abnormal behaviours but might have a lowering impact on FCM concentrations. Only cage location had a clear impact on FCMs, whereas other effects might have been obscured by the high individual variation. Overall, our study suggests that providing enrichment objects and avoiding periods of excessive feed restriction can reduce abnormal behaviours in juvenile female blue foxes. Our results highlight the need for category-specific analysis in addition to examining total abnormal behaviours.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"284 ","pages":"Article 106559"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143421576","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Risk factors for human-directed aggression by dogs: The human side of the problem. A two-part systematic review and narrative synthesis","authors":"Helen Howell ,&nbsp;Ann Baslington-Davies ,&nbsp;Daniel S. Mills ,&nbsp;Todd E. Hogue","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106552","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106552","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Dog bites are a significant public health problem. This two-part systematic review examines the characteristics of dog owners and owner-to-dog interactions as risk factors for human-directed dog aggression. Part One considers characteristics specific to dog owners that may affect risk and Part Two the interactions an owner may have with their dog. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed, although significant differences in the characteristics of the populations, study aims and methodologies, and available data across studies precluded the use of meta-analytic techniques so a narrative synthesis was undertaken. In Part One, 21 articles satisfied all inclusion criteria, and 18 articles were included for review in Part Two. The quality of the research in respect of identifying risk factors for human-directed dog aggression was assessed using an adapted Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklist. In Part One our analysis indicates that there is at least reasonable scientific evidence to support dog owning experience, the owner’s age, socioeconomic status, and owner personality as risk factors for human-directed dog aggression. However, the important factors possibly underpinning these relationships need to be elucidated further, to determine causality. It has been suggested that an owner’s involvement in criminal activity or gang culture, and the owner being part of a single parent household may affect the risk of human-directed dog aggression, however, the evidence for this is weaker. In Part Two we identified robust evidence for a relationship between the use of physical punishment or confrontational training methods and increased human-directed dog aggression. The purpose for which a dog was acquired, interaction styles of the owner toward the dog and the amount of time spent engaged in exercise or social activities with the dog were also identified as risk factors, though the scientific evidence for these is less robust. Aspects of husbandry and management, for example feeding a dog from the table, are suggested in the literature to be risk factors for human-directed dog aggression, however, the evidence to support these is weak. The review identified recurring methodological limitations in the research, with assumptions made over the causal nature of relationships when a bidirectional relationship might plausibly exist. Suggestions are made for future research directions to increase our understanding of risk factors specific to dog owners and owner-to-dog interactions, enable effective intervention and education strategies to be developed and inform government policy to reduce the risk of dog bite incidents.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"284 ","pages":"Article 106552"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143421578","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Owner-reported breed differences in the behaviour of ridden horses","authors":"Paul McGreevy ,&nbsp;Imke Tammen ,&nbsp;Peter Thomson ,&nbsp;Kate Fenner","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106556","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106556","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Domestic horses are often selected for specific activities according to anecdotal breed-specific behavioural traits some of which are tested in competition environments and many of which relate to human safety. On the other hand, breeds are often celebrated for their versatility. The purpose of the current study was to investigate breed differences in ridden horse behaviour, as reported by horse carers (“owners”) through the Equine Behaviour Assessment and Research Questionnaire (E-BARQ). From a pool of owners’ reports (n = 8151) in the E-BARQ database, selection criteria were applied to reports as follows: purebred only; horse ridden within the last six months; only the first record of the horse taken if there were multiple records per horse; and only breeds with at least 35 horses. This generated a sample of reports on 1635 horses for the current study. Fourteen previously reported behavioural constructs were considered, namely trainability, safe to ride, boldness, easy to handle, easy to ride, easy to stop, unlikely to stall (unlikely to baulk), approachable, bold with non-humans, novel object confidence, tolerance of tactile stimulation, easy to load, tolerance of isolation and repetitive behaviours. For each of these constructs, an ordinal logistic regression model was fitted to the score data, with breed as the explanatory variable. The results confirmed that there were significant differences among the 14 breeds in 12 of the 14 construct scores, the exceptions being easy to handle and boldness with non-humans. The constructs that showed the most difference according to breed were repetitive behaviours. As expected, there was some weak clustering of constructs, e.g. safe, easy to ride, easy to stop, and unlikely to stall. These are the traits that make riding horses useful. Furthermore, the current findings suggest that equine behaviourists should consider E-BARQ profiles of their patients to establish how different they are from a breed average. With more knowledge surrounding what is typical behaviour for particular horse breeds, trainers and riders will be able to adjust their training and management techniques to better suit their individual horses.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"284 ","pages":"Article 106556"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143395981","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effect of recreational activities on flock size and behaviors of the Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus)","authors":"Azam Elhami Rad ,&nbsp;Alireza Mikaeili Tabrizi ,&nbsp;Seyed Mehdi Amininasab ,&nbsp;Hamid Reza Kamyab","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106557","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106557","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rising popularity of ecotourism has significantly affected and posed threats to bird populations and their habitats, especially for water and wading bird species. Addressing these concerns is crucial for conservation and management. One notable species affected is the Greater Flamingo (<em>Phoenicopterus roseus</em>), which attracts tourists for observation and photography. A study was conducted during the winter seasons of 2020 and 2021 in the Miankaleh Wildlife Refuge and Biosphere Reserve in northern Iran, where Greater Flamingo populations spend the winter. The study examined groups with tourist presence (sample) and without tourist presence (control). In another group (experiment), simulated tourist sounds were played. The study modeled and analyzed the effects of recreational activity variables as the primary variable, while environmental and habitat variables (climatic, physicochemical, and biological variables of water and sediment) served as covariates on flock size, vigilance, and avoidance behaviors of Greater Flamingos. The results indicated that increased tourist numbers correlated with more frequent vigilance and avoidance behaviors. As tourists approached the flock, these behaviors also increased. An increase in noise intensity resulted in a decrease in flamingo flock size. However, the effect of recreational activities on Greater Flamingo flock size and behaviors covaried with other environmental and biological variables, introducing some bias and making it difficult to separate the specific impact of recreational activities. The findings of this research can serve as a useful model for developing ecotourism while conserving Greater Flamingo populations and other migratory birds. It can inform appropriate policies for decision-makers and managers involved in conservation and recreational programs in coastal protected areas at national and international levels.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"284 ","pages":"Article 106557"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143421577","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"","authors":"Aurelia Putri Domingga","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106551","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106551","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"284 ","pages":"Article 106551"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143387946","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prenatal administration of lipophilic macrocyclic lactone anthelmintics can alter neonatal lamb behavioural development","authors":"Melissa N. Hempstead,&nbsp;Chris M. Miller,&nbsp;Madeleine Jones,&nbsp;Paul M. Candy,&nbsp;Christian W. Sauermann,&nbsp;Sarah M. Rosanowski,&nbsp;Dave M. Leathwick","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106554","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106554","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The treatment of pregnant ewes with persistent macrocyclic lactone (ML) anthelmintic products is common in some countries, with the intent of alleviating the potential negative impacts of gastrointestinal nematode parasites on production, health and welfare. However, some MLs such as moxidectin, are lipophilic compounds that can cross the placenta, and many are secreted into colostrum and milk, yet the effect of MLs on neonatal lamb behaviour remains unknown. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of prenatal administration of persistent ML anthelmintics on the behaviour of ewes and their new-born lambs. Sixty mixed-age pregnant twin-bearing ewes were randomly allocated to one of three groups (n = 20/group): 1) administered a subcutaneous injection containing moxidectin 2–3 weeks prior to lambing (MOX), 2) administered one controlled-release capsule containing abamectin and albendazole 2–3 weeks prior to lambing (CRC), and 3) a control group that was not treated or handled other than routine care (CON). The ewes were housed indoors 4 weeks before parturition was expected to commence and remained in the same pens (n = 2 ewes / treatment) until 1 week after lambing. Behaviour of the ewes and lambs was monitored continuously using security cameras positioned above each pen. Ewe and lamb behaviour was evaluated for 3 h after parturition. Ewe grooming of the lamb, and lamb head shaking, standing, udder seeking and suckling behaviour was assessed using Cox Proportional hazard models. There was no evidence that abamectin (and albendazole) affected ewe or lamb behaviour (<em>P</em> &gt; 0.10). Neonatal lambs from ewes administered moxidectin tended to be slower to shake their heads after parturition (hazard ratio: 0.65; <em>P</em> = 0.08), and were slower to attempt to stand (hazard ratio: 0.61; <em>P</em> = 0.05) compared with lambs from control ewes. These are the first known data to indicate changes in neonatal lamb behaviour associated with anthelmintic treatment of their dam. Further research is required to validate these findings and understand whether the delayed neonatal lamb behavioural development associated with moxidectin has implications for lamb vigour or survivability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"284 ","pages":"Article 106554"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143395980","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biopolymer-based nesting material for sows and its consequence on nest-building behavior, farrowing kinetics and piglet vitality","authors":"Matheus S. Monteiro ,&nbsp;Bruno B.D. Muro ,&nbsp;Marcos V.B. Nicolino ,&nbsp;Roberta Y. Hoshino ,&nbsp;Ana L.B. Mezzina ,&nbsp;Rafaella F. Carnevale ,&nbsp;Bruno B. Carnino ,&nbsp;Laya K.S. Alves ,&nbsp;Nádia A.C. Gomes ,&nbsp;Lidiane C. Costa ,&nbsp;Cecília A.F. Melo ,&nbsp;Jennifer S. Motta ,&nbsp;André A. Justo ,&nbsp;Caroline Veloso ,&nbsp;Fernanda M. dos Santos ,&nbsp;Thiago Bernardino ,&nbsp;Adriano B. Carregaro ,&nbsp;Stefan Björkman ,&nbsp;Diego F. Leal ,&nbsp;Cesar A.P. Garbossa","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106555","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106555","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the present study, we evaluated the effects of a soluble and biodegradable biopolymer-based material, structurally resembling natural fiber, as an alternative nesting-material for prepartum gilts. A total of 18 first parity sows and their litters were studied. One hour after induction of farrowing, sows were assigned at random into two experimental groups: sows without nesting material (CON, n = 9), serving as controls, and sows provided with 3.0 kg of a biopolymer-based nesting-material 24 h before the expected date of farrowing (BN, n = 9). In the prepartum period (18 h before farrowing), a lower (p = 0.016) percentage of postural changes were observed for BN sows. Moreover, BN sows performed more nesting-building behavior (p &lt; 0.001) and had reduced redirected nest-building behaviors (p &lt; 0.001). Sows in the CON group spent more time performing redirected nest-building behavior during farrowing than BN sows (12.5 % vs 3.9 %, p = 0.005). Sows in the BN group had shorter farrowing duration compared to CON sows (277 min vs 198 min, p = 0.025). The number of total piglets born, piglets born alive, and stillborn did not differ among groups (p &gt; 0.05). Piglets in the BN group had higher blood pH (7.36 vs 7.34, p = 0.029), higher blood glucose (36.11 vs 29.45, p = 0.046) and lower blood lactate concentrations (3.33 vs 3.88, p = 0.035). Piglet mortality in the first 24 h and during the remaining lactation period were not different (p &gt; 0.05) among experimental groups. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that providing a biopolymer-based nesting-material for prepartum sows, structurally resembling natural fibers, was effective in facilitating the expression of nest-building behavior, resulting in improved farrowing performance and piglets blood gas parameters.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"284 ","pages":"Article 106555"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143387947","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}