ABSTRACTS FOR THE IFAAB 2016 MEETING Schedule 2016 meeting |
ABSTRACTS
FOR THE 2016 MEETING Updated December 3, 2015 |
WHAT’S UP?—Dog-to-Dog Greetings Camille Ward, MS, PhD, CAAB What’s in
a dog greeting? Popular opinions on what dog-to-dog greetings look like and
what they may mean abound, but there is a scarcity of data on the topic.
Understanding the form and structure of greetings are prerequisites to
hypotheses testing of function. Through observations and data collected on
greetings at a dog park in |
The Validity of a Fake Dog for
Assessing Dog Sociability in Dogs from Rescue Hoarders Pamela
Reid, PhD, CAAB and Evaluating
intraspecies sociability in shelter dogs is time consuming, risky and
requires suitable stimulus dogs. Variation in stimulus dogs is also likely to
strongly influence test dogs’ reactions. To avoid these complications, more
and more shelters are opting to use a fake dog as a stand-in for a real dog.
However, Shabelansky et al. (2015) found that a fake dog was only useful for
identifying friendly behavior. When it came to fearful or aggressive
behavior, there was little agreement between test dogs’ reactions to the fake
and real dogs. In contrast, Reid et al. (unpublished) found a reasonable
correlation between responses to fake and real dogs in a large population of
dogs seized from a dogfighting case. In this study, we examined the validity
of the fake dog for evaluating dogs removed from rescue hoarding situations. |
Relationship Between Scarring and
Dog Aggression in Gamebred Pit Bull Type Dogs Katherine
Miller, PhD, CAAB, CPDT and
Pamela Reid, PhD CAAB The ASPCA
Anti-Cruelty Behavior Team and Forensics Sciences departments deploy
nationally to large scale cases of animal cruelty, such as dogfighting. The
behavior team evaluates the behavior of the animals, including dog-dog
aggression, while the forensic medical team evaluates the health and
condition of the animals, including the presence of wounds and scars. To our
knowledge, no analysis has been conducted to determine the relationship
between the presence and extent of wounds or scarring and dog aggression among
dogs seized from professional or amateur dogfighters. Heavily scarred dogs
are often assumed to be highly dog aggressive as the result of a history of
being pitted against other dogs. However it has been observed that many dogs
seized from dogfighting investigations, including some bearing scars, are not
aggressive to other dogs in their behavior evaluation. On the other hand,
some dogs with no or very few scars have been found to have dog-aggressive
tendencies. Having information concerning the validity of utilizing the
extent of scarring as a proxy for dog aggression would assist animal welfare
organizations in making more informed decisions with respect to disposition,
and potentially reduce the euthanasia of non-dog aggressive pit bull type
dogs. The ASPCA conducted an analysis of data on injuries observed and
behavior towards other dogs, using information already gathered by the
behavior and forensic medical teams during four criminal dogfighting cases.
This study examined the strength of the relationship between these variables,
and whether location of scarring on the dog’s body, age, and sex of the dog
are factors in this relationship. |
Why Social Separation in Animals
Hurts: Examining the Neurocognitive Overlap Between Physical and Social Pain Franklin
D. McMillan, DVM Research
in humans and nonhuman animals has provided compelling evidence that social
pain and physical pain rely on shared neurobiological substrates. Substantial
neuropsychological and neuroimaging research in humans has revealed that the
dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) and anterior insula, brain regions
known for their role in processing the affective unpleasantness of physical
pain, are also activated during the unpleasant experience of social
separation. The dACC has also been shown to relate to social pain distress in
nonhuman mammals. For example, ablating the dACC in squirrel monkeys
eliminates the production of distress vocalizations, and lesions of the ACC
in macaques leads to decreases in affiliative behavior. Conversely,
electrical stimulation of the dACC leads to the production of distress
vocalizations in rhesus monkeys. Furthermore, in animals and humans, physical
and social pain are alleviated many of the same interventions. Studies
provide evidence that an enhanced sensitivity to physical pain accompanies an
enhanced sensitivity to social pain in humans. Perhaps most intriguing,
acetaminophen – a drug effective in alleviating physical pain – has recently
been found to alleviate social pain in humans. With evidence
that in humans and animals social pain can actually be more distressing than
physical pain, these findings have profound consequences for the well-being
of all social animals. But of special concern is social pain in the domestic
dog. It is now generally assumed that domestication in dogs enhanced the
dependency on and attachment to humans, which would imply a strengthening of
the social bonding emotions. This would suggest the likelihood that social
pain may be more intense in socially deprived dogs than in other species. A better
understanding of the neuropsychology of physical and social pain may lead to
improved care for social animals as well as new therapies to alleviate the
emotional suffering association with social deprivation. |
Small Animal Veterinarians
Perspective On Behavioral Diagnoses For Use Of Fluoxetine Gagandeep
Kaur, DVM and Victoria Voith, DVM, Dogs and cats are frequently presented to
veterinarians for behavioral problems and psychopharmacological treatment. Arriving
at a differential or definitive diagnosis for behavioral problems, based on
the history and signs described by the owners can be a challenge for the
general veterinary practitioner. Our preliminary study showed the use of
fluoxetine for a wide range of behavioral disorders in dogs and cats, but how
practitioners arrive at behavioral diagnoses is not clear. Subsequently data
was collected from small animal veterinarians who agreed to participate
further in the study. They were asked to describe what behaviors did they
consider indicative of their diagnoses. Specific behaviors used by the
practitioners to reach the diagnoses were described. The practitioners also
provided additional information on diagnostic criteria and terminology to
describe behaviors. For dogs, 40 anxiety related problems were described by
32 practitioners. For cats, 25 problems related to feline elimination
behaviors were described by19 practitioners. The questions regarding reaching
the behavioral diagnoses were answered in a variety of ways. Behavioral signs
and terminology varied widely among the participants. This study shows a
variety of terminology used by the general practitioners in veterinary
behavior medicine. This demonstrates the importance of obtaining exact
descriptions of behaviors when communicating behavior problems among
interdisciplinary professionals. |
Maximizing the Fear Extinction
Process Mindy
Waite, PhD A variety
of client cases require the planning of fear extinction procedures by the
behaviorist, which must then be implemented by the client. Because the client
typically has limited time and energy, it is critical that the procedural
setup is optimized as much as possible. This requires a familiarity with the
most recent and/or relevant research on fear extinction procedures and
processes. This presentation will cover basic and applied research on the
processes of fear acquisition and extinction as well as fear extinction
procedures to provide a background for effective extinction planning. |
Less Stress for Veterinary
Patients Ellen
Lindell, VMD, DACVB There are
many consequences of fear and distress in animals. While well studied in
shelters and laboratories, the consequences of distress on animals at the
veterinary hospital has received little formal discussion. This oversight is
changing rapidly, and the Fear Free movement is underway. This talk
will discuss documented support for the need to reduce patient distress when
veterinary treatment is required. The first step is to help clients and
veterinarians recognize signs of distress in veterinary patients. Also
included will be a discussion of the Fear Free movement. Progress to date as
well as future plans will be discussed. Clients
need to learn how to advocate for their pets, gently approaching their
veterinarians when they feel their pet is unnecessarily uncomfortable.
Trainers can work with their local veterinarians, offering services designed
to teach patients skills that will facilitate handling. Discussion will
include ideas for networking with clinicians to assure that bad does not stay
normal in the veterinary setting. |
Comparative Trauma in People and
Dogs—From Diagnosing to Treating Patricia
McConnell, PhD, CAAB Psychological
Trauma is defined as an event or experience that completely overwhelms an
individual's ability to cope. This presentation will initiate an inquiry into
three basic questions related to trauma dogs: * If we accept that both dogs and people can
be traumatized, (which I will argue), how would our experiences be similar?
How would they be different? [And how would the answers to that question help
us understand it in dogs?] * What can treatments for human victims of
trauma teach us about treating trauma in dogs? What about the other
direction—from dogs to people? * What do we know, both from science and
anecdotal experience, that can help us evaluate the practice of using dogs
help people recover from trauma? [There might not be time for this issue, but
I add it here in case we do.] I would
like this presentation to include a lot of discussion about these issues,
from understanding the effects of psychological trauma in mammals, to
discussions about how to help dogs recover from it. |
Hunters Helpers, Dumpster Divers,
and Man’s Best Friend: A Novel Account for the Origin of Dogs Clive Wynne, PhD Where we
believe dogs came from informs what we think dogs are and how we should best
live with them. In the last decade, an account of the origin of dogs that is
at least as old as |
Citizen Science -- Fad or
Meaningful Endeavor for Researchers and the Public? Julie
Hecht, MSc If it
seems like you're hearing the term 'citizen science' more and more, it's
because you are. Citizen scientists not only help researchers monitor the sky
-- classifying galaxies and tracking bird migration -- and the land --
identifying wild animals via camera traps -- but citizen science is
increasingly making its way into companion animal studies. This talk orients
animal behavior professionals to the growing field of citizen science and
will help you answer the question, "Should my next project include
citizen science?" References Hecht, J.
& Cooper, C.B. 2014. Tribute to Tinbergen: Public engagement in ethology.
Ethology, 120, 207–214. |
Turning Practitioners into
Scientists: Research Designs for Applied Animal Behaviorists Erica
Feurbacher, PhD Typically,
group research designs require large sample sizes for adequate statistical
control, precluding many applied animal behavior practitioners from not only
being able to scientifically assess their own practices but also from
contributing to the larger scientific field. Our field could expand greatly
in its knowledge base and better identify best practices if practitioners
could more easily contribute scientifically to our field. In the field of
applied human behavioral science, clinicians working with human populations contribute
regularly to the scientific enterprise and assess the experimental control of
their own clinical practices. This field has been able to turn practitioners
into scientists through employing designs that allow for small n research
which maintain, and even increase, the experimental rigor found in group
designs. Moreover, such designs allow us to see individual variability and,
because our field is based on treating the individual animal rather than the
statistical average animal, these designs allow us to parse out critical
variables that can influence the effectiveness of our treatment for different
individuals. These designs are so useful that the medical field is also
making a push for clinicians and clinical trials to use small n designs. In
this talk, I will discuss the basic small n designs, including reversal,
multiple baseline, and multielement designs, as well as their strengths and
limitations, how they can be creatively combined to meet practitioners’
needs, and how practitioners can usefully implement them. |
Getting It Right: Canine Research
and the Academic Covenant of the Lit Review Janis
Bradley During
the decades I spent teaching undergraduates, one situation I was never able
to confront with equanimity was the student paper that filled me with the
conviction that the student had spent less time and attention writing it than
I was spending responding to it. Since I became a serious student of the dog
bite and canine aggression literature, I often experience the same conviction
that I am spending more time examining the references in the lit reviews than
the author did. This is not simply the schoolmarm’s pet peeve. The lit review
is the foundation supporting the entire structure of any research endeavor.
It establishes not just the prior attempts to address the question at hand or
related ones, but the underlying assumptions on the subject, the premises
from which the authors reason to their conclusions which usually include the
social or humane benefit of doing the research in the first place. Yet when a
careful reader pulls on these threads, she too often finds that the author
has used material from an abstract or even just a title which on closer
examination doesn’t faithfully represent actual findings in the body of the
paper. In other cases, a writer may present an offhand comment from the text
as a concrete finding, or present repetition as replication, or even
attribute findings to a paper that actually includes no mention of the topic.
This presentation will use the dog bite and canine aggression literature,
where the consequences of getting it wrong are transparently dire for dogs,
as an example to suggest best practices for responsibly performing this
crucial part of the research process, and to foster a healthy level of
critical reading in the consumers of the dog behavior literature.
Participants will be encouraged to share their experiences in both roles. |
Judging a Dog by Its Cover:
Morphology but Not Training Influences Visitor Behavior towards Kenneled Dogs
at Animal Shelters Sasha
Protopopova, PhD, CPDT Currently,
visitor behavior in companion animal shelters is not adequately explored. A
sequence of experiments investigated how visitors interacted with kenneled
dogs at an animal shelter and whether training dogs to exhibit appropriate
behavior in their kennels would evoke more interest from shelter visitors.
Two sides of an animal shelter were differentially entered into training
phases in a multiple baseline design. During the training phase, dogs were
trained to exhibit appropriate in-kennel behavior. Visitors attended to
approximately 35% of kenneled dogs and only spent an average of 15 s looking
at individual dogs. We found that whereas training was effective in
decreasing undesirable behavior in dogs, only morphology influenced visitor
behavior. Morphologically preferred dogs (i.e., puppies, long-coated dogs,
small dogs, and certain breeds) had a 1.3 times higher frequency of visits to
their kennel and had a 9 times higher frequency of being taken out of their
kennel for further inspection compared to other dogs. These results suggest
that shelter visitors pay much more attention to morphology rather than
behavior of kenneled dogs. |
The Mistaken Ubiquity of Lab
Mixes: How DNA is Changing What We Thought We Knew About Shelter Dogs Lisa Gunter, MA, CBCC-KA, CPDT Dog breed
identification in shelters is often based upon the relinquishing owner's
claims or determination by staff looking at the animal. Previous research has
indicated discrepancies between breed identification assessed by welfare
agencies and the results of DNA analysis. In this two-site study, we analyzed
the breed heritage of nearly 1000 shelter dogs to better understand who these
dogs really are and what effect DNA-derived breed assignment could have on
the adoption process. While providing MARS Wisdom Panel information to
potential adopters did not have a significant impact on adoption rates, the
far more interesting story is that shelter canines have much more varied and
complex breed identities than we could have imagined. In this presentation,
I’ll discuss what breeds were identified at each shelter, the prevalence of
the different breeds identified, the degree to which individual breeds were
present – and how these results provide further evidence that breed
identification of mixed breed dogs at animal shelters is inherently complex
at best, and, at worst, untenable. |
Food Aggression Tests in Shelter
Dogs: Do We Need Them? Amy
Marder, PhD, CAAB Two
recent studies (Marder A et al, 2014; Mohan-Gibbons et al, 2012) have shown
that when a dog demonstrates food aggression on a behavior evaluation in the
shelter it often does not display the same behavior in the home after
adoption. In addition, food aggression is not a barrier to adoption or the
formation of healthy human-canine bonds. Although the studies show that the
presence of food aggression is often not considered a problem to adopters,
some shelters continue to consider food aggressive dogs unadoptable and
euthanize them. In 2014,
the Dumb Friends League in The ASPCA
has started a study with a number of shelters who are willing to discontinue
the food aggression test. Before and after data is currently being collected.
If little
difference is found in the before and after data do you feel comfortable
recommending the discontinuation of food aggression tests in shelter dogs?
What about the other tests in the behavior evaluation? |
Rehabilitating Homeless
Undersocialized, Fearful Dogs – A 2-Year Update Kristen
Collins, MS, CPDT, ACAAB; Katherine Miller,
PhD, CAAB, CPDT; Pia Silvani, CPDT, CCBC; Pamela Reid,
PhD CAAB Dog
victims of cruelty are sometimes so behaviorally traumatized by their
experiences that they are not suitable for adoption. Those often find their
way to the ASPCA’s |
Rethinking the “A” word. Are Pet
Owners Ahead of the Curve on Aggression? Is Conflict a Synonym for
Aggression? Does or Does Not “Dominance Aggression” Exist in Dogs? Victoria
Voith, DVM, It’s time
to get a conversation started about de-pathologizing aggression, particularly
human directed conflict behaviors. The discussion must start by making
distinctions according to actual harm, e.g., a growl is not an
"attack," and a nip is not a "mauling." Incidence of
conflict behaviors tells us little about actual injury incidence. Low bite
reporting rates often decried in studies may actually reflect appropriately
proportional responses on the part of regular people, as may the lack of
concern about food guarding among adopters. This panel will provide case
examples, encourage contributions, and lead a discussion regarding realistic
and appropriate ways to frame and respond to canine conflict behaviors. |
A CAAB, DVM, LVT and
CPDT Walk Into a Bar …: Building Partnerships in the Animal Behavior
Community Amanda Florsheim, DVM; Jessica Lockhart, MS, PhD; Cathy
Painter-Rigdon, LVT, CBCC-KA; Fanna Easter, CPDT, KPA CTP, ACDBC, ABCDT-L2 Most
communities are seeing an increase in the number and types of professionals
available to work with pets with behavior problems. With this increasing number of
professionals in a community, some isolate themselves to protect their client
base. Rather than isolate ourselves,
we should partner together for the betterment of our patients and
clients. We feel that each
professional can bring different strengths to a case for the betterment of
the patient, client as well as the professionals working with the dog. Through case studies, we will demonstrate
how each of us have contributed to a patient’s benefit compared to any of us
working with the clients and patients alone.
The presentation will include actionable items and suggestions on how
to implement these items. |
Your Place or Mine: The Effect of
Setting on Behavior Consulting Process and Treatment Suzanne Hetts, PhD, CAAB, CVJ; John Wright, PhD, CAAB; Dan Estep,
PhD, CAAB; Mary Lee Nitschke, PhD, CAAB, CPDT Behaviorists,
behavior consultants and trainers have the option of offering their services
in a variety of settings. Offering clients in-home, office, telephone, or
even email or Skype consulting options has usually been a matter of personal
preference, expediency, availability, and what the client is willing to pay.
Opinions also vary about the value of having pet owners acquire video of
various aspects of their pets’ behavior. Are there
more definitive and objective criteria we can use to suggest to a client
which option would be best for an individual situation OR why, as individual
consultants, we might choose to forego some settings and not others?
Sociology and anthropology define “participant observation” – a technique of
field research by which a participant observer studies the life of a group by
sharing in its activities. Does that describe our role during in-person consultations?
Or are we active or passive observers? And how does that differ from being a
participant observer? Does our
presence in the home affect the pet’s “natural environment” and is therefore
detrimental to observing and understanding the nature of the behavior
problem? Is an office appointment more beneficial because it allows us to
gather information about the pet in a “novel” environment? What
about hands-on work with the pet during the appointment? Is demonstrating to
pet owners a crucial aspect of what we do or is it just as effective, or more
so, to refer to dog trainers for the hands-on component? Is this also
personal preference or is there a theoretical model or actual “success rate”
numbers we can apply comparing the two approaches? We’ll
discuss these questions and others suggested by the audience during this
panel presentation. |
PTSD Dogs: Obstacles to Success Karen London, PhD, CAAB, CPDT In recent
years, veterans with psychological service dogs have become a larger part of
my caseload. The veterans typically have PTSD and some also have TBI
(Traumatic Brain Injury.) The challenges of these cases are unusual compared
with other types of cases for many reasons. There are very high and sometimes
unrealistic expectations of the dogs by their owners. The dogs often come to
the people with very little training. The people typically lack training
skills themselves, and their psychological issues can make it challenging for
them to care for their dogs and to train them. Many of the dogs do not have
the emotional stability that predicts a high likelihood of success as a
service dog. Several of my clients with a Native American heritage struggle
with the negative views their culture has of dogs. I will discuss some cases
to share the obstacles facing the creation and maintenance of successful
service dog/veteran teams. I hope to encourage a discussion about meeting the
challenges relating to service dogs for veterans. |
Risky Business – Helping Shelters
and Rescues Navigate Legal Risks involving Dog Bites and Euthanasia Practices Heidi Meinzer, JD, CPDT-KSA, CNWI The
practical answer to the question “Can I be sued?” is always yes – but whether
a plaintiff will succeed is a different question. Unfortunately, even when a
defendant wins, litigation is an expensive and frustrating process. Dog bite
claims have become more and more prevalent, constituting over one third of
all homeowner insurance liability claims paid out in 2014. In litigation,
defendants are often “judgment proof” or have insurance policy limits, which
will push parties to be creative in finding another “deep pocket” to reach
into. This has led to a number of lawsuits against localities, shelters and
rescues, with claims of failing to act against a known aggressive dog or
failing to warn about an adopted dog’s behavior issues. At the same time,
some jurisdictions and shelters have come under fire by No Kill proponents
and animal advocates for euthanizing too much. These competing dilemmas
create risk management landmines for rescues, shelters, and training and
behavior staff. What are the actual legal risks involved, what is the proper
balance, and how can rescues and shelters protect themselves? An animal law
attorney will analyze recent cases and applicable laws to help navigate these
risks. |
Recommending Euthanasia Melissa
Shyan, PhD, CAAB "You've
done the best you could, you've given your pet the best life you could, and
more chances than most people would have, you've tried everything,
but..." We've all had to do it. We all hate to do it. We all know that
sometimes owners will listen, and sometimes they won't accept the suggestion.
When and how do you determine when to recommend euthanasia? Do you have a
criterion? Is it "gut instinct" based on experience? We all know that
it can be terribly hard to make the recommendation. How do you decide? What
reasoning do you use? What reasoning do you give? A brief
review of relevant literature will be presented. Then a free flowing
discussion will be attempted. IFAAB attendees, who are
willing, will be asked to talk about how they determine to make that
recommendation; i.e., when is "enough, enough. |
A Different Approach to Group
Classes for Puppies and Problem Dogs Nancy
Williams, MA, ACAAB, RVT and
Mary Huntsberry, MA, ACAAB While
there is consensus in our field regarding importance of early training and
socialization for puppies, opinions differ on how to teach the class, and the
manner in which the puppies can interact with each other. There is little
literature on the efficacy of the varying methods used to train puppies in a
group setting. Based on
client’ reports that despite past attendance at puppy classes, we were seeing
cases of serious aggression toward people or dogs. Based on this, we designed
puppy classes to attempt to thwart future problems! A number of the
techniques used to solve behavior problems in these private cases are novel,
often using a number of response prevention techniques during training while
gradually increasing distractions. Using these techniques in our puppy
classes has resulted in increased focus on the owner while “socializing” the
puppies with other dogs, people, and even horses! Our classes are small, and
limited to five puppies and owners. Our talk
will describe how classes are set up, handling of puppies is demonstrated,
and practice maximizes the potential for progress. We hope that other
behaviorists will find our methods useful and be able to work with groups
that they had not previously considered. We look forward to group discussion
of the overall topic. |
Toys, Pets & Passion Mark
Hines It’s no
surprise that top animal care professionals around the world are passionate
about their careers. They have a keen understanding of the importance of play
on an animal’s physical, mental, and emotional development. My talk will
explore best practices in using toys as tools for enrichment, rehabilitation,
and behavior modification. It is vital when using toys to understand proper
toy selection, supervision and safety, as well as the difference between
quality and sub-par materials. This talk aims to bridge the gap between
animal behavior and toy implementation while answering questions you may have
regarding the connection between the two. |
A Tale of Two Prison Dog Training
Programs: Is Bigger Necessarily Better? Lynne
Gilbert-Norton, PhD, MSc Canines
with a Cause rescues and trains shelter dogs for public adoption and as
potential service dogs for veterans with PTSD in the Utah Department of
Corrections women’s facility. In our yearlong pilot program, we have faced
many challenges including constant changes in handlers, limited training and
accommodation space, and demoralization. But we have also had successes; both
objective and anecdotal, including the training of 21 dogs, a reduction in
infractions and an increase in the sense of purpose and giving back by our 20
inmate handlers. We attribute much of our success with both the dogs and the
inmates to the positive training methods we use. In looking to expand and
improve our prison program by training more dogs and improving benefits for
our inmate handlers, we recently visited an established dog program in |
Effect of Breed and Prior Odor
Exposure on Dogs’ Detection Performance Nathaniel
Hall, PhD I will
present three studies that explore variables related to canine odor detection
performance. In the first study, we trained ten dogs each of three breeds
(German Shepherds, Pugs, and Greyhounds) on an odor detection task in which
we assessed acquisition of an odor discrimination, detectability of varying
concentrations of an odorant, and performance on a control visual task. We
found that Pugs outperformed the German Shepherds on odor acquisition and the
dilution test, but showed similar performances on the control visual task.
Greyhounds showed a general failure to participate. I will present on two
additional studies that evaluate the effects of varying types of odor
pre-exposure on subsequent detection performance. In the first study, we
evaluated the effects of odor exposure on the acquisition rate of an odor
discrimination. We found exposure alone had little effect, but pre-exposure
in the form of Pavlovian conditioning facilitated acquisition compared to
no-exposure. In a follow-up study, we demonstrate that odor Pavlovian
conditioning, but not odor exposure alone, leads to greater odorant
sensitivity, as measured by threshold detection of the odorant in a
liquid-dilution olfactometer. To conclude, I will highlight what implications
these results have for scent-training and will indicate what areas need
further research. |
Teaching New Tricks to Old and
Young Dogs – Part 1 Rachel Gilchrist People
have been training dogs for centuries, yet very few empirical studies have
directly compared different techniques for teaching dogs new behaviors. In
this presentation we will report a comparison of three different ways to
train young dogs to sit and stay. One group was trained with just a primary
reinforcer (preferred food); one group was trained with a verbal marker accompanied
by the primary reinforcer; and the final group was trained with a click sound
– as promulgated by Pryor (1999) among others – followed by the primary
reinforcer. Although previous studies have examined these positive
reinforcement training methods, ours is the first to compare the three
methods within one research design. The surprising results from this project
will be presented and discussed. |
Teaching New Tricks to Old and
Young Dogs – Part 2 Sophie
Raymond We have
developed a radial arm maze with which to test the memory of dogs of
different ages. Dogs are the only non-primates to spontaneously develop a
form of age-related cognitive decline similar to human Alzheimer’s disease,
but research into treatments for this tragic condition is stymied by the lack
of sensitive measures of dog memory. We have developed protocols that clearly
show age-related decline even in apparently normal healthy dogs. We also see
that aging dogs adopt different strategies in the maze. Because the maze is
challenging for movement-impaired dogs we have also developed simpler tests
of dog memory that are also very sensitive to the dog’s age. Now that we have
an excellent test of memory, we can test dogs that have been diagnosed with
cognitive decline, and investigate putative mitigating interventions. |