Effects of space allowance on the behaviour of long-term housed shelter dogs

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• 作者：Simona Normando^a ; ¹ ; ^{simona.normando@unipd.it" class="auth_mail} ; Barbara Contiero^b ; ^{barbara.contiero@unipd.it" class="auth_mail} ; Giorgio Marchesini^b ; ^{giorgio.marchesini@unipd.it" class="auth_mail} ; Rebecca Ricci^b ; ¹ ; ^{rebecca.ricci@unipd.it" class="auth_mail}
• 关键词：Dog ; Shelter ; Space allowance ; Welfare
• 刊名：Behavioural Processes
• 出版年：March, 2014
• 年：2014
• 卷：103
• 期：Complete
• 页码：306-314
• 全文大小：1452 K

文摘

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of space allowance (4.5 m²/head vs. 9 m²/head) on the behaviour of shelter dogs (Canis familiaris) at different times of the day (from 10:30 to 13:30 vs. from 14:30 to 17:30), and the dogs鈥?preference between two types of beds (fabric bed vs. plastic basket). Twelve neutered dogs (seven males and five females aged 3-8 years) housed in pairs were observed using a scan sampling recording method every 20 s for a total of 14,592 scans/treatment. An increase in space allowance increased general level of activity (risk ratio (RR) = 1.34), standing (RR = 1.37), positive social interactions (RR = 2.14), visual exploration of the environment (RR = 1.21), and vocalisations (RR = 2.35). Dogs spent more time in the sitting (RR = 1.39) or standing (RR = 1.88) posture, in positive interactions (RR = 1.85), and active visual exploration (RR = 1.99) during the morning than in the afternoon. The dogs were more often observed in the fabric bed than in the plastic basket (53% vs. 15% of total scans, p < 0.001).

Results suggest that a 9.0 m²/head space allowance could be more beneficial to dogs than one of 4.5 m².