Long-Lasting Chews Elicit Positive Emotional States in Dogs during Short Periods of Social Isolation
Dogs may experience negative emotional states when isolated from human caregivers and conspecifics. This study aimed to evaluate how dogs interact with different enrichments during a short period of social isolation, as a first step towards identifying methods for improving their emotional wellbeing...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/4/552 |
| _version_ | 1797622864221831168 |
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| author | Hannah E. Flint Megan Atkinson James Lush Alysia B. G. Hunt Tammie King |
| author_facet | Hannah E. Flint Megan Atkinson James Lush Alysia B. G. Hunt Tammie King |
| author_sort | Hannah E. Flint |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Dogs may experience negative emotional states when isolated from human caregivers and conspecifics. This study aimed to evaluate how dogs interact with different enrichments during a short period of social isolation, as a first step towards identifying methods for improving their emotional wellbeing. Using a cross-over design, dogs (<i>n</i> = 20) at the Waltham Petcare Science Institute were exposed to four different food-based enrichments while left alone in a familiar room for 20 min: long-lasting chew (Chew), kibble in a treat-dispensing toy (Toy), and kibble dispensed through a smart treat-dispensing device with (Device + Voice) and without (Device) a person talking to the dog. Time spent engaging with each enrichment item and emotional valence and arousal (7-point scale collected every 5-min) were scored from videos. The results of linear mixed models indicated Chew was the most successful enrichment, with dogs having lower arousal scores (<i>p</i> < 0.05 vs. Device and Toy) during the first five minutes of isolation, higher positive valence scores (<i>p</i> < 0.05 vs. all) during the second five minutes of isolation, and spending the most total time engaged (<i>p</i> < 0.01 vs. all). Based on these findings, long-lasting chews should be further explored to assess their impact on dog emotional wellbeing. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:16:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b9945cf0d1f34f598142a8dd38c216e9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:16:17Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-b9945cf0d1f34f598142a8dd38c216e92023-11-16T18:38:10ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152023-02-0113455210.3390/ani13040552Long-Lasting Chews Elicit Positive Emotional States in Dogs during Short Periods of Social IsolationHannah E. Flint0Megan Atkinson1James Lush2Alysia B. G. Hunt3Tammie King4Waltham Petcare Science Institute, Freeby Lane, Waltham on the Wolds, Leicestershire LE14 4RT, UKWaltham Petcare Science Institute, Freeby Lane, Waltham on the Wolds, Leicestershire LE14 4RT, UKWaltham Petcare Science Institute, Freeby Lane, Waltham on the Wolds, Leicestershire LE14 4RT, UKWaltham Petcare Science Institute, Freeby Lane, Waltham on the Wolds, Leicestershire LE14 4RT, UKWaltham Petcare Science Institute, Freeby Lane, Waltham on the Wolds, Leicestershire LE14 4RT, UKDogs may experience negative emotional states when isolated from human caregivers and conspecifics. This study aimed to evaluate how dogs interact with different enrichments during a short period of social isolation, as a first step towards identifying methods for improving their emotional wellbeing. Using a cross-over design, dogs (<i>n</i> = 20) at the Waltham Petcare Science Institute were exposed to four different food-based enrichments while left alone in a familiar room for 20 min: long-lasting chew (Chew), kibble in a treat-dispensing toy (Toy), and kibble dispensed through a smart treat-dispensing device with (Device + Voice) and without (Device) a person talking to the dog. Time spent engaging with each enrichment item and emotional valence and arousal (7-point scale collected every 5-min) were scored from videos. The results of linear mixed models indicated Chew was the most successful enrichment, with dogs having lower arousal scores (<i>p</i> < 0.05 vs. Device and Toy) during the first five minutes of isolation, higher positive valence scores (<i>p</i> < 0.05 vs. all) during the second five minutes of isolation, and spending the most total time engaged (<i>p</i> < 0.01 vs. all). Based on these findings, long-lasting chews should be further explored to assess their impact on dog emotional wellbeing.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/4/552dogfood-based enrichmentemotional wellbeingbehavior |
| spellingShingle | Hannah E. Flint Megan Atkinson James Lush Alysia B. G. Hunt Tammie King Long-Lasting Chews Elicit Positive Emotional States in Dogs during Short Periods of Social Isolation Animals dog food-based enrichment emotional wellbeing behavior |
| title | Long-Lasting Chews Elicit Positive Emotional States in Dogs during Short Periods of Social Isolation |
| title_full | Long-Lasting Chews Elicit Positive Emotional States in Dogs during Short Periods of Social Isolation |
| title_fullStr | Long-Lasting Chews Elicit Positive Emotional States in Dogs during Short Periods of Social Isolation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Long-Lasting Chews Elicit Positive Emotional States in Dogs during Short Periods of Social Isolation |
| title_short | Long-Lasting Chews Elicit Positive Emotional States in Dogs during Short Periods of Social Isolation |
| title_sort | long lasting chews elicit positive emotional states in dogs during short periods of social isolation |
| topic | dog food-based enrichment emotional wellbeing behavior |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/4/552 |
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