An actigraphy-based comparison of shelter dog and owned dog activity patterns

Abstract

Animal shelters tend to be stressful environments for dogs because of the sights, sounds, odors, and schedules that characterize shelter living. Levels of activity, including the amount of time spent resting or engaging in sedentary behaviors, may provide insights into overall welfare, especially when comparing shelter dogs' activity patterns to those of dogs in a home setting. The goal of this study was to compare the intensity and consistency of shelter dogs' and owned dogs' activity levels using three distinct methods for analyzing actigraphy data. Activity levels were measured for 19 owned dogs and 19 shelter dogs using triaxial accelerometers affixed to nylon collars on each dog's neck. Shelter dogs were more active than owned dogs during the first three quarters of the day, whereas owned dogs were more active than shelter dogs during the final quarter. Comparisons of shelter dogs' and owned dogs' ten consecutive hours of greatest activity also indicated that shelter dogs were more active earlier in the day than owned dogs. Furthermore, shelter dogs exhibited higher activity levels than owned dogs during this period of greatest activity. During the five consecutive hours of least activity, shelter dogs were more active than owned dogs. Finally, individual shelter dogs' activity patterns were more consistent day to day than owned dogs'. Our findings suggest that the shelter environment may inhibit dogs from resting. Further research is needed to assess the impacts of activity patterns on the health of shelter-housed dogs and to determine how quickly these dogs adjust to their owner’ schedules after adoption.