Laterality as a Predictor of Coping Strategies in Dogs Entering a Rescue Shelter

Shanis Barnard,Deborah L Wells,Peter G Hepper

doi:10.3390/sym10110538

Abstract

It has been reported that during the first few days following entry to a kennel environment, shelter dogs may suffer poor welfare. Previous work suggests that motor bias (the preferred use of one limb over the other) can potentially be used as an indicator of emotional reactivity and welfare risk. In this study, we investigate whether paw preference could be used as a predictive indicator of stress coping (measured using cortisol levels and behavioural observation) in a sample of 41 dogs entering a rescue shelter. Cortisol levels and behavioural observations were collected for one week after admission. We scored the dogs’ paw preference during a food-retrieval task. Our results showed that increasing left-pawedness was associated with a higher expression of stress-related behaviours such as frequent change of state, vocalisations and lower body posture. These results are in keeping with previous findings showing that left-limb biased animals are more vulnerable to stress. Paw preference testing may be a useful tool for detecting different coping strategies in dogs entering a kennel environment and identifying target individuals at risk of reduced welfare.

Highlights

Entering a rescue shelter can be a very stressful experience for dogs; they are separated from any social attachment figures, they are exposed to a novel environment and to daily interactions with unfamiliar people and conspecifics [1,2,3]
All dogs entering the shelter during this period were enrolled in the study; exceptions were made if the dog was pregnant, seriously ill or injured, impossible to handle or walk on the lead due to excessive fear or aggression
Binomial tests showed no significant difference between the distribution of lateralised and ambilateral dogs (p = 0.81) or between the number of left and right pawed dogs (p = 0.80)

Summary

Introduction

Entering a rescue shelter can be a very stressful experience for dogs; they are separated from any social attachment figures, they are exposed to a novel environment (i.e., unfamiliar noise, smells, disruption of familiar routine) and to daily interactions with unfamiliar people and conspecifics [1,2,3].Previous studies show how this transition can generate a state of fear, anxiety, and frustration [4,5].Social and spatial restriction following confinement can be a cause of both acute and chronic stress [6,7,8].Physiological studies have confirmed that kennelling is perceived by dogs as a psychogenic stressor, with animals displaying peaks in cortisol levels in the first few days after arrival [3,5,9]. Entering a rescue shelter can be a very stressful experience for dogs; they are separated from any social attachment figures, they are exposed to a novel environment (i.e., unfamiliar noise, smells, disruption of familiar routine) and to daily interactions with unfamiliar people and conspecifics [1,2,3]. Previous studies show how this transition can generate a state of fear, anxiety, and frustration [4,5]. Social and spatial restriction following confinement can be a cause of both acute and chronic stress [6,7,8]. Individual dogs, may have different coping abilities or stress resilience. Previous research has highlighted two main coping styles in individuals that are environmentally challenged: proactive and reactive [10]

Methods

Results

Conclusion