Abstract
IntroductionMost of the studies investigating the effect of early rearing environment in dogs used laboratory dogs and reported that early experiences markedly affect the puppies’ behavior. However, the subjects of these experiments cannot be considered as representatives of family dogs.MethodsIn this study, we investigated whether different raising conditions shape social behavior toward humans in 8-week-old family dog puppies of two breeds, Labrador and Czechoslovakian wolf dog. The puppies were tested in a series of tests that represented typical situations of family dogs.ResultsWe found that Czechoslovakian wolf dog puppies were more active than Labrador puppies in general, as they were more likely to explore the environment and the objects and spent more time doing so. Tendency to gaze at humans also varied between breeds, but in a context-specific way. Additionally, puppies housed separately from their mother interacted more with toys, puppies housed in a kennel tended to stay closer to the experimenter than puppies raised in the house, and puppies housed in a kennel tended to stay in the proximity of the experimenter more than puppies raised in the house.ConclusionsOur results provide evidence for early keeping conditions influencing social behavior and also highlight breed differences in puppies’ behavior. Whether these differences are due to different developmental patterns and/or behavioral predispositions remains to be explored.
Highlights
Most of the studies investigating the effect of early rearing environment in dogs used laboratory dogs and reported that early experiences markedly affect the puppies’ behavior
The basis of the actual knowledge on the effect of puppies’ early rearing environment relies on Scott and Fuller’s work, who investigated the development of social behavior of dogs, dividing it in so called “critical periods.”
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of early keeping conditions, such as housing and time of separation from the mother, on social behavior toward humans in family dog puppies
Summary
Most of the studies investigating the effect of early rearing environment in dogs used laboratory dogs and reported that early experiences markedly affect the puppies’ behavior. Methods: In this study, we investigated whether different raising conditions shape social behavior toward humans in 8-week-old family dog puppies of two breeds, Labrador and Czechoslovakian wolf dog. The early studies were carried out on laboratory dogs in a highly controlled environment; despite environmental enrichment and regular social stimulation, the social experiences of these subjects were very limited compared to those of typical family dogs. These subjects may have not developed their maximum capacities and may not be fully representative of the family dog population
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