Springing Bottles Enrichment Toy Effect on Behaviors and Cortisol Level of Kenneled Dogs (Canis lupus familiaris)

Abstract

Environmental enrichment used in captive animals with goals of increasing the activity, behavioral diversity, utilization of the environment and reducing abnormal behaviors. The present study was designed to determine the springing feeding bottles toy ameliorative effect on behaviors and cortisol level of kenneled Caucasian dogs. Sixteen healthy kenneled Caucasian shepherd dogs were utilized. The experimental procedure consisted of four phases: 1) habituation period, 2) baseline period (pre-enrichment phase), 3) treatment period (enrichment phase)– and 4) post-exposure period (post-enrichment phase). Each phase last for 3 days during which dogs were video recorded for state and event behaviors except the first one. Hair was collected during the three phases (pre, during and post enrichment) for cortisol analysis. The provision of the feeding enrichment shorter the lying time and stereotypies frequencies, while increased the activity level. These behaviors persisted after withdrawal of enrichment with improvement in feeding time. Hair cortisol levels also was lower during and after enrichment with a marked reduction after withdrawal. Therefore, it appears that the provision of feeding enrichment toy could improve the behavioral repertoire and decrease cortisol level in kennelled dogs, and thus enhance its welfare.