Video analysis of adult dogs when left home alone

Abstract

Abstract The aims of this study were to investigate behaviors exhibited by dogs without separation-related problems when left home alone and to compare the behaviors of this group of dogs (termed nonclinical) with a group of dogs diagnosed with separation anxiety by a veterinary behaviorist (termed clinical), previously published. Thirty dogs divided into 3 groups according to age were video recorded when left home alone for 90 minutes. Thirteen behavioral categories were established to describe duration and frequency of dog activity. Descriptive analysis, nonparametric tests (Kruskal–Wallis test, Mann–Whitney test), and principal component analysis (PCA) were performed. Behavioral video analysis of our sample of nonclinical dogs showed that they spent most of their time when home alone exhibiting passive behavior (54.33 ± 22.27 minutes) as opposed to oriented to environment (8.6 ± 9.4 minutes), play (4.40 ± 5.54 minutes), whining (6.43 ± 2.14 minutes), howling (3.32 ± 4.49 minutes), barking (0.17 ± 0.00 minutes), locomotion (1.121 ± 1.48 minutes), and exploration (0.51 ± 1.25 minutes). Twenty-two dogs (73.3%) exhibited locomotion, 4 dogs (13.3%) whining, 3 dogs (10%) howling, 3 dogs (10%) barking, 17 dogs (56.7%) lip licking (8 times), and 10 dogs (33.3%) yawning (3 times). No statistically significant differences based on age were found. Comparison with data from a previous study about dogs with confirmed separation anxiety was performed using PCA. Analysis showed that passive behavior was exhibited for extended periods in nonclinical dogs contrary to clinical dogs, which displayed behaviors compatible with signs of anxiety.