Trained Animals Research Articles

Biochemical and hematological alterations in horses subjected to performance tests in a semiarid region

This study aimed to evaluate the hematological, physiological and biochemical alterations of quarter and crossbred horses subjected to vaquejada tests in semiarid regions and to determine the welfare conditions of the animals in these competitions. We evaluated 18 pure and crossbred Quarter horses, males and females, with ages ranging from two to 13 years and an average live weight of 476.5 kg, divided into three groups (animals in early training, animals in an intermediate phase and animals considered fit for competition). Four samples were collected at 30-day intervals. The physiological, hematological and biochemical parameters were measured at two time points: before, with the animal resting, and immediately after the vaquejada test simulation. The experimental design was subdivided into plots that were repeated over time (three types of training, two moments and four collections). The results were subjected to analysis of variance, and the means were compared via Tukey’s test at 5% significance. There was an effect of the moment of collection on the respiratory rate, hematocrit and glucose concentration. There was a marked increase in heart rate, approximately 25%, from the first collection to the subsequent collection, which remained constant until the last collection. The heart rates of the animals remained constant, but immediately after the test, the average heart rate of the animals at the beginning of training was lower than that in the other phases. More research is needed to determine the time at which physiological and biochemical parameters return to normal patterns and to predict possible injuries in the conditioning of horses participating in the vaquejada.

Behavior Coding of Adolescent and Therapy Dog Interactions During a Social Stress Task.

Youth mental health interventions incorporating trained therapy animals are increasingly popular, but more research is needed to understand the specific interactive behaviors between participants and therapy dogs. Understanding the role of these interactive behaviors is important for supporting both intervention efficacy and animal welfare and well-being. The goal of this study was to develop ethograms to assess interactive behaviors (including both affiliative and stress-related behaviors) of participants and therapy dogs during a social stress task, explore the relationship between human and dog behaviors, and assess how these behaviors may vary between experimental conditions with varying levels of physical contact with the therapy dog. Using video data from a previous experimental study (n = 50 human-therapy dog interactions, n = 25 control group), we successfully developed behavioral ethograms that could be used with a high degree of interrater reliability. Results indicated differences between experimental conditions in dog and human behaviors based on whether participants were interacting with a live or a stuffed dog, and whether they were allowed to touch the dog. These findings suggest that physically interacting with a live dog may be an important feature of these interventions, with participants demonstrating increased positive behaviors such as laughing and smiling in these conditions. Dog behaviors also varied based on whether they were in the touching/petting condition of the study which could indicate reactions to the session and has potential welfare implications for the dogs. Future research should focus on identifying specific patterns of interactive behaviors between dogs and humans that predict anxiolytic outcomes.

Trainer Views of Working Marine Mammals; Bonds, Trust, and Welfare: A Qualitative Exploration Using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis

ABSTRACT This study delves into the complex dynamics between trainers and working marine mammals within military settings, utilizing Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to capture trainers’ nuanced perspectives. It emphasizes the critical role of emotional and cognitive connections, going beyond traditional training methods to highlight mutual respect, trust, and the acknowledgment of individual animal personalities. Such elements are pivotal in creating a cooperative atmosphere that not only enhances training outcomes but also promotes animal welfare. Through in-depth interviews with 10 participants and a detailed analysis of the transcripts using IPA, it was evident that recognizing the distinct personalities and cognitive abilities of marine mammals is vital for fostering trust and cooperation, significantly benefiting both training efficacy and animal wellbeing. This approach not only optimizes training results but also underscores the ethical implications of utilizing sentient beings in military operations. Direct quotes are contextualized through three emerged themes: Human–Animal Relationship, Animal Mind, and Fostering the Relationship. By advocating for empathy, respect, and personalized care in the training of marine mammals, this research suggests that these principles are crucial for advancing positive training environments and could have wide-reaching effects on the practices of animal training and welfare, especially in contexts where animals are employed for national defense purposes.

Determination of growth potentials of two chicken strains using day old phenotypic markers

This study focused on assessing one day old effect of some phenotypic markers on production traits in Ross broiler chickens (ROBROS) and Southern ecotype breeds of chicken (SEC) as an alternative for genetic markers. The study was conducted at the Akenten Appiah Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED) Animal farm unit in Asante Mampong Campus of Ghana from June to December, 2022. One hundred and eighty (180) Ross broiler and 180 Southern ecotype breeds of chicks were used for the research. For each breed, the chicks were put into four groups with 45 chicks in each group. Breast length (BRL), Back length (BL), Circumference of the head (CH) and day-old body weight (DOBW) were taken on the chicks at one day old in group 1, 2, 3, and 4 respectively using a tailor’s tape and a weighing scale. Chicks within each group were classified into three (3) sub groups and considered as treatments (T) 1, 2 and 3. The treatments were described as higher (T1), medium (T2), and lower (T3) ranges based on the values obtained from the measurement and reared under randomised completely block design (RCBD). Data on production traits were taken up to week 8 for the Ross broiler and 18 weeks for the Southern ecotype chicken. The results from ANOVA using Statistix indicated that for the Ross broiler chickens, T1 in all the groups were significantly (P < 0.05) superior over T3 for feed intake, body weight, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio. T2 were significantly better than T3 in terms of body weight. For the Southern ecotype chickens, T1 were significantly (P < 0.05) better than T3 for feed intake, body weight, and body weight gain. However, for feed intake and body weight gain, T2 were significantly (P < 0.05) better than T3. Pearson correlation analysis also indicated a high, strong and significant (P < 0.05) correlation between day-old phenotypic markers with body weight. Regression equations of day-old phenotypic markers with body weight were positive and significant (P < 0.05) with coefficient of determination (R2) ranging from 0.64 to 0.76 for Ross broilers and 0.81 to 0.95 for Southern ecotype chickens. CH and DOBW had the highest R2 values and thus the best predictors of body weight. Breast length, back length, circumference of the head, and day-old body weight taken on the chicks at one day old were effective in predicting final body weight. It was concluded that, the four (4) phenotypic markers could be used for selection purposes efficiently.

Determinants of crimean-congo hemorrhagic fever (cchf) outbreaks: a retrospective analysis

Abstract Introduction Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), a viral tick-borne zoonotic disease with high mortality rates, poses a particular threat in Pakistan during religious event of Eid-ul-Azha as increased livestock contact. This study aims to analyze CCHF cases from three outbreaks, to identify transmission and disease patterns. Understanding these patterns can inform targeted interventions for future outbreaks. Methods A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted to examine three CCHF outbreak investigations between July 2nd and August 12th, 2023 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Multisectoral teams, including human and animal health departments, investigated these outbreaks. Data was collected through semi-structured case investigation tools. The healthcare providers, patients and family were subjects. During active case surveillance, 41 probable contacts were traced. Results Among positive cases, male predominance (71.4%) was observed. The highest proportion of cases occurred in the 15-29 year age group (42.9%, n = 6). Individuals involved in animal handling professions had the highest prevalence (50%, n = 7), followed by students (21.4%, n = 3). Common clinical manifestations included high-grade fever (100%), muscle pain (92.9%), and bleeding symptoms (85.7%), with 64.3% of cases reporting vomiting blood. The average recovery time was 7.1 days, while fatal cases had an average of 6.8 days from symptom onset to death. Recovery was observed in 64.3% of cases, with a mortality rate of 35.7%. Chi-square analysis showed significant associations between gender, occupation, and disease outcome (p < 0.05). Conclusions This study identified a higher risk of CCHF in males, young adults, and individuals involved in animal handling during outbreaks. Public health interventions targeting occupations, demographics, particularly education and protective measures for animal handlers during Eid-ul-Azha days, are crucial to mitigate future outbreaks Key messages • Young male adults, and individuals involved in animal handling are on greater risk of higher risk of CCHF infections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. • One Health community can leverage these findings to develop better prevention and control strategies through collaboration between human and animal health sectors.

A Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Planned Teaching Programme on Knowledge Regarding Brucellosis and Its Prevention Among Animal Handlers in Selected Rural Area of Udaipur District

A Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Planned Teaching Programme on Knowledge Regarding Brucellosis and Its Prevention Among Animal Handlers in Selected Rural Area of Udaipur District

Assessment of the Risks of Zoonotic Infection at the Primatology Centre of the Interdisciplinary Medical Research Centre of Franceville in Gabon.

Non-human primate (NHPs) conservation sites could be sites of exchange of pathogens involved in infectious diseases. It is important to assess the potential risks associated with this type of structure. The objective of this study was to carry out a risk assessment of the Primatology Centre housed in the Interdisciplinary Centre for Medical Research of Franceville (CIRMF). A questionnaire was administered to the centre's staff to assess the risk associated with each workstation, followed by a review of the various pathogens identified in NHPs. The data were analysed using two diagrams: the Kiviat diagram and the Pareto diagram. Based on our results, a variety of pathogens such as viruses, bacteria and parasites, potentially transmissible to humans, were described in the NHPs at the Primatology Centre of CIRMF. The position most exposed to zoonotic risks was that of animal handlers. The Primatology Centre of CIRMF is a potential transfer site for the transfer of zoonotic agents. To avoid the risk of parasite exchange between staff and animals, the implementation of biosecurity measures is essential.

Refinements in Clinical and Behavioral Management for Macaques on Infectious Disease Protocols.

Providing optimal clinical and behavioral care is a key component of promoting animal welfare for macaques and other nonhuman primates (NHPs) in research. This overlap between critical areas of management is particularly important for NHPs on infectious disease protocols, which often have unique challenges. For example, traditionally these NHPs were often housed alone, which can have behavioral and clinical consequences. However, in the past decade or so, considerable effort has been directed at modifying procedures in an effort to improve animal welfare for this group of NHPs. In this review, we examine some refinements that can positively impact the clinical and behavioral management of macaques on infectious disease studies, including increased social housing and the use of positive reinforcement techniques to train animals to cooperate with procedures such as daily injections or awake blood draws. We also discuss ways to facilitate the implementation of these refinements, as well as to identify logistical considerations for their implementation. Finally, we look to the future and consider what more we can do to improve the welfare of these animals.

Text mining approach in chicken meat welfare

The aim of the study was to analyze the aspects affecting broiler welfare with the use of Text Mining technique. This approach converts text into numerical data and analyzes word frequency distributions, enabling the extraction of useful information and the identification of relationships between elements. Text mining has limitations, i.e. ambiguity and context sensitivity, making it difficult to capture nuanced meanings. The search was carried out with Scopus using the term "Welfare" with the keywords "Chicken", "Broiler", "Broiler chicken", and "Chicken meat", to create a database of abstracts. Text Mining and Topic Analysis were performed on the abstracts (1228 documents) using the Software R 4.3.1., analyzing also the weight of bigram and trigram. Publications on broiler welfare are present in the bibliography since 1990's, but in the last 10 years, for the interest of public opinion, the numbers of publications significantly increased (76.5% of all documents published). USA, Brazil, and Europe-27 published 60% of the documents found. The works were published in a high number of journals, but 37% of them are published in only 4 journals (Poultry Science, Animals, Applied Animal Behavior Science and Animal Welfare). Text Mining analysis identified key terms related to the slaughter phase, housing management, and environmental conditions such as light quality and quantity. Moreover, a high correlation was found between some terms, underlying the importance of the effects of rearing, slaughter phases and litter management on broiler welfare. Most of the countries focused their research on some specific topics identified by Topic Analysis, mainly genetic selection, feeding, stocking density, slaughter, and consumer perceptions. Poultry Science published the highest number of papers (18%) and the topics more investigated were growing performance, transport and slaughter, and litter management. In conclusion, the high number of publications on chicken welfare underlines the importance of broiler welfare both in Europe and in other countries, even if it is difficult to identify common research topics among the geographic areas and the evolution over the time.

Towards enhancing animal welfare standards in UK media: Part 1; insights from public opinion and attitudes

Abstract Animals are frequently used in the UK for film, television, and advertising, but numerous stakeholders, including charities and industry representatives, have significant concerns regarding their on- and off-set welfare. However, it is unclear to what extent the public can identify animal welfare issues on screen or whether they know where to report any incidents. This survey sought to answer three research questions: (1) What are the levels of awareness and concern around animals used in TV, film, and advertising among the general public? (2) Do people know where or how to report any concerns? (3) What would reassure people that animal welfare is safeguarded? We have analysed and presented the results from the 911 responses to paint a more detailed picture of where the public is on this issue and what mechanisms for improvement they would support. Overall, the results show a clear concern for the welfare of animals used in the media, especially once they had read the eight realistic scenarios of animal use in the survey. Yet the public feel disempowered to report these concerns and lack trust that positive change will result. There is clearly public appetite for better protection of animals used in the media, particularly stronger regulations, independent on-set monitoring of animals, qualified animal trainers, and an accreditation scheme.

A Review On Human Brucellosis: An Important Occupational Hazard

Human brucellosis is a re-emerging and neglected zoonotic disease caused by Brucella spp., with Brucella melitensis being the principal cause worldwide. Despite the disease's prevalence, serological surveillance is not routinely practiced, even in countries where Brucella is endemic. Although eradication efforts have been successful in many developed and developing countries, brucellosis continues to pose a significant health risk to both animals and humans. Transmission to humans occurs by direct or indirect contact with infected animals or their products. Veterinary professionals, especially those conducting per-vaginal examinations without proper protective gear, and animal handlers are particularly vulnerable to infection. The pathogenesis of brucellosis is complex, involving bacterial invasion of host cells, immune evasion, and the potential for chronic infection. In humans, brucellosis often becomes chronic, but in acute cases, it presents as undulant fever with nonspecific symptoms. To reduce morbidity and mortality, early diagnosis and timely antibiotic treatment are most important. For diagnosis of Brucella spp. reliable, rapid, sensitive, specific, easy-to-perform, and automated detection systems are urgently required. Currently, there is no safe and effective vaccine available for humans. Prevention relies on controlling the disease in domestic livestock, primarily through mass vaccination, effective heat treatment of dairy products, and hygienic precautions to minimize occupational exposure. Treatment requires prolonged antibiotic therapy with a combination of drugs. To control human brucellosis, awareness programs, safe livestock practices, and timely diagnosis are essential

Training Stockmen in Animal Welfare-Based Slaughter Techniques to Reduce Bruising in Beef Carcasses

Animal welfare-based training on livestock handling techniques during sacrificial animal slaughtering is a crucial effort to reduce stress levels and bruising in cattle carcasses post-slaughter. This training, conducted at Al-Ma'ruf Mosque in Samarinda Ulu District, Samarinda City, involved 40 sacrificial animal handlers (stockmen) from various local mosques and prayer rooms. Participants were trained using the Rope Squeeze and Burley methods to enhance technical skills in livestock handling, particularly in reducing the risk of animal injury and work-related accidents. The training results demonstrated increased participants' understanding of livestock behavior and psychology and the application of the flight zone concept, contributing to safer and more effective livestock handling. The evaluation indicated the training's success in reducing livestock injuries and improving meat quality. Additionally, the training positively impacted the sacrificial animal slaughtering practices in the local area.

Salivary cortisol captures endocrine response to an acute stressor in captive female tufted capuchin monkeys (Sapajus apella).

Measuring glucocorticoids such as cortisol is a useful tool for exploring relationships among behavior, physiology, and well-being in primates. As cortisol circulates in blood, it moves into biological matrices such as hair, urine, feces, and saliva. Saliva sampling is a simple, noninvasive method to measure cortisol that can be easily implemented by training animals to voluntarily provide samples. The temporal lag between elevation of cortisol in the blood and elevation of cortisol in saliva likely varies by species and must be characterized to identify appropriate sampling regimens. In the present study we characterized the time course of cortisol changes in saliva following an acute psychological stressor in captive tufted capuchin monkeys (Sapajus apella). We trained eight free-moving female tufted capuchin monkeys to voluntarily produce clean saliva samples. We exposed them to the acute stressor of a veterinary catch net and observed behavior pre and post exposure. We collected salivary samples immediately pre exposure (0 min) and 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, and 120 min after exposure. Salivary cortisol was quantified using a Salimetrics kit. Behavioral and cortisol measures were compared within individuals to a control condition in which no stressor was presented. Capuchins showed a clear behavioral response to the stressor by demonstrating increased freezing and pacing, decreased feed foraging, nonsocial play, and scratching, and decreased willingness to provide saliva samples after stressor presentation. After stressor presentation, average salivary cortisol began to increase at 30 min and continued to increase through the 120 min sample period. There was individual variation in absolute cortisol levels, the timing of the cortisol increase, and the timing of the peak. Our results suggest that no single time-point can be reliably used to evaluate salivary cortisol response to an acute stressor across individuals, and instead we recommend the collection of a prolonged time series.

Burden and factors associated with occupational tuberculosis infection among high-risk workers in Lahore District, Pakistan.

The main objective of the study was to estimate the burden of occupational tuberculosis infection in high-risk occupational workers and to identify risk factors associated with the prevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC). An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among high-risk occupational workers including veterinarians, abattoir workers, animal handlers, livestock farmers, and microbiology laboratory workers. Sputum samples were collected from 100 participants and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests were done to diagnose tuberculosis (TB) infection. Data on potential risk factors was collected in a pre-designed questionnaire. The MTBC prevalence ratio was estimated. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify risk factors and the crude odds ratio (OR) was calculated. Among the 100 enrolled high risk occupational workers, the prevalence of MTBC was 46% (95% CI: 35.98-56.25). Living in a joint family (OR 3.85, 95% CI: 1.58-9.37), and use of unpasteurized milk (OR 3.42, 95% CI: 1.4-8.39), were significantly associated with MTBC infection. Tuberculosis is a significant health burden in high-risk occupational groups, especially animal handlers and laboratory workers, in Lahore, Pakistan. The study also emphasized the need for formal work-related training, and enhanced zoonotic TB awareness among occupational workers.

The Study on Ethical Implications of Using Animals in Circuses for Entertainment with Special Reference to Chennai

The use of animals in circuses for entertainment raises a significant number of ethical concerns. These concerns center around the potential for animal suffering, the unnaturalness of the environment and activities, and the inherent exploitation of animals for human enjoyment. Training animals for circus performances often involves harsh methods, including physical punishment, deprivation, and psychological manipulation. These methods can cause significant physical and psychological harm to animals. Objectives for Exploring the Ethical Implications of Using Animals in Circuses for Entertainment: To understand the scope of the issue, To investigate the potential harms inflicted upon animals in circuses, To evaluate the justifications for using animals in circuses, To analyze the legal and ethical frameworks surrounding animal use in circus, To explore alternative forms of animal entertainment, To inform public opinion and policy decisions. Modern circuses often prioritize flashy tricks and spectacle over genuine education about animal behavior and conservation. Animals are treated as commodities, exploited for human amusement, and denied their intrinsic value as sentient beings. Animals are deprived of the freedom to make their own choices and live according to their natural instincts. Performing unnatural and often dangerous tricks can cause physical injury and psychological trauma. The total number of sample respondents in the age group of 18-50 years are collected .The overall sample size collected through queries 206.The statistical tools used are Graphical representation the independent variables are age groups, gender, educational Qualifications, occupation and Place of residence

Laboratory diagnosis and epidemiological features of leptospirosis cases in a tribal region of Western Maharashtra, India: A retrospective study

PurposePalghar district, located in the coastal region of the Konkan division of Maharashtra, has a predominantly tribal population. Leptospirosis is a major neglected public health problem and is highly underreported in Palghar district. The study aimed to evaluate the seropositivity of Leptospira infection and its associated epidemiological factors in tribal areas of the Palghar district of Maharashtra. MethodsThe present retrospective study included 94 samples of patients clinically suspected of leptospirosis during a period of one year (2021–2022) tested at Model Rural Health Research Unit (MRHRU) Dahanu. The serum sample testing was done for the presence of specific Leptospira IgM antibodies using the Panbio™ Leptospira IgM ELISA kit. Leptospirosis seropositivity was correlated with various epidemiological risk factors. ResultsA total of 12 samples of patients tested positive for specific IgM antibodies by ELISA method, indicating an overall positivity of 12.8%. Among those who tested positive, fever (83.3%), headache (58.3%), myalgia (50%), redness of the eyes (50%), and calf tenderness (16.7%) were the common symptoms observed. Subjects with redness of the eyes were significantly associated with leptospirosis (p = 0.018). The highest positivity (50%) was reported from the Ganjad area of Dahanu taluka. Farmers and animal handlers were most affected by leptospirosis. ConclusionThe high proportion of Leptospirosis cases reflects the endemic nature of the disease in the Palghar district. This study shows seasonal trends in leptospirosis incidence over the year. The clinical presentation of leptospirosis may vary from sub-clinical to mild illness to severe and potentially fatal. The findings of this study will be important for achieving the overarching goal of One Health.

Who’s testing and who’s being tested: A cautionary tale of citizen science within applied animal behaviour science

Citizen science has become a popular means to collect data in many research fields, including animal behaviour science. Using this approach has numerous potential benefits (e.g. larger sample sizes, decreased strain on resources, increasing the public’s engagement in science), but there are also issues and assumptions relating to data quality that should be considered. The aim of this study was to assess the reliability of a battery of game-like tests developed to assess behavioural flexibility in dogs. The battery was administered to samples of shelter dogs and owned dogs who had remained in homes long-term. From the two populations, four test groups were created: shelter dogs assessed by the principal investigator (n=85), shelter dogs assessed by shelter staff/volunteers (n=34), long-term owned dogs assessed by the principal investigator (n=21), and long-term dogs assessed by their owners (n=29). Shelter staff/volunteers and dog owners participated as “citizen scientists”. It is accepted that using less skilled “citizen” researchers increases the error within the data, but often claimed that this is offset by larger sample sizes. This implies that the increased error is random and not systematic. Whether who (citizen versus trained researcher) tested the group in a given context was associated with overall test item outcomes was evaluated. In two of the tests, the Alone Time Test and the Three-Toy Test, tester was found to be associated with outcomes. In the Alone Time Test, tester was associated with four items in the shelter dog samples and with three in the long-term owned dog samples. In the Three Toy Test, a series of subsequent items were contingent on the first, and the outcome of that initial item was related to tester. These results demonstrate that it is unwise to assume that the increased error from citizen science work is largely random and thus evened out by the use of a large sample of researchers. Unexpected systematic error might arise within citizen science projects so controls need to be introduced to test for these effects, so that unsound assumptions are not made. There may also be relatively unique factors, beyond researcher objectivity, to consider when using a citizen science approach to study domestic dogs, such as the bidirectional influence on behaviour of any emotional bond between the owner or shelter staff/volunteer and the dog being tested. These results highlight the need for quality checks and preliminary analysis to ensure the identification of any relevant tester effects.

The Affective Bias Test and Reward Learning Assay: Neuropsychological Models for Depression Research and Investigating Antidepressant Treatments in Rodents.

The Affective Bias Test (ABT) quantifies acute changes in affective state based on the affective biases they generate in an associative reward learning task. The Reward Learning Assay (RLA) provides a control assay for the ABT and reward-induced biases generated in this model are sensitive to changes in core affective state. Both tasks involve training animals to associate a specific digging substrate with a food reward. Animals learn to discriminate between two digging substrates placed in ceramic bowls, one rewarded and one unrewarded. In the ABT, the animal learns two independent substrate-reward associations with a fixed reward value following either an affective state or drug manipulation, or under control conditions. Affective biases generated are quantified in a choice test where the animals exhibit a bias (make more choices) for one of the substrates which is specifically related to affective state at the time of learning. The ABT is used to investigate biases generated during learning as well as modulation of biases associated with past experiences. The RLA follows a similar protocol, but the animal remains in the same affective state throughout and a reward-induced bias is generated by pairing one substrate with a higher value reward. The RLA provides a control to determine if drug treatments affect memory retrieval more generally. Studies in depression models and following environmental enrichment suggest that reward-induced biases are sensitive to core changes in affective state. Each task offers different insights into affective processing mechanisms and may help improve the translational validity of animal studies and benefit pre-clinical drug development. © 2024 The Authors. Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Bowl digging and discrimination training Basic Protocol 2: The reward learning assay Basic Protocol 3: The affective bias test - new learning Basic Protocol 4: The affective bias test - modulation of affective biases associated with past experiences.

Exploring Dogs' Capacity to Innovate Actions on Cue

Creative animals can flexibly respond to novel circumstances, a capacity that is closely tied to cognitive complexity. We examined the capacity of four dogs to learn to innovate actions when instructed to do so using a “create” cue. An action performed in response to this cue was considered novel if the action had not yet been offered within the current training session and was not already associated with a specific cue. The dogs were able to self-select many novel actions, similarly to what has been observed in trained dolphins. Training animals to innovate actions on cue can help reveal aspects of the cognitive processes underlying action selection, cognitive control, and behavioral flexibility. Successful learning of the “create” cue may indicate that the dogs were able to monitor their recent actions and form an abstract concept of avoiding recently performed actions. Reinforcing dogs for spontaneity may increase the range of actions that they perform within the training context. We conclude that the dogs in this study were capable of learning to innovate actions in ways that are comparable to what has been shown in dolphins. Though it is unclear how other dogs would perform at this task, our results demonstrate it is possible for dogs to learn to innovate actions on cue.

A 3D-Printed Dummy for Training Distal Phalanx Amputation in Mice.

The development of realistic dummies for training the distal phalanx amputation (DPA) technique in mouse pups is a promising alternative to reduce and replace animals in training for research and teaching. To test this, we obtained micro-CT data from postnatal day-five mouse pups, meticulously segmented them, and converted them into a 3D mesh format suitable for 3D printing. Once the dummy was printed, it was evaluated during actual training courses in two different groups: in the first group, users received no dummies to train the DPA, and in the second group, users were trained with three dummies. To assess the effectiveness of the dummy, we conducted a survey followed by an expert veterinarian evaluation. Our results showed that DPA is a complex procedure, and it is commonly poorly performed. When implementing the dummies, users who were not provided with dummies to practice only had an 8.3% success rate in DPA, while users provided with three dummies had a 45.5% success rate, respectively. Despite additional research being needed, our dummy offered improved practical training by providing a safe and effective alternative in line with ethical considerations while demonstrating the feasibility of using 3D printing technology to promote the 3Rs in experimental research.