Dog Behavior Research Articles

Study of fear and fear evoking stimuli in a population of domestic dogs in Iran: A questionnaire-based study.

General and social acceptance, condition, and rules for dog ownership in Iran are different from western countries. So, this phenomenon leads dissimilar fear and fear evoking stimuli in dogs. So, stress and fear‑related factors and dog's behavioral problems is not fully studied in Iran. Thus, the aim of the current study was to measuring fear‑related factors in dogs in Iran. In the first part of this study demographic information of the owners and dogs were collected using questionnaire from clinics and veterinary hospitals in Tehran. In the second part behavioral tests was done. Questionnaire data were recorded based on 4 items as neuroticism, fear caused by other dogs, fear caused by human and separation behavior. The social contact test was used to determine dog's experience for greeting, cooperation, and handling. According to the results, 69.3% of the dog owners were women and 30.7% men. 84.1% of the dogs were small breeds and 15.9% large‑breed dogs. 63.6% of the owner's complained for impact of laws and prohibitions on their dogs' access to outdoor. The score for greeting, cooperation and handling were 1.76 ± ± 0.93, 3.06 ± 1.25 and 2.44 ± 1.21, respectively. Mean score for neuroticism, fear caused by other dogs, fear caused by human and separation behavior were 29.69 ± 9.24, 14.75 ± 5.38, 9.84 ± 4.05 and 6.57 ± 3.05, respectively. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed fear using neuroticism, fear caused by other dogs and human were 1st fear related factor while separation‑related behavior was the 2nd priority (P = 0.001). Small‑breed dogs had more separation behavior and fear caused by other dogs compared to the large‑breed dogs (P = 0.001). These findings suggested keeping the dogs indoor with limit access to a yard had negative impact on dog's behaviors. Legal restrictions have adverse effect on fear behavior in dogs. Determination of fear‑related factors might prove useful for dog's behavioral intervention in Iran.

Study on aggression in dogs in a public shelter

Assessing the behavior of a dog in a shelter is extremely important because the type of behavior can tell us if the animal can be given up for adoption, to whom it can be given up for adoption, if it cannot be given up for adoption and in which direction improvements in behavior need to be made to get it safely given up for adoption. This study aimed to assess the behavior of dogs in a public dog shelter by how a dog behaves towards a person (examiner) in a sequence of situations and to determine the number of individuals who responded with aggression. The behavior test was developed by The Rottweiler Rescue Society (Ontario, Canada) and John Rogerson, Blue Cross, Britain. Following minor modifications, has been used to examine dogs in public shelters. The test contains two additional assessment items from the article "An Evaluation of a Behavior Assessment to Determine the Suitability of Shelter Dogs for Rehoming" [1]. A total of 187 adult dogs were examined, of which 24 were identified with aggressive behavior and the types of aggression identified were dominance, interspecific, or territorial aggression. No behavioral test can show specifically how a dog will behave in a new environment, but the information obtained from the examination can indicate extreme manifestations of canine behavior, such as dominance aggression, possessive aggression, territorial aggression, and separation anxiety.

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A dog, just like a human, has the ability to feel many emotions directly related to a given sit- uation. Out of all the emotions a dog experiences, fear is the one that causes unpredictable behaviour. The undisputed source of stress for a dog may be a visit to a veterinary office and related medical procedures, separation from the owner, but also pheromones left by other animals. The aim of this study was to determine the dog’s stress level in a veterinary office depending on its age. The material was collected by an electronic survey in February 2021 among 381 dog owners. The analysis of the results concerning the dog’s behaviour was carried out according to the age groups of dogs and the five-point scale of answers. In the second part of the study, the occurrence of certain dog behaviours was checked depending on the owner’s stress level. The final stage of the research was the use of selected music as a factor reducing stress in dogs and observation of their behaviour (in January and February 2022). The most common stress behaviours reported by the owners were: lowered body posture, tail tuck, retracted ears, and trying to escape, nose licking. Our own research proved that the calmer the owner is, the lower the frequency of stress reactions in the dog. It was found that dogs exposed to calming music while waiting in the waiting room for an appointment showed fewer stress reactions than dogs waiting in the waiting room without music.

Association of DNA methylation with energy and fear-related behaviors in canines.

Behavioral traits are influenced by gene by environment interactions. To study the genetic and epigenetic components of behavior, we analyzed whether dog behavioral traits could be predicted by their DNA methylation and genotypes. We conducted an analysis on dog behaviors such as sociability, trainability and energy as measured by Canine Behavioral and Research Assessment Questionnaire (C-BARQ) behavioral surveys paired with buccal swabs from 46 dogs. Previously we used targeted bisulfite sequencing to analyze DNA methylation and collected genotype data from over 1,500 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Owner-reported C-BARQ responses were used to quantify 14 behavioral trait values. Using Partial Least Squares (PLS) Regression analysis we found behavioral traits such as energy, attachment/attention-seeking, non-social fear, and stranger-directed fear to be significantly associated with DNA methylation across 3,059 loci. After we adjusted for age as a confounding variable, energy and stranger-directed fear remained significantly associated with methylation. We found that most behavioral traits were not predictable by our limited set of SNPs. By identifying individual genes whose methylation is significantly associated with behavioral traits, we generate hypotheses about possible mechanisms involved in behavioral regulation. Overall, our study extends previous work in behavioral epigenetics, shows that canine behaviors are predictable by DNA methylation, and serves as a proof of concept for future studies in behavioral epigenetics.

Different, but the same: Inferring the hunting behaviour of the hypercarnivorous bush dog (Speothos venaticus) through finite element analysis.

Cerdocyonina is a clade composed by the South-American canids in which the bush dog (Speothos venaticus) is one of the most elusive species. Known for its unique morphology within the group, this small, bear-like faced canid is the only member of the clade adapted to hypercarnivory, an almost exclusively meat-based diet currently present only in usually large, pack-hunting canids such as the grey wolf (Canis lupus). However, much of the biology of the bush dog is poorly understood, and inferences about its ecology, hunting strategies and diet are usually based on observation of captive individuals and anecdotal records, with reduced quantitative data to offer support. Here, we investigated the craniomandibular functional morphology of the bush dog through finite element analysis (FEA). FEA was employed to model the biting behaviour and to create extrinsic and intrinsic functional scenarios with different loads, corresponding to different bites used to subdue and process the prey. For comparison, the same modelling was applied to the skull of a grey wolf and a grey fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus). Our analysis showed that the bush dog's responses to loading are more similar to the wolf's than to the fox's in most scenarios, suggesting a convergent craniomandibular functional morphology between these two hypercarnivorous species, despite their distinct phylogenetic positions and body sizes. Differences between the three taxa are noteworthy and suggested to be related to the size of the usual prey. The modelled bite force for the bush dog is relatively strong, about half of that estimated for the wolf and about 40% stronger than the fox's bite. The results strengthen with quantitative data the inferences of the bush dog as a pack-hunting predator with prey size similar to its own, such as large rodents and armadillos, being specialised in subduing and killing its prey using multiple bites. Its similarity to the wolf also confirms anecdotal accounts of predation on mammals that are much larger than itself, such as peccaries and tapirs. These data highlight the ecological specialisation of this small canid in a continent where large, pack-hunting canids are absent.

Study of dog control strategies

Objectives(1) To explore the relationship between regionally implemented dog control strategies and dog bite injuries (DBIs) and (2) to evaluate current implementation of dog control strategies.MethodsObservational study using a nationwide...

Enhanced Classification of Dog Activities with Quaternion-Based Fusion Approach on High-Dimensional Raw Data from Wearable Sensors

The employment of machine learning algorithms to the data provided by wearable movement sensors is one of the most common methods to detect pets' behaviors and monitor their well-being. However, defining features that lead to highly accurate behavior classification is quite challenging. To address this problem, in this study we aim to classify six main dog activities (standing, walking, running, sitting, lying down, and resting) using high-dimensional sensor raw data. Data were received from the accelerometer and gyroscope sensors that are designed to be attached to the dog's smart costume. Once data are received, the module computes a quaternion value for each data point that provides handful features for classification. Next, to perform the classification, we used several supervised machine learning algorithms, such as the Gaussian naïve Bayes (GNB), Decision Tree (DT), K-nearest neighbor (KNN), and support vector machine (SVM). In order to evaluate the performance, we finally compared the proposed approach's F-score accuracies with the accuracy of classic approach performance, where sensors' data are collected without computing the quaternion value and directly utilized by the model. Overall, 18 dogs equipped with harnesses participated in the experiment. The results of the experiment show a significantly enhanced classification with the proposed approach. Among all the classifiers, the GNB classification model achieved the highest accuracy for dog behavior. The behaviors are classified with F-score accuracies of 0.94, 0.86, 0.94, 0.89, 0.95, and 1, respectively. Moreover, it has been observed that the GNB classifier achieved 93% accuracy on average with the dataset consisting of quaternion values. In contrast, it was only 88% when the model used the dataset from sensors' data.

Domestic dog lineages reveal genetic drivers of behavioral diversification

Selective breeding of domestic dogs has generated diverse breeds often optimized for performing specialized tasks. Despite the heritability of breed-typical behavioral traits, identification of causal loci has proven challenging due to the complexity of canine population structure. We overcome longstanding difficulties in identifying genetic drivers of canine behavior by developing a framework for understanding relationships between breeds and the behaviors that define them, utilizing genetic data for over 4,000 domestic, semi-feral, and wild canids and behavioral survey data for over 46,000 dogs. We identify ten major canine genetic lineages and their behavioral correlates and show that breed diversification is predominantly driven by non-codingregulatory variation. We determine that lineage-associated genes converge in neurodevelopmental co-expression networks, identifying a sheepdog-associated enrichment for interrelated axon guidance functions. This work presents a scaffold for canine diversification that positions the domestic dog as an unparalleled system for revealing the genetic origins of behavioral diversity.

Does the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) fluoxetine modify canine anxiety related behaviour?

PICO question
 Does administration of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) fluoxetine reduce the severity and / or frequency of some anxiety related behaviours in companion dogs, of at least 8 months of age, when compared with no pharmacological treatment?
 
 Clinical bottom line
 Category of research question
 Treatment
 The number and type of study designs reviewed
 Two studies, both randomised, were critically appraised. Each had a placebo control group and the dog's owners were blinded to the treatments
 Strength of evidence
 Moderate
 Outcomes reported
 Both studies provide moderate evidence that fluoxetine, when dispensed at 1–2 mg/kg per day by oral administration and not involving a behavioural modification program for the patient, may reduce some behaviours associated with separation anxiety and / or compulsive disorders. Both studies indicate that a reduction in some unwanted behaviours may be observed after 1 week of fluoxetine medication. Both studies recommend that behavioural and environmental modifications are important adjuncts to pharmacologic treatment of dogs with either compulsive disorders or separation anxiety. Both studies also report that some dogs treated with fluoxetine experienced anorexia / decreased appetite and lethargy, although most of these effects were transient
 Conclusion
 The clinical recommendation is that fluoxetine at 1–2 mg/kg administered orally, once daily, may be beneficial in reducing the severity of some canine anxiety related behaviours
 
 How to apply this evidence in practice
 The application of evidence into practice should take into account multiple factors, not limited to: individual clinical expertise, patient’s circumstances and owners’ values, country, location or clinic where you work, the individual case in front of you, the availability of therapies and resources.
 Knowledge Summaries are a resource to help reinforce or inform decision making. They do not override the responsibility or judgement of the practitioner to do what is best for the animal in their care.

A survey of dog behavior modification practice in the UK: Who is offering it, what methods are they using and how effective do their clients perceive practitioners to be?

Thousands of dogs are relinquished each year in the United Kingdom (UK) owing to behavioral problems. Hence, there is a clear role for behavior modification therapy in the mitigation of this canine welfare risk. Since statutory regulation and a universal register of canine professionals (CPs) does not yet exist in the UK, it remains unclear who is offering such therapy, which behaviors are being treated, what types of approaches various CPs may be taking and the success (or otherwise) CPs are having. This study aimed to provide some insight into these issues from the perspective of pet dog owners (clients).An online survey of 235 participants showed that the primary reason for seeking behavior help from a CP was related to aggression, although often more than 1 issue was reported. Regardless of the behavior problem, no significant differences were found for the type of CP consulted (dog trainer vs. behaviorist). Furthermore, in the client's opinion, there were no significant differences between CP types in their ability to improve their dog's unwanted behavior. Interestingly, behaviorists were significantly more likely than dog trainers to use “reward-based” methods over “balanced training” (balanced being a mix of reward and punishment; x2= 8.226, df = 1, P = 0.004).In conclusion, in the current UK vacuum of statutory regulation, clients are just as likely to employ a trainer as a behaviorist, regardless of their dog's unwanted behavior. However, both CP types were equally able to facilitate behavior improvement, as reported by the client, regardless of the type of training methods (reward-based versus balanced) adopted. This study raises further questions to be explored including the client's opinion of the extent to which the ends (behavior outcomes) justify the means (e.g., punitive training methods which are likely to be aversive for the dog). Also, the general public's understanding of the potential welfare implications of the type of behavior modification plan they may or may not choose to follow.

Tasipimidine, a novel orally administered alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonist, alleviates canine acute anxiety associated with owner departure—A pilot study

Separation anxiety in dogs is a problematic behavior characterized by anxiety that occurs exclusively in the owner's absence or virtual absence, resulting in owner complaints of destructiveness, excessive vocalization, and elimination in the home. The consequences of separation anxiety may include that the owners surrender their dog to a shelter, or even have the dog euthanized. Adrenergic alpha-2 agonists have been shown to be effective in alleviating acute canine fear-based behavior problems at subsedative doses. In this study, the objective was to assess the efficacy of tasipimidine, a novel orally administered adrenergic alpha-2 agonist, in alleviating acute anxiety associated with owner departure in dogs. Twelve clinically healthy privately-owned dogs with a history of separation anxiety were enrolled in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover clinical field study consisting of three 4-day treatment periods in randomized order each followed by a 3-day washout. In each treatment period a different treatment was administered. The three treatments were: placebo, tasipidimine 10ug/kg and tasipidimine 30 ug/kg, all prepared as an oral solution using the same base. At each of the 4-day treatment period study treatment was administered once daily one hour before owner´s departure. Effects of treatment on signs of separation anxiety were assessed by the owner using video recordings. Owner departure related acute anxiety severity score, dog's alertness, usability of the product and adverse events were recorded. Overall, the results showed a statistically significant treatment effect favoring tasipimidine (P= 0.001). When the doses were separately compared to placebo, the dog owners rated the effect of the study treatment more often positively after administering tasipimidine 30 µg/kg compared to placebo (OR 5.40; 95% CI 1.15-25.2; P = 0.032). A statistically significant reduction with the 30 µg/kg dose was seen in destructive/rearranging behavior (P = 0.006) and vocalization (P = 0.036). Most of the dogs were scored to be fully responsive at all time points (66.7%) and able to stand up and walk normally (91.7%), and none of the dogs was scored to be unresponsive or unable to walk. No serious adverse events were reported. The majority of the owners found the product very easy (75.0%) or easy (15.7%) to use. This was a small, cross-over study with one target to select the clinically most suitable dose. Tasipimidine should be further studied in a larger parallel group study to further evaluate its effect as a treatment option for dogs suffering from separation anxiety.

Categorization of emotions in dog behavior based on the deep neural network

AbstractThe aim of this article is to present a neural system based on stock architecture for recognizing emotional behavior in dogs. Our considerations are inspired by the original work of Franzoni et al. on recognizing dog emotions. An appropriate set of photographic data has been compiled taking into account five classes of emotional behavior in dogs of one breed, including joy, anger, licking, yawning, and sleeping. Focusing on a particular breed makes it easier to experiment and recognize the emotional behavior of dogs. To broaden our conclusions, in our research study we compare our system with other systems of different architectures. In addition, we also use modern transfer learning with augmentation and data normalization techniques. The results show that VGG16 and VGG19 are the most suitable backbone networks. Therefore, a certain deep neural network, named mVGG16, based on the suboptimal VGG16 has been created, trained and fine‐tuned with transfer (without augmentation and normalization). The developed system is then tested against an internal test dataset. In addition, to show the robustness of the system, a set of external data outside the breed is also taken into account. Being able to detect unsafe dog behavior and rely on a generalization for other breeds is worth popularizing. Equally important are the possible applications of the system to monitor the behavior of pets in the absence of their owners.

Comparing Pears to Apples: Unlike Dogs, Cats Need Habituation before Lab Tests.

Research on the socio-cognitive skills of different species often benefit from comparative experiments, however, the ecology of the species and development of the individuals may differently determine how they react to the same test situation. In this study, our aims were twofold: to observe and compare the spontaneous behaviour of companion cats and dogs in the same novel environment, and to habituate them (if needed) to the novel environment in the presence of their owners and an unfamiliar experimenter. The behaviour of 62 family cats, 31 experienced (which had the opportunity to meet strangers and explore unfamiliar places) and 31 inexperienced cats, and 27 family dogs was compared in an unfamiliar room. The subjects' behaviour was coded during the first five minutes in the presence of two passive persons, their owners, and an unfamiliar experimenter. Then, based on a set of rules, first the owner, and then the experimenter tried to initiate interactions with the subjects and the subjects' willingness to interact was evaluated. To pass the habituation test, subjects were expected to play with the experimenter or accept food from them. All dogs passed the test on the first occasion, while almost 60% of the cats failed. The cats' experience did not play a significant role, in fact, younger cats passed more easily. We found marked differences between dogs and cats in all behavioural variables; compared to dogs, cats spent more time crouching and close to their box, while less time exploring or close to the owner. We did not find a difference in the cats' behaviour based on their experience. Our results support the hypothesis that unlike dogs, cats need extensive habituation in a novel environment. This could partially be explained by the difference in the ecology and/or domestication process of the species, although developmental effects cannot be excluded. Our findings have fundamental consequences not only for the considerations of the testability of cats and on the interpretation of their data collected in the laboratory, but in a more general sense on developing comparative experiments.

Decision Factors Considered By Potential Dog Adopters During Shelter Visitation

ABSTRACT The decision-making behavior of potential dog adopters remains a research gap that needs to be addressed to model the adoption decision-making process and understand how shelter and rescue strategies may increase adoption decisions. This study investigated decision considerations of potential adopters visiting eight Mid-Atlantic dog adoption sites. Surveys from potential adopters (N = 517) were examined for information about their search, adoption intent during visit, and the decision factor(s) under consideration. Findings showed dog behavior was the top decision factor that potential adopters considered (305; 58.9%), which was significantly greater than chance (χ2 = 16.729, p < .01). Behavior was followed by dog’s age (χ2 = 17.456, p < .01), size (χ2 = 50.137, p < .01), and lifestyle fit (χ2 = 57.89, p < .01). Overall findings suggest potential adopters consider similar sets of decision factors when heading into adoption site visits, independent of age group, type of household, or prior experience having pets.

INSIGHTS INTO CANINE COMMUNICATION AND INTERSPECIFIC MISINTERPRETATIONS

By providing background on ca· nine olfactory, auditory and visual communication, this paper hopes to clarify common human misin· terpretations of dog behaviour. Visual displays are subdivided into displays of rank (dominant and submissive), and displays of erno· tion (aggression and fear). Tail wagging, friendly communication, greeting behaviour in dogs. compared to the human handshake, as well as attention seeking behaviour are discussed. The influence of human selection in breeding on visual displays illustrates the effect of human interference in canine communication. The paper does not aspire to be recognised as a critical academical investigation, or to provide documentation of original research. It merely attempts to provide insight through basic theoretical comments, supported in part by existing literature, and in part by the author's own experience.

App to monitor dog and cat behaviour

App to monitor dog and cat behaviour

Interpretive review: Semiochemicals in domestic pigs and dogs.

This interpretive review includes discussion of the available scientific literature with interpretations by the authors. The broad field of semiochemicals can be confusing to scientists and consumers. This review attempts to summarize the known scientific studies for pig and dog semiochemicals while at the same time attempting to refine our use of terminology. The specific objectives of this interpretive review are to summarize and interpret much of the key scientific literature (but not the lay literature) on semiochemicals in pigs and dogs to include (1) definitions of semiochemicals and related molecules including pheromones, (2) to briefly summarize olfactory organs, and (3) and to examine the scientific literature for semiochemical mechanisms and applications in dogs and pigs (two domesticated species with known olfactory acuity). Dogs and pigs have olfactory features that are similar in that they both lack certain olfactory organs (Grueneberg ganglion and Septal Organ) and they have a small vomeronasal organ (VNO) without some major receptors that are found in other species. The primary olfactory organs for both pigs and dogs are the main olfactory epithelium and perhaps the trigeminal nerve. Several examples of pheromones activating the brain via the MOE or Trigeminal nerve rather than the VNO challenge the concept that the VNO is the site of pheromone sensing. We believe it is not appropriate to label something a pheromone when evidence is not available to show that it is a pheromone. We offer definitions for the terms semiochemicals, pheromones, interomones and others and then determine if the evidence is sufficient to call certain semiochemicals a pheromone. Here we review mixed, largely negative, scientific reports of the efficacy of some products labeled as "pheromones" that are more appropriately called semiochemicals. Interomones can have a more powerful effect on dog behavior and physiology than semiochemicals marketed as pheromones. Because marketing of semiochemicals is far ahead of the science, bringing some logic and uniformity to the field will benefit animals and hopefully cause less consumer confusion. Semiochemicals have the potential to offer powerful solutions to behavioral problems using more naturally occurring molecules.

Testing Leash Walking Training as a Physical Activity Intervention for Older Adult Dog Owners: A Feasibility Study.

Dog walking is a physical activity (PA) with many health benefits for older adults. Dog behavior issues can be a barrier to dog walking. This study piloted leash manners training as a PA intervention for dog owners ages 60+ years. Fourteen dog owners (mean age = 65 years, female = 71%) enrolled in a leash manners training course. Process evaluation data were collected to determine feasibility and acceptability of the intervention and study procedures. Twelve of fourteen enrolled participants (86%) completed the course, and most were highly engaged with the program, as evidenced by high class attendance (92% of participants who completed the course attended ≥5 of 6 classes) and a majority (64%) reporting frequent skills practice at home. Further, most participants (73%) reported their leash walking skills improved. The PA assessment protocol (7 days of 24 h data collection using activPAL monitors) was well tolerated, with all participants who completed assessments at each time point (pre-program, post-program, 4-week follow-up) providing ≥6 valid days of data. In sum, the intervention approach and study procedures were feasible and acceptable in this sample of older adults. More research is needed to determine the effectiveness of leash manners training for increasing PA in this population.

The effects of noncontingent reinforcement on an arbitrary response in domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris)

Noncontingent reinforcement (NCR) procedures entail the response-independent, time-based delivery of a reinforcer (e.g., delivery of a reinforcer on a fixed-time 15 s schedule – FT 15 s). Although NCR has been demonstrated to be effective for the treatment of undesired behaviours in human learners, very few studies have examined it in nonhuman animals. We investigated how NCR with and without extinction (another well-studied behavioural intervention) affected an arbitrary response in companion dogs. The ‘stepping on a rug’ response was shaped and established in lieu of a problem behaviour in six dogs. Stepping was then exposed to fixed-interval (FI 15 s), fixed-time (FT 15 s), a combination of these schedules of reinforcement (FT 15 s + FI 15 s), and an extinction-only condition. The results indicated that NCR was effective in reducing the target behaviour in three out of the six dogs. These effects were greater in the NCR-with-extinction procedure than in the NCR-without-extinction condition. Future research should investigate the effects of schedule thinning and other schedules of reinforcement (e.g., variable-time schedules) on the behaviour of companion dogs.

A new offloading method in the green mobile cloud computing based on a hybrid meta-heuristic algorithm

Mobile Cloud Computing (MCC) results from the evolution of several Internet-based technologies that allow mobile consumers to gain cloud computing advantages and attain green computing by utilizing their cellphones. MCC's use may be restricted because of increasing energy utilization and restricted access to energy supplies. This challenge may be tackled using the green approach, which entails the development of several algorithms or approaches to attain the highest possible degree of service quality. Several techniques in this idea allow consumers to offload data processing and storage to cloud-based servers to reduce the energy utilization of mobile nodes. Offloading is an essential element that helps MCC reduce task load and optimize data storage utilizing a cloud resource pool. Regarding the advantages of the offloading procedure, issues such as reliability (node failure), energy efficiency (energy consumption, task processing), and time management (execution time and task deadline) must be handled. This work presents a unique offloading approach in green MCC depending on a hybrid meta-heuristic algorithm because of the NP-Hard nature of the issue. The African Wild Dog Algorithm (AWDA) and the cellular learning automata technique are merged to generate better responses. AWDA is based on the cooperative hunting behavior of African wild dogs. The quantity of cooperative hunters determines the efficacy of hunting. The optimization procedure is analogous to this collective hunting behavior. Furthermore, a learning automaton in the cellular learning automata technique describes each of these components. An element's learning automaton seeks to discover which action best complements its surrounding components. The simulation findings illustrated that the suggested hybrid technique outperforms the other algorithms regarding energy consumption, delay time, and cost. The proposed algorithm has improved the delay time, cost, and energy metric by 0.43%, 3.17%, and 8.37%, compared to other algorithms.