Effects of maternal care on detection dog behavioral outcomes

IF 2 2区农林科学 Q1 AGRICULTURE, DAIRY & ANIMAL SCIENCE

Applied Animal Behaviour Science Pub Date : 2025-09-11 DOI:10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106818

Lane I. Montgomery , Sarah Krichbaum , Jordan G. Smith , Pamela Haney , Lucia Lazarowski

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Maternal care is an important factor in the behavioral development of offspring, with long-lasting impacts demonstrated in several species including dogs. However, maternal care styles and corresponding effects on puppy development vary across populations. The current study aimed to 1) characterize maternal behaviors during a 3-week post-parturition period in detection dogs (n = 27 litters), 2) identify factors influencing maternal care, and 3) examine relationships between maternal care and offspring behavioral outcomes. Maternal behaviors decreased over the three-week observation period (ps < .001) but individual variability remained stable over time (ps < .001). All behaviors of interest were summarized by a principal component analysis into a Maternal Care score. There was a significant interaction of delivery type and parity (p = .002) on maternal care, and aspects of dam temperament as assessed by the Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) predicted amount of maternal care (p = .0164). Lastly, amount of maternal care predicted offspring working outcomes, such that dams exhibiting lower levels of care produced puppies that were more likely to be selected for operational service in the future (p = .025). These results extend findings on the effects of maternal care to a detection dog population, which has important implications for improving detection dog breeding and training success.

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母性护理对检测犬行为结局的影响

母性照顾是后代行为发育的重要因素，在包括狗在内的几个物种中都有长期的影响。然而，不同人群的母性照料方式及其对幼犬发育的影响各不相同。本研究旨在1)描述检测犬（n = 27窝）分娩后3周内的母性行为，2)确定影响母性护理的因素，3)检验母性护理与后代行为结果之间的关系。在三周的观察期内，产妇行为有所减少（ps <； .001），但个体差异随时间保持稳定（ps <； .001）。所有感兴趣的行为通过主成分分析总结为产妇护理评分。分娩类型和胎次对母性护理有显著的交互作用（p = .002），而犬行为评估和研究问卷（C-BARQ）评估的母性方面预测母性护理的数量（p = .0164）。最后，母性照料的数量预测了后代的工作结果，因此，表现出较低照料水平的母性产下的幼犬更有可能在未来被选择为操作服务（p = .025）。这些结果将对母性护理的影响的研究结果扩展到检测犬种群，这对提高检测犬的繁殖和训练成功率具有重要意义。

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来源期刊

Applied Animal Behaviour Science 农林科学-行为科学

CiteScore

4.40

自引率

21.70%

发文量

191

审稿时长

18.1 weeks

期刊介绍： This journal publishes relevant information on the behaviour of domesticated and utilized animals. Topics covered include: -Behaviour of farm, zoo and laboratory animals in relation to animal management and welfare -Behaviour of companion animals in relation to behavioural problems, for example, in relation to the training of dogs for different purposes, in relation to behavioural problems -Studies of the behaviour of wild animals when these studies are relevant from an applied perspective, for example in relation to wildlife management, pest management or nature conservation -Methodological studies within relevant fields The principal subjects are farm, companion and laboratory animals, including, of course, poultry. The journal also deals with the following animal subjects: -Those involved in any farming system, e.g. deer, rabbits and fur-bearing animals -Those in ANY form of confinement, e.g. zoos, safari parks and other forms of display -Feral animals, and any animal species which impinge on farming operations, e.g. as causes of loss or damage -Species used for hunting, recreation etc. may also be considered as acceptable subjects in some instances -Laboratory animals, if the material relates to their behavioural requirements