Behavioral Indicators of Poor Welfare in Shelter Dogs

Abstract

We studied behavioral indicators of poor welfare in shelter dogs. Our research question was: How is the welfare of shelter dogs affected by length of stay at a shelter, age, sex, and breed? Data were collected on 18 dogs from October 2016 to March 2017 at a small private shelter in Marietta, GA. Data were collected in 15-minute sessions when the dogs were in their indoor enclosures. No significant differences were found in time spent in abnormal behaviors among dogs that were at the shelter for less than 1 month, 1-6 months, and longer than 6 months, between male and female dogs, between different breeds, and between younger and older dogs. Small sample sizes, individual differences, and an enriched shelter environment could have contributed to the lack of significant findings.