Browsing by Author "Foster, Robin"
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- Comparing the Differential Effects of Neighborhood and Nature Walks on Behavior and Urinary Cortisol Levels of DogsCupp, Glenna N.; Feuerbacher, Erica N.; Gunter, Lisa M.; Hekman, Jessica P. (Virginia Tech, 2023-12-07)Dog training practitioners suggest that walks in nature provide more welfare enhancing benefits than the neighborhood walks that most dogs experience daily. While the benefits of nature walks are a well-studied phenomenon in humans, to date there has been little investigation of this topic in companion dogs using objective measures. This study compared the effects of thirty-minute walks in nature to walks in the dogs’ home neighborhoods. Fifteen dogs took part in a within- subjects design that measured physiology and behavior to examine the effects of the two types of walks. Dogs had free catch urine samples taken multiple times per day for urinary cortisol analysis, were video recorded during walks, and were outfitted with activity monitoring collars. We found significant variation in cortisol levels in accordance with time of day, but no difference was found between the neighborhood and nature walks. Several stress, movement, and exploratory/foraging behaviors were found to differ between conditions. While we found that the experimental conditions did influence some of the dogs’ behavior in this study, they did not impact cortisol levels.
- Going to the Vet? Don’t Fret: Using Treats and Scale Mats to Promote a “Stress-Free” Veterinary Experience for DogsScore, Tiffany (Virginia Tech, 2024-05-08)Over 76.8 million pet dogs live in the United States and visit a veterinary clinic 2.4 times yearly, on average. For most dogs, these vet visits evoke stress, adding complications and complexity to executing necessary and routine care procedures. In a two-by-two mixed factorial study, we explored the potential effects and interactions relating to how a dog gets onto a veterinary scale, using a food lure or physical prompt, and whether a scale mat impacts procedural efficacy or efficiency. To analyze behavioral stress indicators within a veterinary context, we video-recorded a 3-min pre-experimental waiting period for each participant under both conditions. Dogs mounted the scale significantly faster if the scale was covered in a non-slip mat and a food lure was used. The handler effect was also significant, revealing that scale mounting procedural efficiency was impacted by whom the dog was handled. Lastly, behavioral analyses highlighted some key, easy-to-identify stress-related behavioral indicators that could serve as early warning signs a dog may struggle to complete necessary routine veterinary care procedures. These findings suggest simple, cost-effective strategies to reduce a dog’s stress when visiting the veterinary clinic.
- Positive Reinforcement Training for School Horses: Its Use as Enrichment and Its Effect on the Human-Horse RelationshipSanders, Emily C. A.; Foster, Robin; Feuerbacher, Erica N.; Jacobs, Leonie (Virginia Tech, 2023-08-08)The use of positive reinforcement training has been shown to improve the human- horse relationships, but the equestrian community has been slow to replace traditional techniques with positive reinforcement training. Horse owners and trainers might be willing to add positive reinforcement training sessions to their routine, even if they are unwilling to change their primary training methods. For this study, we examined whether the addition of positive reinforcement training, in an otherwise unchanged routine, would have behavioral effects on a group of school horses. The implementation of positive reinforcement sessions increased contact seeking behavior (both proximity to and physical touch) with the trainer, but not a stranger. Horses showed similar perception in value of positive reinforcement sessions and food-toy enrichment sessions through increased anticipatory behavior, measured by behavior transition rate, compared to a control group. Providing school horses access to regular food-toy sessions is a good way to provide enrichment, but it does not increase the bond between the horse and trainer like regular positive reinforcement training sessions.