Assessment of fear-related behaviours displayed by companion dogs (Canis familiaris) in response to social and non-social stimuli

12 Selection on behavioural traits holds a prominent role in the domestication of animals, with 13 reductions in fear behaviour considered to be a key component. Specifically, there is a 14general assumption that domesticated species express reduced fear and reactivity towards 15novel stimuli compared to their ancestral species. However, very few studies have explicitly 16 tested this proposed link between domestication and reduced fear responses. Of the limited 17 number of studies experimentally addressing the alterations of fear during domestication, the 18 majority have been done on canids. Previous work in foxes, wolves and dogs has led to the 19 suggestion that decreased expression of fear in domesticated animals is linked to a 20 domestication driven delay in the first onset of fearful behaviour during early ontogeny. 21Thus, wolves are expected to express exaggerated fearfulness earlier during ontogeny 22 compared to dogs. However, while adult dogs are less fearful towards novelty than adult 23wolves and wolf-dog hybrids, consensus is lacking on when differences in fear expression 24 arise in wolves and dogs. Here we present the first extended examination of fear development 25in hand-raised dogs and European grey wolves, using repeated novel object tests from six to 26 26 weeks of age. Contrary to expectations, we found no evidence in support of an increase in 27 fearfulness in wolves with age or a delayed onset of fear response in dogs compared to 28wolves. Instead, we found that dogs strongly reduced their fear response in the period 29 between six and 26 weeks of age, resulting in a significant species difference in fear 30 expression towards novelty at 26 weeks. Critically, as wolves did not differ in their fear 31 response towards novelty over time, the detected species difference was caused solely by a 32 progressive reduced fear response in dogs. Our results thereby suggest that species 33 differences in fear of novelty between wolves and dogs are not caused by a domestication 34 driven shift in the first onset of fear response. Instead, we suggest that a loss of sensitivity 35 towards novelty with age in dogs causes the difference in fear expression towards novelty in 36 wolves and dogs. 37 38 39

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“…As reported in other studies quantifying fear in dogs using novel objects (Stellato et al 2017), 281…”

supporting

confidence: 63%

Dogs, but not wolves, lose their sensitivity towards novelty with age

Wheat

Bijl

Temrin

2018

Preprint

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“…The relationship between ear positioning and emotions in dogs were studied by Stellato et al (2017) and Flint et al (2018) who concluded that the ear position in these animals is strongly associated with the manifestation of negative emotions, caused by stimuli from the environment.…”

Section: Ear Postures As Body Expressionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to Stellato et al (2017), dogs in an emotional situation of fear exhibit lower tail movements and tend to position them between the hind limbs, as a sign of expression of this emotion.…”

Section: Ear Postures As Body Expressionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This fact may facilitate the understanding of the behavior or sensation animals are submitted to, and different situations that may produce some kind of stimulus (+ or -) and, consequently, their reflexes. J Anim Behav Biometeorol (2020) 8:1-10 al 2013; Proctor and Carder 2014;Gleerup et al 2015;Proctor and Carder 2015;Lambert and Carder 2017;Reimert et al 2017;Barros et al 2017;Bellegarde et al 2017;Stellato et al 2017;Oliveira and Keeling, 2018;Tamioso et al 2018;Paul and Mendl 2018;Amelia et al 2018;Flint et al 2018;Lambert and Carder 2019) used the measurement of body changes for the identification and correlation with the emotions expressed as a function of the stimuli received.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Body expressions of emotions: does animals have it?

Machado

Silva

2020

JABB

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The expression of emotions in animals is a source of information not very explored by researches. It is necessary to know what emotions animals experience and how these emotions are expressed to the point that we can identify them. Within this approach, the use of techniques to measure body changes in animals according to the type of emotion experienced is one of the following paths. The ear and tail positioning was described as body areas subject to changes caused by emotions in animals. However, the position of the ears and tail may vary between species when it comes to the emotional state and therefore, it is not possible to establish a pattern. It is necessary to evaluate each species individually and the results cannot be transmitted from one species to another. In addition, animals demonstrate different facial expressions associated with pain. Changes in facial expression in animals may also be related to emotions.

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“…Alguns autores Sandem e Braastad, 2005;Reefmann et al, 2009ª; Wemelsfelder et al, 2001;Reefmann et al, 2009ª;All e Terms, 2013;Stellato et al, 2017;Oliveira e Keeling, 2018;Futro et al, 2018;Larsen et al, 2018;Wallgren et al, 2019) foram publicadas com o objetivo de relacionar a movimentação da cauda, como uma área corporal, com a expressão de emoção frente a diferentes situações, em várias espécies.…”

Section: Alterações Corporais Para Detecção De Emoçõesunclassified

Relação entre a expressão corporal e facial e o estado emocional de bezerros de raças leiteiras

Miguel¹

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Relationship between body and facial expression and emotional state of dairy calves The purpose of this research was to identify the existence of facial and body expressions that reflects the emotional state of dairy calves. Thirty-two calves between 1 and 8 weeks of age were studied for four consecutive days. Eight groups with four animals each were formed randomly, forming homogeneous groups among themselves in age. Each group was analyzed twice. The animals were taken to a test chamber with open sides and covered with metal tile over a pasture area, where they received the application of the treatments positive "neck stroking" and negative "umbrella test" (Sandem et al. 2004). The facial expression was analyzed through the facial action units: eyebrow, mouth, nostril and eye white. Body expression was verified by the ear position and tail position variables. The animals were evaluated during six experimental times: natural environment, pre-test, test, post-test 1, post-test 2 and natural environment after the test. Both stimuli caused reduction (p < 0,05) in eye white area from 3,50 cm 2 to 1,10 cm 2 , and area of nostril from 8,58 cm 2 to 6,07 cm 2. The raised eyebrow was present during the negative stimulus. It was not possible to identify if the changes in facial action units were due to positive or negative emotions. All manipulation with the animals caused a change in the facial units. The positioning of ear and tail are related to positive and negative emotions. The "back" ear position and the "arched" tail position are associated with expressing positive emotions. The "horizontal" ear position and the "between hindlimbs" tail position, to negative emotions. The types of ear and tail positions are indicators of positive or negative emotional state in calves, and there is great potential for using these measures to evaluate emotions. Thus, we identified the existence of facial expressions, with the variable eyebrow, and body expression, with the position of "back" ear and "arched" tail that reflects positive emotional states; and "horizontal" ear position and "between hindlimbs" tail reflecting negative emotional states in calves.

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Assessment of fear-related behaviours displayed by companion dogs (Canis familiaris) in response to social and non-social stimuli

Cited by 40 publications

References 20 publications

Dogs, but not wolves, lose their sensitivity towards novelty with age

Dogs, but not wolves, lose their sensitivity towards novelty with age

Body expressions of emotions: does animals have it?

Relação entre a expressão corporal e facial e o estado emocional de bezerros de raças leiteiras

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