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Impact of Conformation on Companion Animal Behaviour, Welfare and Human-Animal Interactions

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A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Welfare".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 July 2023) | Viewed by 17341

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Dr. Rowena Packer

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Department of Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, UK
Interests: animal behaviour; animal health; animal welfare; human–animal interactions; human behaviour change; companion animals; dogs; brachycephaly; epilepsy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce a Special Issue of the journal Animals, which will explore the relationship between conformation (morphology) and the health, behaviour and welfare of companion animals. Humans have an enormous appetite for diversity in the appearance of companion animals, selecting for a variety of exaggerated traits including body size, ear type, coat type, and skull, dental and skeletal dimensions. Classically considered the domain of the domestic dog, a species noted for its remarkable phenotypic plasticity, conformational extremes are now being selected for in a range of common companion animal species including cats and rabbits, and increasingly in non-mammalian exotic species such as birds, reptiles and fish. With such selection decisions often heavily based on aesthetics, health can be detrimentally affected due to both reduced selection pressure for this trait, but also due to direct links between conformational traits and disease. Literature in this area has grown exponentially for canine health over the past ten years; however, the impact of conformation may go beyond disease predispositions and impact animal welfare in a range of as yet undocumented ways. We encourage the submission of original manuscripts that address a diversity of topics in this area, including but not limited to the impact of conformation upon:

Animal welfare (including acquisition motivations and practices, husbandry and training);
Human–animal interactions (including human interpretation of behaviour, portrayal of animals in the media);
Animal behaviour (including breed-related behaviour, cognitive abilities, conspecific interactions);
Animal health (including epidemiological and disease-specific studies).

Dr. Rowena Packer
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

companion animals
dogs
cats
rabbits
animal welfare
animal behaviour
breed
human–animal interaction

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 1535 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Role of Empathy as a Dual Mediator in the Relationship between Human–Pet Attachment and Quality of Life: A Survey Study among Adult Dog Owners

by Ji Yu Sung and Jin Soo Han

Animals 2023, 13(13), 2220; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13132220 - 06 Jul 2023

Viewed by 2931

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of empathy on the relationship between human–dog attachment and human quality of life. A survey involving 263 dog owners was conducted to gather data on attachment to dogs, empathy, and human quality of life in Korea. The findings indicate significant correlations between attachment to dogs, human empathy, and quality of life. Specifically, both general attachment and concerns for animal rights/welfare demonstrate meaningful parallel double-mediation effects. However, cognitive empathy does not show a significant double-mediation effect on human quality of life. These findings emphasize the importance of attachment and empathy towards dogs in enhancing the quality of life of both humans and dogs. The study suggests a shift in perceiving dogs as independent individuals rather than mere substitutes for humans. Future research should focus on emotional factors, particularly affective empathy, to further enhance the quality of life for both humans and dogs through improved relationships. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Conformation on Companion Animal Behaviour, Welfare and Human-Animal Interactions)

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20 pages, 1273 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Review of Clinical Outcomes, Owner Understanding and Satisfaction following Medial Canthoplasty in Brachycephalic Dogs in a UK Referral Setting (2016–2021)

by Amy L. M. M. Andrews, Katie L. Youngman, Rowena M. A. Packer, Dan G. O’Neill and Christiane Kafarnik

Animals 2023, 13(12), 2032; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13122032 - 19 Jun 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2096

Abstract

Brachycephalic breeds have increased in popularity despite growing awareness of their predisposition to a wide range of conformation-related diseases. The extreme facial conformation of many popular brachycephalic breeds compromises their ocular surface health, increasing the risk of painful corneal ulceration. Medial canthoplasty (MC) is a surgical procedure to address ocular abnormalities in brachycephalic dogs, which are collectively referred to as brachycephalic ocular syndrome (BOS). This study retrospectively reviewed the records of dogs recommended MC at a referral hospital between 2016 and 2021. A questionnaire was designed to identify owners’ perceptions pre- and post-operatively. From 271 brachycephalic dogs recommended MC, 43.5% (118/271) underwent surgery and 72.0% (85/118) were Pugs. The majority of dogs (73.7%, 87/118) that underwent surgery had current or historical corneal ulceration. Follow-up was available in 104 dogs, of which 5.7% (6/104) had corneal ulceration post-operatively. Sixty-four owners completed the questionnaire and reported post-operative corneal ulceration in 12.5% of dogs (8/64), reduced ocular discharge (70.8%, 34/48), reduced ocular irritation (67.7%, 21/31) and less periocular cleaning (52.5%, 32/61). Owners were satisfied with the clinical (85.9%, 55/64) and cosmetic (87.5%, 56/64) outcome. In conclusion, MC has high clinical relevance for the surgical management of BOS, restoring functional conformation and improving the quality of life of affected dogs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Conformation on Companion Animal Behaviour, Welfare and Human-Animal Interactions)

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19 pages, 2004 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Flat-Faced or Non-Flat-Faced Cats? That Is the Question

by Greta Veronica Berteselli, Clara Palestrini, Federica Scarpazza, Sara Barbieri, Emanuela Prato-Previde and Simona Cannas

Animals 2023, 13(2), 206; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13020206 - 05 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2638

Abstract

Persian and exotic shorthair cats are the most-popular brachycephalic breeds worldwide. This study aimed to explore differences in human-cat bonding, behavioural traits, perception of clinical breed-related problems, and the motivation for purchasing between brachycephalic cat owners (BCOs) and non-brachycephalic cat owners (NBCOs). Using an online questionnaire, human-cat bonding and cats’ behavioural traits were explored using the CORS and Fe-BARQ scales, respectively. Breed-related problems and motivations for purchasing were explored only in BCOs. There were 278 BCOs and 250 NBCOs who completed the survey. Respiratory diseases resulted in being the main health problem of these breeds. Most BCOs were not aware of the incidence of these disorders in brachycephalic cats. Character and appearance were the main motivations for purchasing these breeds. Perceived emotional closeness (EC), cat-owner interaction (COI), and perceived cost (PC) mean scores were significantly higher in BCOs. Playfulness and affection-/attention-seeking scores were significantly higher in NBCOs. BCOs reported a significantly higher score for separation-related behaviours. The higher scores in separation-anxiety-related behaviours and in the EC and COI scales could be related mainly to the high level of care these breeds require. The motivation for acquiring brachycephalic breeds for good companionship seems in contrast with the lower scores obtained from BCOs for playfulness and affection-/attention-seeking. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Conformation on Companion Animal Behaviour, Welfare and Human-Animal Interactions)

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22 pages, 4767 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Who’s Getting a Head Start? Mesocephalic Dogs in Still Images Are Attributed More Positively Valenced Emotions Than Dogs of Other Cephalic Index Groups

by Bonita L. Brincat, Paul D. McGreevy, Verity A. Bowell and Rowena M. A. Packer

Animals 2022, 12(1), 49; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12010049 - 27 Dec 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 8178

Abstract

Assumptions about dogs’ personality are influenced by their appearance, which may lead to differences in ownership styles and subsequent canine welfare. The influence of canine appearance on observers’ emotion attributions to dogs remains largely unexplored. This study investigated whether canine head shape is related to how both dog owners and non-dog owning adults in the U.K. attribute emotions to still images of dogs, and in the case of dog owners, to their own dogs. Attachment, respondent personality and dog trainability were assessed as potential influences on emotional attribution in owners. Overall, 2451 participant responses were received. Still images of mesocephalic dogs were attributed primary and positively valenced emotion with more strength and frequency than other groups. Mesocephalic images were also attributed negatively valenced emotions less frequently and with less strength than other groups. Apart from empathy, no significant differences were found in emotional attribution to owned dogs of different head shapes; however, human personality influenced attribution of emotions to owned dogs. The finding that some dogs are attributed emotions more readily based on their appearance alone has applied importance, given, for example, the potential for misattribution of positive emotions to dogs in negative emotional states, and potential prejudice against dogs considered in negative emotional states. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Conformation on Companion Animal Behaviour, Welfare and Human-Animal Interactions)

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