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15 pages, 582 KiB

Open AccessArticle

“An Aid with Soul”—Understanding the Determinants of Guide Dog-Owner Compatibility from Qualitative Interviews

by Yana Bender, Tim Matschkowski, Stefan R. Schweinberger and Juliane Bräuer

Animals 2023, 13(17), 2751; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13172751 - 29 Aug 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3098

Guide dogs hold the potential to increase confidence and independence in visually impaired individuals. However, the success of the partnership between a guide dog and its handler depends on various factors, including the compatibility between the dog and the handler. Here, we conducted interviews with 21 guide dog owners to explore determinants of compatibility between the dog and the owner. Experienced compatibility between the dog and the owner was associated with positive relationship aspects such as feeling secure with the dog. Certain characteristics emerged as subjective determinants of compatibility, including shared hobbies, high levels of openness in both or only the dog, similar activity levels and higher activeness in dogs, similar expressions of calmness; happiness; greediness; friendliness; and a complementary dominance–submissiveness relationship. Owners who perceived themselves to be similar in their personality to their dogs often reported to have a strong bond, to feel secure with their dog and to be less influenced by previous relationships. However, our results suggest that a strong bond between the dog and the owner does not exclusively yield positive effects. Moreover, prior dog ownership seems to have a potentially strong impact on the subsequent relationship. Our results contribute to the understanding of dog–owner compatibility and may improve the matching process of guide dogs and their prospective handlers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dog–Human Relationships: Behavior, Physiology, and Wellbeing)

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12 pages, 1787 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Sphingomyelin-Rich Lipid Extract Collar for Canine Atopic Dermatitis

by Sergi Segarra, David Sanmiguel, Eliseo Zuriaga, Sophie Leclerc, Jesús Cabañas, Estelle Seigneuric, Aurélie Miquel, Ana Vázquez and Lluís Ferrer

Vet. Sci. 2023, 10(6), 389; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10060389 - 7 Jun 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3829

Abstract

The management of canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) is complex, and it needs to be multimodal, combining topical and systemic therapies. Given that the currently available options are not always totally effective and might have some associated adverse effects, novel alternatives are needed. For this reason, a new collar for CAD was developed with 2.5% of a sphingomyelin-rich lipid extract (LE) with proven benefits for skin health. The release of the active ingredient when incorporated into the collar was tested in vitro, showing an adequate kinetic profile. Then, the efficacy and safety of the collar were assessed in 12 client-owned dogs with CAD in a pilot study. After eight weeks, the dogs experienced significant clinical improvements on the Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index (CADESI)-4, Pruritus Index for Canine Atopic Dermatitis (PCAD) and Pruritus Visual Analogue Scale (PVAS) scores, without any adverse effects. Additionally, further in vitro studies were performed, indicating that this LE collar should be compatible with antiparasitic collars (with deltamethrin or imidacloprid/flumethrin) if worn simultaneously. Given the observed benefits of this LE collar, combining it with other CAD therapies could potentially allow for drug sparing, reduction in adverse effects, enhanced owner compliance, and reduced treatment costs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Veterinary Dermatology: Challenges and Advances)

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14 pages, 2426 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Reported Acquisition Practices of Australian Dog Owners

by Simone A. Blackman, Bethany J. Wilson, Alistair R. Reed and Paul D. McGreevy

Animals 2019, 9(12), 1157; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9121157 - 17 Dec 2019

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4527

Abstract

In Australia, the UK and the US dog ownership is prevalent with an estimated 40% of Australian households, 25% of UK households, and 50% of US households owning a dog. Once acquired, a dog usually becomes a family companion so, unlike a faulty product, it can rarely be returned or resold without some emotional impact on both the acquirer and the dog. Regarding the reality of dog relinquishment, there is a growing need for cross-disciplinary research that considers how dog owners are making their acquisition choices and, if prioritising different attributes, leads to more optimal acquisition choices. This research collected data from 2840 dog owners via an online survey and examines how owners prioritised various attributes when acquiring their latest dog. The Pearson-Blotchky analysis of survey results show owners are split into two groups, with each group prioritising different attributes or characteristics in their search for a new dog. The first group are those dog owners who prioritised: the ability to rescue a dog, how compatible the dog was on the first meeting, and how compatible they believed the dog would be with their household. The second group are those owners who prioritised: a dog’s morphology, temperament predictability, and breeding practices. While each group prioritised different attributes, neither group made substantially more optimal acquisition choices in terms of overall satisfaction with the dog that they ultimately selected. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Companion Animals)

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14 pages, 955 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Homozygosity for Mobile Element Insertions Associated with WBSCR17 Could Predict Success in Assistance Dog Training Programs

by Dhriti Tandon, Kyra Ressler, Daniel Petticord, Andrea Papa, Juliana Jiranek, Riley Wilkinson, Rebecca Y. Kartzinel, Elaine A. Ostrander, Nathaniel Burney, Carol Borden, Monique A. R. Udell and Bridgett M. VonHoldt

Genes 2019, 10(6), 439; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes10060439 - 9 Jun 2019

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 6633

Abstract

Assistance dog training programs can see as many as 60% of their trainees dismissed. Many training programs utilize behavioral assays prior to admittance to identify likely successful candidates, yet such assays can be insconsistent. Recently, four canine retrotransposon mobile element insertions (MEIs) in or near genes WBSCR17 (Cfa6.6 and Cfa6.7), GTF2I (Cfa6.66) and POM121 (Cfa6.83) were identified in domestic dogs and gray wolves. Variations in these MEIs were significantly associated with a heightened propensity to initiate prolonged social contact or hypersociability. Using our dataset of 837 dogs, 228 of which had paired survey-based behavioral data, we discovered that one of the insertions in WBSCR17 is the most important predictor of dog sociable behaviors related to human proximity, measured by the Canine Behavioral Assessment Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ©). We found a positive correlation between insertions at Cfa6.6 and dog separation distress in the form of restlessness when about to be left alone by the owner. Lastly, assistance dogs showed significant heterozygosity deficiency at locus Cfa6.6 and higher frequency of insertions at Cfa6.6 and Cfa6.7. We suggest that training programs could utilize this genetic survey to screen for MEIs at WBSCR17 to identify dogs with sociable traits compatible with successful assistance dog performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Canine Genetics)

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