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Is there a profile of spontaneous seizure-alert pet dogs? A survey of French people with epilepsy

By A. Catala, P. Latour, H. Cousillas, M. Hausberger, M. Grandgeorge

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Abstract

Despite controversies and the lack of research, dogs are empirically selected and trained to perform as service dogs, in relation to the dogs’ and future owners’ characteristics. We assessed the characteristics of both humans and dogs in an unbiased population (not selected or trained) of spontaneous seizure-alert by pet dogs and investigated whether we could replicate previous findings. We addressed a self-reporting questionnaire to French people with epilepsy. We analyzed the general characteristics of the humans and pet dogs and their behaviors that could alert their owner before a seizure. In addition, we used the Monash Canine Personality Questionnaire refined to evaluate pet dogs’ personality through five different traits, and the Monash Dog-Owner Relationship scale to assess human–dog relationships. In line with previous reports, we found no particular factor, either pet-, people- or epilepsy-related that could be associated with the presence or absence of alert behaviors. Alert behaviors and circumstances were explored and three different alert patterns emerged. In terms of personality, seizure-alert pet dogs scored significantly higher than non-alerting dogs for the traits “Motivation” and “Training Focus” and lower for “Neuroticism”. The owner–dog bond score was significantly higher for seizure-alert dogs than for non-alerting dogs.

Date 2020
Publication Title Animals
Volume 10
Issue 2
ISBN/ISSN 2076-2615
Publisher MDPI
DOI 10.3390/ani10020254
Author Address CNRS, EthoS (Ethologie animale et humaine)-UMR 6552, Univ Rennes, Normandie Univ, F-35000 Rennes, France.
Additional Language English
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Tags
  1. Animal behavior
  2. Animals
  3. Behavioral research
  4. Canidae
  5. Canine
  6. Carnivores
  7. Detection
  8. Developed countries
  9. Dogs
  10. Epilepsy
  11. Europe
  12. France
  13. Humans
  14. Learning
  15. Mammals
  16. Mediterranean region
  17. Men
  18. Non-communicable diseases and injuries
  19. OECD countries
  20. open access
  21. pathology
  22. Personality
  23. Pets and companion animals
  24. Primates
  25. Psychiatry and psychology
  26. Relationships
  27. Seizures
  28. Social psychology and social anthropology
  29. training of animals
  30. vertebrates
  31. Zoology
Badges
  1. open access