-
A Comparison of Chimpanzee (Pan Troglodytes) Responses to Caregiver Use of Positive Reinforcement Training (PRT) and Species-Specific Behaviors (SSB)
| Contributor(s):: Whitney D. Emge
The present study compared the effects of positive reinforcement training (PRT) and unstructured interactions (UI) on chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) behavior. In the PRT condition, a caregiver interacted with a chimpanzee to condition behaviors for 10 min. In the UI condition, a caregiver...
-
A Longitudinal Study Of Maternal Style, Young Adult Temperament And Cognition, And Program Outcome In Guide Dogs
| Contributor(s):: Emily Elizabeth Bray Cohen
How does maternal style, experienced over the first few weeks of life, affect later outcomes? Equally important, what is the role of an adolescent’s temperament and cognitive skills? The quest to understand which factors early in development lead to positive life outcomes is an endeavor...
-
A survey of urban Canadian animal control practices : the effect of enforcement and resourcing on the reported dog bite rate
| Contributor(s):: Nancy Margaret Clarke
Dog bites are a serious cause of human injury. Data from the United States of America indicate that about 1.8% of people receive bites each year, and the rate is thought to be increasing disproportionately faster than the dog population. The Canadian dog bite issue is not well documented although...
-
A village dog is not a stray : human-dog interactions in coastal Mexico
| Contributor(s):: Eliza Ruiz Izaguirre
Dogs (Canis familiaris) are considered one of the most numerous carnivores worldwide. Although in the Global North dogs are popular companions, that live inside homes, about 80% of the dogs in the world are village dogs. Village dogs are typically free-roaming, scavenge refuse around human...
-
An investigation into the feeding behaviour and diet selection of the domestic horse
| Contributor(s):: Marie Clare Cairns
This study sought to investigate feeding behaviour and diet selection of horses exposed to concentrate feed of differing flavours and nutrient contents in different situations. Firstly behaviour was studied in a simple choice test. The results showed that when thehorses have no previous...
-
An Investigation of Environmental Factors that Affect the Behavior and Welfare of Domestic Cats (Felis sylvestris catus)
| Contributor(s):: Judith Lynn Stella
Domestic cats are the most commonly kept companion animal in the U.S. with large populations of owned (86 million), free-roaming (70 million), research (13,000) and shelter (2-3 million) cats. Therefore, large numbers of cats are confined to cages each year, so offering the most appropriate...
-
Analyzing Big Cat Behaviors in an Artificial Environment
| Contributor(s):: Krystal Ostrowski
The purpose of this research is, to observe big cat behaviors at The Exotic Feline Rescue Center, and analyze these behaviors in comparison to known behaviors, to see the affects an artificial environment has on these cats. In this study the term artificial environment refers to anything outside...
-
Animal abuse as an early predictor of violent crime later in life: A comparison of male and female inmates
| Contributor(s):: Connelly, Heather Joy
-
Animal Enrichment Strategies for Promoting Natural Behaviors in Captive Populations of Tasmanian Devils (Sarcophilus harrisii)
| Contributor(s):: Tierney O\'neal
The population of Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) is in rapid decline due to Devil Facial Tumour Disease, and insurance populations have been created in captivity for potential future introduction into the wild. Many problems can arise within captive animal populations including loss of...
-
Behavior of Scandinavian brown bears when encountered by dogs and humans
| Contributor(s):: Stine Emilie Noding Hansen
The Scandinavian brown bear population was persecuted in the last half of the 1800s and almost went extinct. They got protected in Sweden in 1927 and in Norway in 1973, and have since reached a level that can be hunted. The bears choose areas with as little human activity as possible, but...
-
Behaviour and beyond: three ways to examine dog cognitive processing
| Contributor(s):: Tiffani J. Howell
Dog cognition research relies heavily on behavioural approaches in order to determine the nature and extent of dog cognitive abilities. These behavioural data have greatly advanced current understanding of dog cognitive abilities. While there has been much research exploring how dogs respond in...
-
Behaviour of brown bears (Ursus arctos) when repeatedly approached by humans on foot
| Contributor(s):: Nina Emilie Stenset
Knowledge about encounters between humans and wildlife is important for conservation, management and policymaking, as well as for reducing conflict and negative interactions. There is general concern that an increased number of encounters might reduce wildlife flight responses. I investigated the...
-
Bem-estar e comportamento de cães comunitários e percepção da comunidade
| Contributor(s):: Larissa Helena Ersching Rüncos
Resumo: A manutenção de cães comunitários surge como uma alternativa compassiva de manejo que contribui para o controle populacional e para a melhoria de vida dos cães, colaborando para diminuição de riscos para a saúde humana. É...
-
Benefits to pets from the human animal bond: A study of pet owner behaviors and their relation to attachment
| Contributor(s):: Deanna Kay Douglas
Researchers have demonstrated clear benefits to humans in their relationship with companion animals; however, little is known about how these animals may benefit from their relationship with humans.The purpose of the current study is to investigate potential benefits of a pet living in a...
-
Bonding with Robotic Pets. Children's Cognitions, Emotions and Behaviors towards Pet-Robots. Applications in a Robot Assisted Quality of Life Intervention in a Pediatric Hospital
| Contributor(s):: Marta Díaz Boladeras
This dissertation addresses the emergence of emotional involvement in the interaction with social robots. More specifically, we investigate the dynamics of children bonding with robotic pets to design robot based programs to improve patients’ experience in pediatric hospitals. Pet-robots...
-
But What Does Fido Think?: The Association Between the Presence of a Pet and Maternal use of Mind-Related Language
| Contributor(s):: Molly Crossman
The goal of the present study was to explore the relation between the presence of a companion animal and maternal use of mind-related language, which has been associated with the development of theory of mind and empathy in children. In order to investigate this intersection, a sample of 19...
-
Cognitive bias, personality and arousal in the domestic dog
| Contributor(s):: Melissa Jane Starling
The domestic dog has lived alongside humankind for many thousands of years, and in that time has undergone extensive selective breeding that has altered both morphology and behaviour. Our close relationship with dogs may to some extent be characterised by inter-specific communication, but this...
-
Conservation Difficulties for Hylobates lar: Effects the Illegal Pet Trade has on White Handed Gibbons' Behavioral Health and Successful Rehabilitation
| Contributor(s):: Shalana Jo Gray
White-handed gibbons (Hylobates lar) are currently listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and wild populations are rapidly declining. In Thailand, the primary threat to this species is hunting for the purpose of capturing infants for the illegal pet trade. During their time in the pet trade,...
-
Creating Automated Interactive Video Playback for Studies of Animal Communications
| Contributor(s):: Trisha Butkowski
Video playback is a technique used to study the visual communication and behaviors of animals. While video playback is a useful tool, most experiments lack the ability for the visual stimulus to interact with the live animal. The limited number of experiments involving interactive video playback...
-
Displays of Jealousy in Dogs
| Contributor(s):: Cassandra D. Beck
Wolves (Canis Lupis) were domesticated into the common dog (Canis Familiaris) at least 15 thousand years ago. The domestication process changed wolves both physically and neurologically. Dogs now have a unique connection with humans, and display many of the same personality traits and cognitive...
