Clinical Trial

: Investigating the efficacy of behavioural treatment and indicators of emotional state in the fearful domestic dog (Canis familiaris).

Abstract

Problematic behaviours in the domestic dog are often caused by underlying fear or anxiety (Blackwell et al., 2006). Whilst fear or anxiety expressed towards unfamiliar people is a welfare concern (Casey et al., 2014; Lord et al., 2017), behavioural treatment has received little scientific scrutiny. This study investigated the efficacy of behavioural and nutritional treatment in a population of dogs expressing pre-existing fear towards unfamiliar people. This was achieved via a placebo-controlled, double-blinded randomised clinical trial of a dietary supplement, with or without a standardised programme of behaviour therapy.
Behavioural, cognitive, and physiological welfare measures were applied pre- and post-treatment to investigate treatment efficacy, and individual differences in response style (trait impulsivity) were assessed. Behavioural measures (a novel standardised test and owner reports) revealed that dogs who received behaviour therapy had significant improvement in their response to unfamiliar people after treatment, providing evidence-based support for up-to-date methods of clinical treatment of fear in dogs. Trait impulsivity appeared to play an important role in dogs’ behavioural expression of fear. Furthermore, higher trait aggression/neophobia and increased fear of unfamiliar people seemed to impact dogs’ ability to complete the cognitive assessment, with important implications for its application across different populations. Increased fear of unfamiliar people was associated with lower urinary cortisol, which whilst unexpected, was not the first time that a negative association has been found between glucocorticoids and fear of unfamiliar people in dogs. No conclusive evidence was found on whether dogs’ sleep behaviour varied in response to treatment, where activity-monitoring was applied as a proxy measure of sleep. Overall, minimal support was shown for beneficial action of the supplement.
New research may wish to follow a similar approach to application and assessment of treatment protocols for other common triggers of fear or anxiety in dogs, to further contribute to the evidence base for clinical behavioural treatment and appropriate welfare indicators.

Date of Award	28 Sept 2021
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Bristol
Supervisor	Emily-Jayne Blackwell (Supervisor) & Michael T Mendl (Supervisor)