| dc.description.abstract | The aim of this study was to investigate owner-dog interactions in a group of owners with dogs showing separation related behavioural (SRB) problems. We observed a group of 22 owners of dogs with severe separation-related behaviours (SRB), as reported by their owners, and a group of 7 owners of dogs without any overt sign of SRB problems. SRB dogs were selected by using a screening questionnaire via the telephone. The observation took place in a consultation room of the Veterinary Clinic at Utrecht University. Before the observation, all dogs were fitted a non-invasive Polar heart rate monitor. The standardized observation procedure took place in three phases: (1) the table phase, the dog stays on the examination table next to the owner for 5 min, (2) the separation phase, the dog is left alone in the consultation room for 5 min , and (3) the reunion phase, the owner returns to the consultation room and remains there with his/her dog for 5 min. During the entire observation procedure, dogs (and owners) were filmed by three separate cameras. Three saliva samples (home, after table phase, after separation phase) were collected from all dogs to measure salivary cortisol. Right before the observation, dog owners completed a short questionnaire about prevalence of SRB symptoms in their dogs. At home the owners completed a more comprehensive ‘Quality of life’ questionnaire. Dogs’ and owners’ behaviours were scored post-observation from videos. The owner’s body interactions and owner’s vocal interactions directed to the dog during the table phase are the focus of this study. The findings from this study were first compared to those from a previous study (I. Hoogendam, 2012), which used similar methodology, and then data from both studies were combined.
However, in the combined data set no significant differences in any owners’ behaviours between the SRB and non-SRB group were found. Significant positive correlations were found in all owners between the following owners’ behaviours: owner’s ‘vocal control’ and owner’s ‘talks to dog’, owner’s ‘vocal control’ and owner’s ‘non-verbal commands’, owner’s ‘comfort talk’ and owner’s ‘talks to dog’. ‘Total owner to dog body interaction’ behaviours and owner’s ‘comfort talk’, ‘total owner to dog body interaction’ behaviours and ‘total owner to dog vocal interactions’. In the SRB group, a significant negative correlation was found in the owners’ behaviours: owner’s ‘petting’ behaviours and owner’s ‘pushing dog’ behaviours. In the non-SRB group, a significant positive correlation was found in the owners’ behaviours: owner’s ‘touching’ behaviours and owner’s ‘comfort talk’. Significant correlations were found in the small questionnaire: the frequencies of ‘destroying behaviour’ by the dog when left alone and owner’s ‘petting’ behaviours. The frequencies of ‘attention seeking behaviour’ by the dog when other pets get attention was significantly positively correlated to ‘total owner to dog body interaction behaviours’ combined. | |
