Understanding and preventing fear and aggression in companion cats and dogs

了解并预防伴侣猫和狗的恐惧和攻击行为

• 批准号: RGPIN-2019-06012
• 负责人: Niel, Lee
• 金额: $ 2.91万
• 依托单位: University of Guelph
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=715898
• 关键词: Understanding; preventing; fear; aggression; companion

Fear-related issues are common in companion cats and dogs, and can directly impair the welfare of affected animals. Furthermore, fear often leads to aggression, which is a serious threat to human and animal safety, and can negatively impact the welfare of affected individuals due to neglect, relinquishment and euthanasia. The long-term goal of my research program is to determine which behavioural and physiological characteristics, and environmental factors, predispose cats and dogs to the development of fear and aggression, and to develop effective strategies for prevention and treatment. For the current proposal, I have four short-term objectives that follow from recent research progress and address both basic and applied questions. The first objective is to determine whether owner reports of fear in cats and dogs are accurate. Accurate identification of fear in animals is important when addressing prevention, diagnosis and treatment, but it is also critical for ensuring proper identification during research studies. We will conduct studies with cat and dog owners to examine whether they are able to see particular behavioural indicators of fear and aggression, and whether they can use these behaviours to rate the severity of fear or aggression that their animal is displaying. The second objective is to assess the effect of early puppy management on development of resource guarding and stranger-directed aggression in dogs. Puppies will be followed from birth to 2 years to assess whether early competition and training around the food bowl predict resource guarding, and whether early fear, poor socialization practices and use of aversive training methods predict development of stranger-directed aggression. The third objective is to identify and assess various risk factors for fear and aggression in adult cats, again with a focus on early development and management. Kittens that are in foster care through shelters will be followed through development to determine whether early management factors such as bottle rearing and separation from littermates, make them more likely to be fearful and aggressive as adults. Finally, the fourth objective is focused on assessing whether fear/stress in cats and dogs during handling and veterinary procedures can be improved through alterations in approach and animal training. Overall, this research will inform improved identification of fear in cats and dogs by owners for research, improved early management of puppies and kittens to prevent the development of fear and aggression, and improved handling cats and dogs during veterinary care and procedures.

与恐惧相关的问题在同伴猫和狗中很常见，并且可能直接损害受影响动物的福利。此外，恐惧通常会导致侵略，这是对人类和动物安全的严重威胁，并且可能由于忽视，放弃和安乐死而对受影响个人的福利产生负面影响。我的研究计划的长期目标是确定哪些行为和生理特征以及环境因素，倾向于猫和狗的恐惧和侵略的发展，并制定有效的预防和治疗策略。 对于当前的提案，我有四个短期目标，这些目标从最近的研究进度遵循，并解决了基本问题和应用问题。第一个目标是确定所有者报告猫和狗中恐惧的报告是否准确。 在解决预防，诊断和治疗时，准确识别动物的恐惧很重要，但对于确保在研究过程中确保正确识别也是至关重要的。我们将与猫和狗主人进行研究，以检查他们是否能够看到恐惧和侵略的特定行为指标，以及他们是否可以使用这些行为来评估其动物所表现出的恐惧或侵略的严重性。第二个目标是评估早期幼犬管理对狗的资源保护和陌生人指导的侵略的影响。从出生到2年，幼犬将评估食物碗围绕的早期竞争和训练是否可以预测资源的保护，以及早期的恐惧，社会化做法不佳以及厌恶训练方法是否预测了陌生人指导的侵略的发展。第三个目标是确定和评估成年猫的恐惧和侵略的各种风险因素，再次重点是早期发展和管理。通过开发将遵循寄养的小猫，以确定早期的管理因素（例如饲养瓶和与同窝窝分离）是否使它们更有可能像成年人一样恐惧和积极进取。最后，第四个目标的重点是评估在处理和兽药过程中猫和狗的恐惧/压力是否可以通过改变进近和动物训练来改善。总体而言，这项研究将为业主进行研究的改进识别猫和狗的恐惧，改善对幼犬和小猫的早期管理，以防止恐惧和侵略的发展，并在兽医护理和程序中改善了处理猫和狗的处理。