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Owned dogs are often regarded as family members, best friends, or even as substitutes for children. These new roles and their effects on human well-being have received scientific attention, but little is known about how attributing such social functions to dogs might influence the caring behaviour of the owner, which in turn can impact canine welfare. Our online survey of Hungarian dog owners (N = 790) aimed to describe what owners appreciate the most and the least in their dogs and to investigate the relationship between the social and non-social functions of the dog, the characteristics of the owner and the dog, the management practices of the owner, as well as the dog's behaviour, including behaviour problems. We found that most owners appreciated petting and physical contact with their dog (97.6%), followed by 'unconditional love' (93.7%), the dog's beauty (88.4%), and walking with the dog (86.5%). The most frequently mentioned problems were socialisation issues (20.4%) and lack of time (15.9%). Regarding canine behaviour, jumping up (33.2%), chasing animals (28.5%), territoriality (26.7%), and overexcitement (20.9%) were common problems. Almost a quarter of owners rated their dogs as totally obedient and 30.6% as totally safe off-leash. We identified three profiles of dog owners based on the roles they attribute to their dogs. Dogs with both companionship and practical functions (31.1%) were perceived as more obedient and provided higher safety benefits to their owners than others. Dogs regarded as 'companion animals' (19.4%) spent less time with their owners and had older owners than others. Lastly, owners labelled as 'dog parents' (49.5%) were more likely to keep their dog indoors only than others. Importantly, the roles attributed to dogs were not associated with owner-reported canine behaviour problems. We concluded that while the functions humans attribute to dogs are multiple and appear to have direct implications for the dogs' daily lives, these variations in management practices do not necessarily seem to compromise their welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Behavioral and physiological synchrony facilitate emotional closeness in attachment relationships. The aim of this pseudorandomized cross-over study was to investigate the emotional and physiological link, designated as co-modulation, between dogs and their owners. We measured the heart rate variability (HRV) and physical activity of dogs belonging to co-operative breeds (n = 29) and their owners during resting baselines and positive interaction tasks (Stroking, Training, Sniffing, Playing) and collected survey data on owner temperament and dog–owner relationship. Although overall HRV and activity correlated between dogs and their owners across tasks, task-specific analyses showed that HRV of dogs and owners correlated during free behaving (Pre- and Post-Baseline), whereas the activity of dogs and owners correlated during predefined interaction tasks (Stroking and Playing). Dog overall HRV was the only predictive factor for owner overall HRV, while dog height, ownership duration, owner negative affectivity, and dog–owner interaction scale predicted dog overall HRV. Thus, the characteristics of dog, owner, and the relationship modified the HRV responses in dog–owner dyads. The physiology and behavior of dogs belonging to co-operative breeds and their owners were therefore co-modulated, demonstrating physiological and emotional connection comparable to those found in attachment relationships between humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human population growth is associated with increased disturbance to wildlife. This effect is particularly acute in urban and periurban areas, where the area of effective disturbance extends beyond that of human presence by the roaming behaviour of pet dogs. Dogs are globally the dominant companion animal, with a population of ~ 12 million in the UK. As urban areas extend, dogs are exercised in green space close to housing. In southeast and southern England these areas include lowland heath, a habitat of high conservation value. To quantify disturbance caused by dog walkers and their dogs, we used GPS units to track the movement of people and their dogs across four lowland heath sites, used a questionnaire to ask about dog walking habits, and mapped potential areas of disturbance caused by dog walkers. Questionnaires were completed by 798 dog walkers and the walks of 162 owners and their 185 dogs were recorded. Mean (± SE) walk time was 56 ± 23 min, walk distance 3.75 ± 1.68 km and dogs were a median distance of 20 m from the owner during walks. Dogs were walked once (44%) or twice (56%) a day. Most (always: 85%; always or occasionally: 95%) dogs were walked off the lead even when signs were present requesting that dogs were kept on a lead. This resulted in up to a 21% increase in reserve area disturbed. In one reserve (Snelsmore Common), > 90% of the area was disturbed by dogs, greatly eroding its conservation value. This work highlights the importance of considering how dog ownership can exacerbate levels of disturbance in sensitive periurban habitats when housing developments are planned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dogs diagnosed with chronic enteropathy (CE) or small-cell lymphoma (SCL) exhibit marked differences in faecal microbiota and organic acid profiles compared with healthy dogs, as well as immune abnormalities in intestinal mucosal tissue. However, few studies have analysed trace organic acids, such as succinic acid, which have been suggested to be associated with IBD in humans. Therefore, in this study, we compared the faecal microbiota and organic acid profiles as well as serum inflammatory markers between dogs with disease (n = 11; 6 with CE and 5 with SCL) and healthy controls (n = 16). We also performed machine learning and correlation analysis to obtain more detailed insights into the characteristics of affected dogs. These results revealed that dogs with CE and SCL had lower levels of Erysipelotrichaceae (e.g. Turicibacter and Allobaculum), exhibited abnormalities in the succinic acid metabolism (i.e. succinic acid accumulation and decreased levels of Phascolarctobacterium as succinic acid-utilising bacteria) and increased levels of pathobiont bacteria such as Escherichia-Shigella. Additionally, the presence of Dubosiella was significantly negatively correlated with Canine Inflammatory Bowel Disease Activity Index scores. These findings are expected to aid the development of microbiome-based medications and/or supplements, although further verification is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is growing evidence that a relationship exists between mental and emotional wellbeing and the gut microbiota. Little is known regarding how the microbiota reacts to repeated acute stress events in dogs, and whether it is a predictor of stress response. In this study, we explored the impact on the gut microbiota and digestive health with two common events many pet dogs find stressful. Twenty healthy adult dogs, living within a colony, were exposed to either car travel or separation three times across eight-week intervals. Faecal samples were collected 24 h before, within 24 h, and 24–48 h after. Faecal quality and pH, and microbiota diversity and composition were analysed in context with wider published work on physiological stress measures. No significant changes were observed in faecal quality or pH with either stress event at any timepoint, indicating all pets remained in good digestive health. Microbiota analysis demonstrated no significant impact on alpha or beta diversity with either stressor. Microbial signatures previously linked to stress were not identified in these dogs and no changes were observed in the functional gut composition. Irrespective of whether the pet was considered "stressed" (i.e., exhibited an increase in serum cortisol), there was no effect on the microbiota and no taxa were predictive of stress response. Collectively, this work demonstrates, for this population, certain acute stress events have no meaningful impact on the canine gut microbiota, and it has no impact on the associated stress response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dogs can discriminate stressed from non-stressed human odour samples, but the effect on their cognition is unstudied. Using a cognitive bias task, we tested how human odours affect dogs' likelihood of approaching a food bowl placed at three ambiguous locations ("near-positive", "middle" and "near-negative") between trained "positive" (rewarded) and "negative" (unrewarded) locations. Using odour samples collected from three unfamiliar volunteers during stressful and relaxing activities, we tested eighteen dogs under three conditions: no odour, stress odour and relaxed odour, with the order of test odours counterbalanced across dogs. When exposed to stress odour during session three, dogs were significantly less likely to approach a bowl placed at one of the three ambiguous locations (near-negative) compared to no odour, indicating possible risk-reduction behaviours in response to the smell of human stress. Dogs' learning of trained positive and negative locations improved with repeated testing and was significant between sessions two and three only when exposed to stress odour during session three, suggesting odour influenced learning. This is the first study to show that without visual or auditory cues, olfactory cues of human stress may affect dogs' cognition and learning, which, if true, could have important consequences for dog welfare and working performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 'Bow-Wow Patrol (BWP)', established to avert local crime by encouraging dog walking, may help build social relationships among individuals through dog walking. However, details of its social influence remain unclear. Thus, this study aimed to elucidate the social roles of BWP in the urban areas of Japan. A total of 18 BWP organisation members from two Tokyo municipalities were recruited using snowball sampling between November 2021 and July 2022. In an interview, participants were asked about their perceptions of changes in their social relationships through the BWP. Qualitative content analysis was conducted after text mining using the KH Coder software. The mean age of the participants was 63.9 years, and 83.3% engaged in BWP 7 days a week. The content analysis revealed six social roles of the BWP: establishment of social networks with schools as the centre, establishment of loose networks inside and outside the BWP organization, enhancement of a sense of trust among neighbours, enhancement of a sense of trust in communities, norms of reciprocity among dog owners, and dog and owner characteristics. This study found that the BWP in urban Japan strengthens social cohesion and expands social networks among dog walkers, encouraging them to continue walking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dogs can negatively affect the wellbeing of people and nature, but if this changes along a socioeconomic gradient, then social inequity might be at fault. Here, we identify environmental injustice at the city scale by modeling differences in the density of urban dog populations according to varying levels of socioeconomic development across municipalities of Chile's capital, Santiago. Our analysis demonstrates a strong relation between dog density and social inequity, specifically because dog density increases along with poverty, but decreases in municipalities with higher municipal income. We offer specific proposals to ameliorate and reverse this inequity. These results expose another aspect of the impacts people and nature are subjected to by dogs, adding a new social lens to address the dog problem worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence of rabies in Thailand reached its peak in 2018 with 18 human deaths. Preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) vaccination is thus recommended for high-risk populations. WHO has recently recommended that patients who are exposed to a suspected rabid animal and have already been immunized against rabies should receive a 1-site intradermal (ID) injection of 0.1 mL on days 0 and 3 as postexposure prophylaxis (PEP). In Thailand, village health and livestock volunteers tasked with annual dog vaccination typically receive only a single lifetime PrEP dose and subsequent boosters solely upon confirmed animal bites. However, the adequacy of a single PrEP dose for priming and maintaining immunity in this high-risk group has not been evaluated. Therefore, our study was designed to address two key questions: (1) sufficiency of single-dose PrEP—to determine whether a single ID PrEP dose provides adequate long-term immune protection for high-risk individuals exposed to numerous dogs during their vaccination duties. (2) Booster efficacy for immune maturation—to investigate whether one or two additional ID booster doses effectively stimulate a mature and sustained antibody response in this population. The level and persistence of the rabies antibody were determined by comparing the immunogenicity and booster efficacy among the vaccination groups. Our study demonstrated that rabies antibodies persisted for more than 180 days after cost-effective ID PrEP or the 1st or the 2nd single ID booster dose, and adequate antibody levels were detected in more than 95% of participants by CEE-cELISA and 100% by indirect ELISA. Moreover, the avidity maturation of rabies-specific antibodies occurred after the 1st single ID booster dose. This smaller ID booster regimen was sufficient for producing a sufficient immune response and enhancing the maturation of anti-rabies antibodies. This safe and effective PrEP regimen and a single visit involving a one-dose ID booster are recommended, and at least one one-dose ID booster regimen could be equitably implemented in at-risk people in Thailand and other developing countries. However, an adequate antibody level should be monitored before the booster is administered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vesicovaginal fistula lacks a standard, established animal model, making surgical innovations for this condition challenging. Herein, we aimed to non-surgically establish vesicovaginal fistula using the magnetic compression technique, and the feasibility of this method was explored using eight female Beagle dogs as model animals. In these dogs, cylindrical daughter and parent magnets were implanted into the bladder and vagina, respectively, after anesthesia, and the positions of these magnets were adjusted under X-ray supervision to make them attract each other, thus forming the structure of daughter magnet-bladder wall-vaginal wall-parent magnet. Operation time and collateral damage were recorded. The experimental animals were euthanized 2 weeks postoperatively, and the vesicovaginal fistula gross specimens were obtained. The size of the fistula was measured. Vesicovaginal fistula was observed by naked eye and under a light microscope. Magnet placement was successful in all dogs, and remained in the established position for the reminder of the experiment. The average operation time was 14.38 min ± 1.66 min (range, 12–17 min). The dogs were generally in good condition postoperatively and were voiding normally, with no complications like bleeding and urine retention. The magnets were removed from the vagina after euthanasia. The vesicovaginal fistula was successfully established according to gross observation, and the fistula diameters were 4.50–6.24 mm. Histological observation revealed that the bladder mucosa and vaginal mucosa were in close contact on the internal surface of the fistula. Taken together, magnetic compression technique is a simple and feasible method to establish an animal model of vesicovaginal fistula using Beagle dogs. This model can help clinicians study new surgical techniques and practice innovative approaches for treating vesicovaginal fistula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatozoon species (phylum Apicomplexa: Adeleorina, Hepatozooidae) are the cause of canine hepatozoonosis, a vector-borne disease (VBD) spread by ticks (Ixodidae). The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of Hepatozoon canis (H. canis) infections in different pet dogs admitted to different clinics in Egypt as well as determine the effect of H. canis on dogs through analysis of the immunogenic genes and the oxidative stress markers. One hundred dogs with different clinical signs, fever, fatigue, tick infestation around the ears and neck region, were examined. Thin blood films were performed and stained with Giemsa. Thirty examined dogs (30%) were positive for H. canis by direct observation of the gamonts in circulating leucocytes on blood smears stained with Giemsa. Two hundred ticks were identified morphologically and all ticks were classified as R. sanguineus. Hematological and biochemical results of sampled dogs were recorded. The AST and ALT levels were higher than control-negative healthy dogs. MDA levels in H. canis infected dogs were higher than that of control negative dogs. The transcript levels of the different targeted genes (IL-1β; IL6; TNF-α and IFN-γ) were upregulated in infected dogs with H. canis significantly than control healthy dogs. Canine hepatozoonosis induced tissue reaction evaluated by different immunological genes and oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is a comprehensive retrospective study to characterize female dogs with canine mammary tumors (CMTs) using a dataset retrieved from the archives of the Division of Animal Pathology, Institute of Veterinary Medicine in Warsaw, and to identify prognostic factors. Clinical and histopathological data of 1447 dogs with CMTs were included. Malignant tumours were found in 83.3% (n = 1206), benign tumours in 11.7% (n = 169), and non-neoplastic lesions in 5.0% (n = 72) of dogs. Dogs most often had grade II carcinomas (38.2%, 215/562) of a single histological subtype (88.5%, 1281/1447), mostly simple carcinoma (35.3%, 510/1447). Dogs with a median age of 10 years significantly often had larger (≥ 3 cm) and malignant CMTs, whereas intact females had smaller tumours (median size 2.0 cm). However, the threshold value for the age of the dog in the differentiation of malignant and non-neoplastic/benign masses could not be determined. Most females were hormonally active (76.4%, 372/487). Hormonally active dogs significantly more often had multiple tumours. Multiple tumours were significantly smaller (median 2.5 cm) than single ones. Among pedigree dogs, small-breed dogs were mostly recorded (43%, 428/1006). Twelve breeds had an increased risk of CMTs, regardless of tumour behaviour, compared with the theoretical distribution of pedigree dogs in Poland. Four breeds were often affected only by malignant and other four breeds only by non-neoplastic/benign CMT. Large-breed dogs were significantly younger and affected by larger CMT (median 4 cm) compared with small- and medium-breed dogs. Ninety dogs with a malignant CMT and complete records were included in the full analysis of CMT-specific survival (CMT-SS) with a median follow-up time of 20.0 months. We showed that the timing of ovariohysterectomy in relation to mastectomy was significantly associated with grade, CMT-SS, and CMT-related death. We indicated the low diagnostic accuracy of palpation of regional lymph nodes (RLN) in the prediction of their metastatic involvement. By multivariable analysis, dogs with neoplastic emboli, tumour ulceration, and simple or complex carcinoma had a significantly higher risk of local recurrence. Tumour size > 3 cm was as a strong independent predictor of lung metastases. Compared with dogs with an easily separated localized tumour, dogs with a multiple/diffuse malignant CMT pattern had a fivefold higher risk of death. The risk of death was significantly higher in the presence of neoplastic emboli (~ fivefold) and tumour ulceration (~ fourfold). Furthermore, the presence of neoplastic emboli and large tumour size were independent predictors of CMT-related death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This cross-sectional study tested the direct and stress-buffering effects of co-sleeping with pets on human sleep characteristics in a nationally-representative sample of United States adults. Participants completed questionnaires assessing their sleep characteristics, including perceived sleep quality, perceived sleep efficiency, insomnia severity, and multidimensional sleep health. We evaluated whether co-sleeping with pets was associated with sleep characteristics and whether co-sleeping with pets moderated the association of stress and sleep characteristics. Exploratory analyses examined whether sleep characteristics were impacted by number of pets, pet type, and bondedness to pets. Our final sample of 1591 participants (Mage = 46.4 years, SD = 17.5; 56% female; 76% White) included 758 participants who reported co-sleeping with pets (47.6%). Co-sleeping with pets was associated with poorer sleep characteristics—specifically, poorer perceived sleep quality and greater insomnia severity. Although higher levels of stress were associated with poorer sleep, we did not observe evidence for a stress-buffering effect of co-sleeping with pets. Exploratory analyses indicated that the negative impact of co-sleeping with pets on human sleep was associated with dog ownership but not cat ownership, more pronounced when individuals own a greater number of pets, and not impacted by bondedness to pets. Our findings contribute to emerging evidence for the impact of co-sleeping with pets on human sleep. Study was pre-registered at: https://aspredicted.org/3VN_WF6. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shelters are stressful environments for domestic dogs which are known to negatively impact their welfare. The introduction of outside stimuli for dogs in this environment can improve their welfare and life conditions. However, our current understanding of the influence of different stimuli on shelter dogs' welfare is limited and the data is still insufficient to draw conclusions. In this study, we collected 28 days (four weeks) of telemetry data from eight male dogs housed in an Italian shelter for a long period of time. During this period, three types of enrichment were introduced into the dogs' pens for one week each: entertaining objects, intraspecific, and interspecific social enrichment, by means of the presence of female conspecifics and the presence of a human. To quantify their impact, we introduce novel metrics as indicators of sheltered dogs' welfare based on telemetry data: the variation of heart rate, muscle activity, and body temperature from an average baseline day, quality of sleep, and the regularity for cyclicity of the aforementioned parameters, based on the day-night cycle. Using these metrics, we show that while all three stimuli statistically improve the dogs' welfare, the variance between individual dogs is large. Moreover, our findings indicate that the presence of female conspecific is the best stimulus among the three explored options which improves both the quality of sleep and the parameters' cyclicity. Our results are consistent with previous research findings while providing novel data-driven welfare indicators that promote objectivity. Thus, this research provides some useful guidelines for managing shelters and improving dogs' welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canine distemper virus (CDV) is a major global pathogen of dogs affecting multiple organ systems of the body and causing the characteristic malady with prominent neurological manifestation. Natural CDV infections with typical clinical symptoms in domestic cats are not yet reported in Kerala, India, even though a few reports on the occurrence of fatal canine distemper in large felids exist. The present study reports a documented preliminary report of the natural canine distemper virus infection in a domestic cat from Kerala, India, with typical neurological manifestations. An unvaccinated adult female domestic cat was presented to the University Veterinary Hospital with the acute onset of neurological signs, viz. typical continuous myoclonus like in a CDV-infected dog and tonic-clonic seizures in between the short intervals of time. The rapid immunochromatography revealed the presence of canine distemper viral antigens on ocular, nasal and faecal samples, and the hemogram revealed thrombocytopenia and severe leukocytosis with granulocytosis, lymphocytosis and monocytosis. The animal responded well to the symptomatic therapy for viral encephalitis and recovered within 24 h to apparent normalcy, except for the myoclonus. The recurrence of acute encephalitic symptoms was reported after 45 days, and the animal died due to uncontrolled seizures by day 90, as the owner was unwilling to provide further veterinary aid for the animal. This case indicates the need for screening the cats with neurological signs for CD and further molecular characterisation of the strains involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Body-awareness is one of the fundamental modules of self-representation. We investigated how body-awareness could contribute to dogs' decision making in a novel spatial problem where multiple solutions are possible. Family dogs (N = 68) had to obtain a treat from behind a transparent fence. They had two options: either detour around the fence (7 m), or take a shortcut through a doorway (2 m). We had three conditions: small door open, large door open, and doors closed. Our results indicated that dogs assess the size of the doorway, and if they find it too small, they decide to detour instead, while in the case of the open large door, they rather opted for the shortcut without hesitation. Shorter headed dogs tended to choose open doors more often, while longer headed dogs rather chose detours, probably because of their better peripheral vision. While body size awareness did not manifest differently in dogs with short or long heads, we showed for the first time a connection between head shape and physical cognition in dogs. We showed that dogs rely on their body-awareness in a naturalistic setting where multiple solutions exist simultaneously. Dogs make decisions without lengthy trial-and-error learning and choose between options based on their body-awareness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pet ownership has been associated with reduced deterioration in physical health as older adults age; little research focused on deterioration in cognitive function. We examine the relationship of pet, dog, cat ownership, and dog walking to changes in cognitive function among 637 generally healthy community-dwelling older adults (185 pet owners) aged 50–100 years (M = 68.3, SD = 9.6) within the BLSA. Cognitive assessments every 1–4 years over 1–13 years (M = 7.5, SD = 3.6) include the California Verbal Learning (Immediate, Short, Long Recall); Benton Visual Retention; Trail-Making (Trails A, B, B-A); Digit Span; Boston Naming (Naming); and Digit Symbol Substitution (Digit Symbol) Tests. In linear mixed models, deterioration in cognitive function with age was slower for pet owners than non-owners (Immediate, Short, Long Recall; Trails A,B,B-A; Naming; Digit Symbol); dog owners than non-owners (Immediate, Short Recall; Trails A,B; Naming; Digit Symbol); and cat owners than non-owners (Immediate, Short, Long Recall; Naming), controlling for age and comorbidities. Among dog owners (N = 73) walkers experienced slower deterioration than non-walkers (Trails B, B-A; Short Recall). All ps ≤ 0.05. We provide important longitudinal evidence that pet ownership and dog walking contribute to maintaining cognitive function with aging and the need to support pet ownership and dog walking in design of senior communities and services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dystrophic muscle is characterized by necrosis/regeneration cycles, inflammation, and fibro-adipogenic development. Conventional histological stainings provide essential topographical data of this remodeling but may be limited to discriminate closely related pathophysiological contexts. They fail to mention microarchitecture changes linked to the nature and spatial distribution of tissue compartment components. We investigated whether label-free tissue autofluorescence revealed by Synchrotron deep ultraviolet (DUV) radiation could serve as an additional tool for monitoring dystrophic muscle remodeling. Using widefield microscopy with specific emission fluorescence filters and microspectroscopy defined by high spectral resolution, we analyzed samples from healthy dogs and two groups of dystrophic dogs: naïve (severely affected) and MuStem cell-transplanted (clinically stabilized) animals. Multivariate statistical analysis and machine learning approaches demonstrated that autofluorescence emitted at 420–480 nm by the Biceps femoris muscle effectively discriminates between healthy, dystrophic, and transplanted dog samples. Microspectroscopy showed that dystrophic dog muscle displays higher and lower autofluorescence due to collagen cross-linking and NADH respectively than that of healthy and transplanted dogs, defining biomarkers to evaluate the impact of cell transplantation. Our findings demonstrate that DUV radiation is a sensitive, label-free method to assess the histopathological status of dystrophic muscle using small amounts of tissue, with potential applications in regenerative medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comparative studies of human–dog cognition have grown exponentially since the 2000's, but the focus on how dogs look at us (as well as other dogs) as social partners is a more recent phenomenon despite its importance to human–dog interactions. Here, we briefly summarise the current state of research in visual perception of emotion cues in dogs and why this area is important; we then critically review its most commonly used methods, by discussing conceptual and methodological challenges and associated limitations in depth; finally, we suggest some possible solutions and recommend best practice for future research. Typically, most studies in this field have concentrated on facial emotional cues, with full body information rarely considered. There are many challenges in the way studies are conceptually designed (e.g., use of non-naturalistic stimuli) and the way researchers incorporate biases (e.g., anthropomorphism) into experimental designs, which may lead to problematic conclusions. However, technological and scientific advances offer the opportunity to gather much more valid, objective, and systematic data in this rapidly expanding field of study. Solving conceptual and methodological challenges in the field of emotion perception research in dogs will not only be beneficial in improving research in dog–human interactions, but also within the comparative psychology area, in which dogs are an important model species to study evolutionary processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have demonstrated that dogs synchronize their locomotor behaviour with that of their owners. The present study aims to improve our understanding of the sensorimotor processes underlying interspecific behavioural synchronization by testing the influence of the number of humans on dogs' behavioural synchronization. We used Global Positioning System (GPS) devices in an outdoor environment to measure dogs' behavioural synchronization to humans during a locomotor activity involving three speeds (static, slow walking and fast walking). For half of the dogs, only their owner was walking, while for the other half, the owner walked with two familiar people. We also tested the effect of dog breeds by involving 30 shepherd dogs and 30 molossoids. Our results showed that dogs exhibited the same level of behavioural synchronization with their owner if alone or if surrounded by two familiar people. Though the presence of a group of humans did not strengthen the dogs' locomotor synchronization, it did produce another effect: dogs gazed at their owners more frequently in the presence of a group compared to their owner alone. This result suggests the same level of locomotor social entrainment but a difference in social referencing depending on the number of humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report an observational, double-blind study that examined puppies' behaviors while engaged in solving an experimental food retrieval task (food retrieval task instrument: FRTI). The experimental setting included passive social distractors (i.e., the dog's owner and a stranger). The focus was on how the social and physical environment shapes puppies' behaviors according to sex. The dependent variables were the number of tasks solved on an apparatus (Performance Index) and the time required to solve the first task (Speed). Sex and Stress were set as explanatory factors, and Social Interest, FRTI interactions, other behavior, and age as covariates. The main findings were that male puppies solved the first task faster than females. On the other hand, females displayed significantly more social interest and did so more rapidly than males. Males showed delayed task resolution. This study demonstrates sex differences in a problem-solving task in dog puppies for the first time, thus highlighting that sexually dimorphic behavioral differences in problem-solving strategies develop early on during ontogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, virtual reality (VR) technology has been mainstreamed for at-home use, with various consumer-oriented devices released by media firms such as Meta, Google, Samsung, and HTC. The present research investigates the role of psychological traits—including immersive tendencies, absorption, sensation seeking, need for cognition, neophobia, and belief in science—as well as trait levels of individual innovativeness, self-perception of social well-being, and owner demographics, in predicting VR adoption rates and sustained use over time. Separate analyses were conducted for different classes of VR device (fixed, mobile, and standalone devices). In general, psychological factors generally emerged as more determinative of adoption than did demographics. Users' immersive tendencies predicted earlier adoption of VR technology while absorption was associated with later adoption, with both predictive of higher overall initial usage of different types of devices. Additionally, perceiving oneself as socially successful was associated with higher initial VR usage, while a tendency to see one's emotions as influenced by in-person rather than online contacts was negatively associated with usage. Finally, belief in science predicted greater consistency in usage over time while higher levels of absorption were associated with unstable usage patterns. These findings expand upon the limited work previously investigating the role of individual differences in adoption of VR and mark the promise of psychometrics for understanding the diffusion and continued usage of consumer-facing VR devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Medical Cyber-Physical Systems (MCPS) are composed of several medical devices and low-cost sensors for real-time diagnosis, monitoring, and decision-making. Often, the MCPS sensitive data are processed by a trusted third party. Thus, the movement of MCPS sensitive data from the data owner to the third party becomes vulnerable to many malicious activities. Also, insider attacks can be easily performed, leaking the patient's confidential data. To overcome such security issues, the MCPS needed an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) to identify malicious activities and monitor network traffic in real-time. This paper proposes an IDS based on the behavioural trust of the Smart Medical Device (SMD) like the Medical Smart Phone (MSP). The trust value of the SMD/MSP can be evaluated using different behavioural parameters with the beta reputation model. A set of decision rules based on the dynamically computed trust degree has been proposed to check the node's intrusive level and alert generation process. The performance of the proposed model shows 93.9% accuracy. The time and space complexity (time complexity = O (n 3) and space complexity = O (1) ) and CPU overhead of the proposed model is also computed. These results show the improved performance of the proposed model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid antigen diagnostic (RAD) tests have been developed for the identification of the SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, they require nasopharyngeal or nasal swab, which is invasive, uncomfortable, and aerosolising. The use of saliva test was also proposed but has not yet been validated. Trained dogs may efficiently smell the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in biological samples of infected people, but further validation is needed both in laboratory and in field. The present study aimed to (1) assess and validate the stability over a specific time period of COVID-19 detection in humans' armpit sweat by trained dogs thanks to a double-blind laboratory test–retest design, and (2) assess this ability when sniffing people directly. Dogs were not trained to discriminate against other infections. For all dogs (n. 3), the laboratory test on 360 samples yielded 93% sensitivity and 99% specificity, an 88% agreement with the Rt-PCR, and a moderate to strong test–retest correlation. When sniffing people directly (n. 97), dogs' (n. 5) overall sensitivity (89%) and specificity (95%) were significantly above chance level. An almost perfect agreement with RAD results was found (kappa 0.83, SE 0.05, p = 0.001). Therefore, sniffer dogs met appropriate criteria (e.g., repeatability) and WHO's target product profiles for COVID-19 diagnostics and produced very promising results in laboratory and field settings, respectively. These findings support the idea that biodetection dogs could help reduce the spread of the virus in high-risk environments, including airports, schools, and public transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contamination of public parks by dogs is a potential source of conflict among park users, causing "tragedy of the commons" problems. Besides the social conflict, feces can pose serious health risks to both dogs and humans. In this study we analyzed the extent and patterns of the distribution of dog feces in the urban parks of the City of Calgary. We collected dog feces from randomly selected locations in the urban parks. The average density of dog feces by the different dog leash policies of the parks and the distribution pattern of the fecal density within the parks were assessed, and the total contamination of the public parks for the entire city was estimated. We found off-leash parks to be significantly more contaminated than other types of parks. We estimated 127.23 g/ha of dog feces are left unpicked in city parks in total every week. Dog feces were found more often and in greater amount in off-leash parks, and near park entrances and parking lots, than in on-leash parks and away from the park entrances. These results suggest that public park visitors, especially those visiting off-leash parks, are likely to be exposed to large amounts of dog feces. Designation of parks as on-leash and educating dog-owners may be an effective approach for reducing the fecal contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co-infections with Dirofilaria repens and Babesia canis are rarely reported in the literature and there is very limited knowledge of their impact on canine health. Central Poland is endemic for both parasites, posing a risk of co-infections in dogs. To evaluate the impact of co-infection with B. canis and D. repens on canine health, four groups of dogs were examined: healthy dogs, dogs infected with B. canis, dogs infected with D. repens and dogs co-infected with both species. Blood parameters indicative of anaemia, kidney and liver damage were analysed statistically. Additionally, expression levels of immune response genes were quantified and compared, to define the type of immune response typically encountered in single- and co-infections. In dogs infected with D. repens, no major alterations in blood parameters were observed. Dogs infected with B. canis suffered from anaemia, kidney and liver insufficiency. In contrast, dogs co-infected with D. repens and B. canis showed milder alternation in blood biochemical parameters associated with liver (ALP activity) and kidney (serum urea and creatinine levels) dysfunction, compared to dogs infected only with B. canis. The expression of genes associated with cellular (Th1-mediated) (STAT4 and INF-γ), humoral (Th2-mediated) (STAT6, GATA3, SOCS3, IL-13) and regulatory (IL-10) responses was quantified. For this analysis, dogs infected with B. canis were divided into two groups—'Babesia 1' (mild babesiosis), 'Babesia 2' (severe babesiosis). All the tested factors, except INF-γ, were found to be expressed in dogs infected with D. repens. In 'Babesia 1' dogs, expression of GATA3 was highest, while in 'Babesia 2'—INF-γ and SOCS3 dominated. IL-13 expression was predominant in dogs infected with D. repens, and STAT6 and IL-10 predominated in dogs with co-infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mammary gland tumors are the most common malignant diseases which seriously threaten the health of women and female dogs. There is a lack of an effective tumor marker which can effectively assist in the early diagnosis, and prognosis of mammary gland tumors in veterinary clinical medicine. IL-6, and IL-8 as immunosuppressive factors may stimulate tumor cells growth, contribute to loco-regional relapse and metastasis that might be utilized as a marker for immunity status and monitoring of the course of tumor. The present study aimed to investigate the expression of serum/tissue IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 in canine mammary gland tumors using Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA), Western blot and Immunohistochemistry assay(IHC) to determine whether it is associated with tumor progression. The results showed that levels of IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 in serum were higher in malignant tumor group than that in benign tumor and control group; the expression levels of IL-6 and IL-8 were significantly elevated in grade III than in grade I and II and was related to metastasis. Likewise, IL-6 and IL-8 were also highly expressed in malignant tumor tissues. Elevated expression of IL-6 was associated with histopathological grade and metastases in malignant tumors. Moreover, high expression of IL-6 occurred in the Basal-like subtypes whereas high expression of IL-8 occurred in the Luminal B subtypes. The results of this study indicated that changes of IL-6 and IL-8 in the tumor microenvironments were closely related to the diseases status and may be used as a potential diagnostic or biomarker in canine mammary gland tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subjective sleep disturbances are reported by humans with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, no consistent objective findings related to sleep disturbances led to the removal of sleep problems from ADHD diagnostic criteria. Dogs have been used as a model for human ADHD with questionnaires validated for this purpose. Also, their sleep physiology can be measured by non-invasive methods similarly to humans. In the current study, we recorded spontaneous sleep EEG in family dogs during a laboratory session. We analyzed the association of sleep macrostructure and deep sleep (NREM) slow-wave activity (SWA) with a validated owner-rated ADHD questionnaire, assessing inattention (IA), hyperactivity/impulsivity (H/I) and total (T) scores. Higher H/I and T were associated with lower sleep efficiency and longer time awake after initial drowsiness and NREM. IA showed no associations with sleep variables. Further, no association was found between ADHD scores and SWA. Our results are in line with human studies in which poor sleep quality reported by ADHD subjects is associated with some objective EEG macrostructural parameters. This suggests that natural variation in dogs' H/I is useful to gain a deeper insight of ADHD neural mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development and use of cost-effective and appropriate survey methods to assess species distribution and to monitor range expansion and contraction of wild populations is crucial due to the limited financial resources for conservation. Of particular importance, yet little studied, is the ability to collect information before a wild population is well established, i.e. at the early stages of recolonisation. During 2018 and 2019, we used camera traps, audio recorders, and scat detection dogs simultaneously to investigate composition, detection probability, and territorial extent of a pack of wolves in the Swiss Alps. We compared the efficacy of these survey methods by assessing sampling effort, data obtained, and costs. We show that, under the presented setup, camera traps and scat detection dogs substantially outperformed audio recorders in detecting wolves, representing the packs' territorial extent, and revealing the number of adult wolves. The detection dogs did not detect pups but, unlike the other methods, allowed the identification of single individuals. The use of four camera traps during 13 weeks, a 24-km-long transect walked with the detection dog, or the use of one audio recorder during 148 weeks were necessary to obtain a comparable wolf detection probability. Our results show that no single method was able to return all information that we hoped to collect. Comprehensive and cost-effective information was best obtained by combining data from camera traps and detection dogs. We suggest both methods to be simultaneously used to successfully investigate wolf recolonisation into historical range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measuring the similarity of two polygonal curves is a fundamental computational task. Among alternatives, the Fréchet distance is one of the most well-studied similarity measures. Informally, the Fréchet distance is described as the minimum leash length required for a man on one of the curves to walk a dog on the other curve continuously from the starting to the ending points. In this paper we study a variant called the Fréchet gap distance. In the man and dog analogy, the Fréchet gap distance minimizes the difference of the longest and smallest leash lengths used over the entire walk. This measure in some ways better captures our intuitive notions of curve similarity, for example giving distance zero to translated copies of the same curve. The Fréchet gap distance was originally introduced by Filtser and Katz [19] in the context of the discrete Fréchet distance. Here we study the continuous version, which presents a number of additional challenges not present in discrete case. In particular, the continuous nature makes bounding and searching over the critical events a rather difficult task. For this problem we give an O (n 5 log n) time exact algorithm and a more efficient O (n 2 log n + (n 2 / ε) log (1 / ε)) time (1 + ε) -approximation algorithm, where n is the total number of vertices of the input curves. Note that, ignoring logarithmic factors, for any constant ε our approximation has quadratic running time, matching the lower bound, assuming SETH [Bringmann, K.: Why walking the dog takes time: Fréchet distance has no strongly subquadratic algorithms unless SETH fails (2014)], for approximating the standard Fréchet distance for general curves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preliminary findings suggest that pets may impact the owner's sleep. By using data from the Swedish CArdioPulmonary bIoimage Study (SCAPIS) cohort, we aimed to investigate the association of pet ownership with the following self-reported sleep outcomes in 3788 to 4574 participants: (i) achieving the recommended daily sleep duration for adults (i.e., at least 7 h per day); (ii) sleep quality as measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (a score of > 5 indicating poor sleep quality); and (iii) difficulty falling or staying asleep. Sleep metrics were not associated with pet ownership, dog ownership, and dog walking when controlling the logistic regression for possible confounders (e.g., shift work, lack of social interaction, and chronic stress). In contrast, cat ownership was associated with a higher odds ratio of failing to achieve the recommended duration of 7 h of sleep per day (adjusted odds ratio [95% CI]:1.18 [1.02, 1.37] versus non-cat owners). Our findings suggest that certain pet groups might have a more significant impact on the owner's sleep than others. As the observed association between cat ownership and short sleep duration might be a chance finding, this observation should be seen as hypothesis-generating only. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humans and dogs have co-evolved for over 10,000 years. Recent research suggests that, through the domestication process, dogs have become proficient at responding to human commands, attention and emotional states. However, the extent to which a companion dog responds to human emotions, such as stress, remains to be understood. This study examines whether a companion dog's stress, as measured by cortisol levels and heart rate, increases during a familiar outdoor walk in response to its owner's experience of stress. Sixty-eight owner/dog dyads participated in this study. The dyads were randomly assigned to an Experimental or Control group. Owners in the Experimental group were informed the walk would be digitally recorded for subsequent evaluation of their handling skills, whereas those in the Control group were informed the walk would be digitally recorded for archival purposes (no evaluation). This manipulation was implemented to induce a mild stress response in the owners. Salivary cortisol samples were collected from the owner and their dog before and after the walk. The dyad was also fitted with monitoring devices to record heart rate throughout the walk. Finally, personality information regarding the owner and their dog was collected. We found that cortisol production within the dyad showed a marginal inverse correlation. We also found that owners' Openness to Experience and dogs' Fearfulness influenced the heart rate of the other during the first minute of a walk. These results support that although stress may be detected within a dyad, this does not result in an associated significant change in cortisol or heart rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite being highly modified environments, cities are important reservoirs of biodiversity. The ecological reserve situated within southern Mexico City houses several species of mammals, including the ringtail Bassariscus astutus. However, the urban areas surrounding the reserve are subject to various types of uses that could affect the presence of wild species inside and out of the reserve areas. Here, I tested the hypothesis that recreational activities, especially the walking of domestic dogs, can cause the ringtails, smaller sized carnivores, to avoid certain areas. To achieve this, I carried out a survey throughout the reserve and urban landscape, and registered the presence of domestic dogs and ringtails by direct observation or via the detection of feces and latrines during two sampling seasons. I used single species occupancy models to determine the environmental covariates associated with the presence of these carnivores within the reserve and the urban areas around it. In addition, I used two-species occupancy models to estimate the species interaction factor between these species to assess if the presence of domestic dogs has a negative effect over the presence of ringtails. My results reveal that shrub cover in the area affects the occurrence of these species, and that there is no clear evidence that domestic dogs negatively affect the occupancy of ringtails during the studied seasons. These results highlight the capacity of the ringtails to adapt to rapid urbanization, but do not guarantee that recreational activities, especially those involving dogs, have no negative effects on the local distribution of other smaller mammals within this urban reserve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Affiliation between interacting partners is associated with a high level of behavioural synchronization in many species. Pet dogs are known to share strong affiliative bonds with their owners and to synchronize their behaviour with them when moving freely indoors. Surprisingly, outdoor dog–human interspecific synchronization has seldom been investigated. We therefore explored whether, when allowed to move freely in a familiar outdoor space, dogs synchronize their behaviour with their owners’ movements. We found that dogs visibly synchronized both their location (staying in close proximity) and their activity (moving when their owner moved, and at the same pace, and standing still when their owner stood still) with those of their owners. By demonstrating that owners act as attractors for their dogs in an outdoor space, the present study contributes new data to the understanding of interspecific behavioural synchronization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the window of her other bedroom, three states west, my daughter watches over a nest, wedged in a rain gutter. After all, those nights we'd stroll together, the western sky streaked pink and gold, we never saw a single bird, but she sent her call up into the trees. The nest is made mostly of twigs, she said, but I the grownups wove in a golden thread i . [Extracted from the article]

Background: Imidacloprid is an active ingredient included in plant protection, biocidal and veterinary medicinal products (VMPs). VMPs containing Imidacloprid are formulated as spot-on products or collars and designed to protect pets, predominantly dogs and cats, from parasite infestation. Monitoring data collected under the Water Framework Directive between 2016 and 2018 showed detectable and varying levels of Imidacloprid in the UK surface water bodies. The aim of the work was to investigate the potential contribution of VMPs by developing a model for predicting the emissions from sewage treatment plants from the use of dog and cat spot-on and collar VMPs. Due to the absence of appropriate exposure models for VMPs, the model was built based on the principles of environmental exposure assessment for biocidal products. Results: Three emission paths were considered to be the most likely routes for repeated emissions to waterways from the use of spot-on and collar VMPs, i.e., transfer to pet bedding followed by washing, washing/bathing of dogs, and walking dogs in the rain. The developed model was used to calculate the Imidacloprid concentrations in surface water after discharge from wastewater treatment plants. Realistic worst-case input parameters were deduced from sales and survey data and experimental studies. Modelled total concentrations in surface water for each pathway ranged from 0.84 to 4.8 ng/L. The calculated concentrations did not exceed the ecological thresholds for the most sensitive aquatic invertebrate organisms and were found to be much lower than the UK monitoring data for river water. For example, the calculated concentration from the bathing/washing of dogs was < 3% of the highest levels of Imidacloprid measured in surface waters. Conclusion: In conclusion, a model has been successfully built and applied. The modelled data indicate that these VMPs make only a very small contribution to the levels of Imidacloprid observed in the UK water monitoring programme. Further, calculated concentrations do not exceed ecotoxicological threshold values indicating acceptable chronic safety to aquatic organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]