Search

The relative telomere length, a biomarker of cellular aging, can be influenced by the cumulative effects of positive and negative events experienced by an individual. For this reason, it has been used to assess the welfare of nonhuman species. Ensuring an animal's well-being also involves choosing methodologies that will cause either none or minimal disturbance to the subject; however, no studies using noninvasive sampling for measuring relative telomere length in nonhuman species were found. The present study is the first to investigate alternatives of noninvasive sampling for obtaining dogs’ DNA samples for measuring telomeres. Results showed that different tissue samples from the same individual yield comparable telomere length measurements, validating the use of buccal swabs over dried blood spot from dogs. The development of a noninvasive methodology is paramount for the animal welfare evaluation of captive and wild animals without affecting the subject, while at the same time, allowing a frequent data collection and a continuous monitoring of the well-being state.

Football matches, as a common urban activity, produce high levels of noise because of vehicular traffic, screams, whistles, and firework displays. Fear of noise is one of the most commonly reported behavior problems in dogs (Canis familiaris); however, few studies have focused on the effects of repeated exposition to noise in these animals. Here, we investigated whether the noise produced during football matches may act as a stress source for dogs living near football stadiums. We measured noise levels on days with and without matches, in the surrounding neighborhoods of two football stadiums of Minas Gerais, Brazil: (a) Arena Independencia (AI) and (b) Governador Magalhaes Pinto (GMP). Noise measurements were carried out by using a sound level meter, in distances varying between 0 and 400 m from the stadiums. A structured interview was conducted to dog owners living nearby AI, about the dogs' characteristics, demographics, and behavior. Noise records of days with and without matches were compared, and questionnaires were analyzed (general linear models) to identify possible correlations between the reported changes in the animals’ behaviors on days with football matches and the distance these animals lived from the stadium. Higher noise levels were recorded on football match days than on days without matches, with a greater effect of these between 0 and 249 m (D1) than between 250 and 400 from AI. Around Governador Magalhaes Pinto, we recorded greater noise levels on days without football matches compared with match days, with no difference between distances. Fear/anxiety behaviors were reported as more intense on days with football matches, in comparison with days without matches for 90.6% of the study dogs. The occurrence of matches made specific fear-related behaviors of the dogs—severe trembling, excessive salivation, agitation/restlessness, whining, and appetite loss—more frequent. The proximity of AI intensified the exhibition of general fear/anxiety behaviors and made intense trembling and excessive salivation more frequent at D1, in relation to D2. On the other hand, dogs living at D2 barked, howled, and lost appetite more often than those living at D1. Our results suggested a detrimental influence of noise from football matches on the behavior of dogs living around football stadiums. These data are relevant for public policy-making to promote preventive and mitigating measures, to improve the quality of life of both the dog and the human populations in the surroundings of football stadiums.

The English version of the Positive and Negative Activation Scale (PANAS) is a useful tool for the assessment of dog temperament, helping to identify highly sensitive individuals that could be at risk of developing fears, phobias and anxiety problems, and potentially depressive states. This study evaluated the association between dogs’ and owners’ characteristics and dog temperament in Brazil. To accomplish this, we adapted and validated a Portuguese language version of PANAS for dogs. Data from 1744 owner-dog dyads were analysed and a two-factor structure similar to the original PANAS was revealed that met the requirements for validity and internal consistency. We found that dogs owned by women, neutered dogs and those who live in single-dog households show higher negative activation. Moreover, the older the owner, the less the negative activation for dogs that are bought. We also found that the older the dog, the less the positive activation, but this score is higher in dogs that sleep inside the house. Interestingly, mixed-breed dogs scored higher for both negative and positive emotional activation compared to purebreds. These findings alongside the particular profile of dogs in Brazil, including its large population of mixed-breed, emphasise the value of cross-cultural investigations in order to develop a full understanding of dog behaviour.

Simple Summary The life history of animals is an important aspect to be considered when behavior, welfare, or cognition is investigated. Here, we aimed to study the behavioral responses of dogs with different origins—shelter and companion dogs—when learning two basic vocal cues (“sit” and “paw”), as well as possible associations between dogs’ responses and the behaviors of the trainers. Shelter dogs responded to more cues per session, were faster in their responses, and needed fewer repetitions of cues to respond than companion dogs. Moreover, shelter dogs spent more time wagging their tails during the sessions. Some behaviors of the trainers were associated with dogs’ behaviors—the use of a reproachful tone of voice, although associated with dog performance, was also linked to the exhibition of behaviors indicative of discomfort on the part of dogs. On the other hand, the use of a neutral tone of voice and laughter, in addition to being connected to performance, was also associated with behaviors indicative of excitement. These results suggest that shelter dogs’ capacities for learning vocal cues are not affected by the shelter environment. Furthermore, shelter dogs showed greater interest in the sessions than companion dogs, possibly due to the social deprivation in their routine. Our outcomes also point to a connection between friendly interactions during training and the dogs’ performance, and possibly their emotional state. The quality of the interactions seems to affect dogs’ performance and welfare more strongly than their origins. Abstract The inclusion of life history as a possible influential factor is pivotal in studies on behavior, welfare, and cognition. Shelter dogs have usually experienced a life involving poor social interactions with humans. Thus, we aimed to investigate the behavioral responses of shelter dogs (SDs) and companion dogs (CDs) during the training of two vocal cues (“sit”, “paw”), as well as the possible associations between their responses and the behaviors of trainers. We studied 15 SDs and 15 CDs in up to eight five-minute training sessions. Dogs’ and trainers’ behaviors were recorded and analyzed (through GLM, GLMM, correlation and Mann–Whitney tests). Shelter dogs responded to more cues per session, with shorter latencies and fewer repetitions of cues. Moreover, SDs spent more time wagging their tails. Dogs’ sex and trainers’ behaviors were also associated with differences in dogs’ responses. The use of a reproachful tone of voice was associated with a greater number of cues responded to, shorter latencies, and fewer repetitions of cues. However, this type voice/discourse was also linked to a greater exhibition of non-training behaviors (e.g., exploring the room or jumping on the trainer), and to dogs spending less time next to the trainer and wagging their tails. On the other hand, the use of a neutral tone of voice and laughter, besides being linked to performance, was also associated with longer durations of tail wagging. Furthermore, the duration of the trainers’ orientation to dogs was correlated with the orientation of the dogs to the trainers. Our data suggest that, even when having experienced social deprivation from humans, SDs’ capacities to learn vocal cues were preserved, possibly due to ontogenic homeostasis processes. Shelter dogs’ greater interest in the sessions may be also credited to their socially-deprived routine. Our outcomes also point to an association between friendly interactions during training and dog performance and excitement, which suggests that such interactions may have the potential to improve SD welfare.

The evolution of defensive coloration is dependent upon a complex combination of variables related to the prey itself, the environmental context, and predator vision/behavior. Some animals reflect ultraviolet (UV) light, which is visible to predators such as birds. Here, we report the first case of UV reflectance by a tadpole (Ololygon machadoi, Hylidae) and we investigate whether it influences tadpole detection/predation by a bird (Saltator similis, Passeriformes) on backgrounds of three different colors (two blending – yellow and dark – and one not blending – blue – to tadpole colors). We also tested whether a previous experience of the birds with the prey species would influence the search/attack effort. Although many predation attempts were recorded, birds did not consume many tadpoles. Birds attempted to/preyed upon more tadpoles on dark backgrounds in the presence rather than the absence of the UV portion of the spectrum; attempt/predation on the other backgrounds (yellow, blue) did not change between the UV conditions. The differential contrast of dark and yellow tadpole body parts against specific backgrounds may aid to disruptive properties. The interruption of tadpole body contour was probably enough to prevent detection on yellow and blue backgrounds based on low achromatic contrasts of yellow and dark body parts against such backgrounds, respectively. On dark backgrounds, however, an increase in the chromatic contrast of yellow bars caused by UV reflectance may have reached a threshold and increased tadpole detectability. Birds spent more time searching for tadpoles and visited more frequently the trays in the first than in the second trial, and several tadpoles were regurgitated after ingestion, suggesting that the existence of a potential aposematic role of the UV reflectance cannot be disregarded. Birds also spent more time inspecting blue backgrounds, which may relate to their unfamiliarity with such backgrounds. UV reflectance in O. machadoi tadpoles unveals a potential adaptative value of this feature for the larval stage, and our results indicate influence on tadpole detection by birds. The effects of such adaptation in natural habitats and its occurrence in other species deserve further studies. Defensive colorations that hamper prey detection can play an important role on prey survival, which depends on background matching ability, prey and predator behavior, and predator visual system. Tadpoles are preyed upon by a variety of visually oriented predators and background matching is likely to aid survivorship through decreased detectability. We show for the first time that tadpoles of Ololygon machadoi, although apparently benefited by camouflage, reflect UV wavelenghts, becoming more visible and maybe providing some kind of aversiveness signaling to birds. In natural conditions, however, the water column on deep stream microhabitats usually occupied by the tadpoles is expected to filter UV wavelengths and improve background matching, at least for some specific background colors.

This study aimed at evaluating the effects of unpredictability on behavioral and clinical aspects of Geoffroy's woolly monkey (Lagothrix cana cana) - a frugivorous Amazonian primate species - under human care. We studied seven individuals subjected to five conditions: two control conditions (PRE and POST; 10 days each), and three experimental conditions in which unpredictability was associated to food presentation. Each experimental condition had three intensities (stages): spatial unpredictability (food offer in unusual, changing places; S1, S2, S3), temporal unpredictability (food offer in unusual, changing times; T1, T2, T3), and spatial and temporal unpredictability combined (C1, C2, C3). Each stage lasted 10 days. Behaviors were collected using scan sampling in 24 five-minute daily sessions, with records taken every 20 s. A Behavioral Diversity Index (BDI) was also calculated daily, and welfare assessment was performed at each stage, with the use of the Five Domains Model. Condition T promoted an increase in exploration, and reductions in behaviors indicative of dysfunction, surveillance, maintenance, and in affiliative interactions. In condition S, we found an increase in foraging, and reductions in maintenance behaviors and agonistic interactions. Finally, in condition C, we recorded increases in exploration, and reductions in behaviors indicative of dysfunction, surveillance, maintenance, affiliative and agonistic interactions. Most of these effects have been correlated to improved welfare. The Five Domains Model evaluation also supported an improvement in welfare levels in all experimental stages, compared to PRE condition. Our behavioral and welfare assessment results pointed that unpredictability promoted an improvement in the welfare levels for the animals studied, and is recommended for the maintenance of the species under human care.

The breeding practices adopted and the equipment typically found in animal facilities produce sounds at frequencies within the auditory range of the mice (1 to 100 kHz), which can cause hearing and other non-hearing effects. Another aspect that could potentially affects the welfare of experimental animals would be their impaired health condition, since in addition to all the variables present in the environment, some of them are deliberately infected with pathogens. This study aimed to evaluate the possible effects of the chronic exposure of C57BL/6 and Tlr2/Tlr9(−/−) mice, uninfected and infected, with a low m.o.i. of Herpes simplex-1, at different noise levels present in the “Quiet” and “Noisy” rooms. Considering all procedures, a total of 51 male mice were used, 27 of the C57BL/6 and 24 of the Tlr2/Tlr9(−/−) strains. Physiological parameters such as weight gain, hemogram, cholesterol, glucose,corticosterone and cytokines involved in the immune response were evaluated together with the animals’ behavioral responses in Open Field and Light/Dark tests. In relation to the physiological parameters in C57BL/6, there was infection x noise interaction (P

Environments that do not provide animals with appropriate stimuli may affect their welfare and reproduction, for example by precluding them from exhibiting their full behavioural repertoire. In this study, we sought to evaluate the effectiveness of behavioural management techniques to stimulate the exhibition of normal behaviours, and to promote breeding improvement of nine captive pairs of blue-and-yellow macaws (Ara ararauna). Birds’ behaviours were recorded in five 4-week stages: baseline (BL), physical enrichment (PE), feeding enrichment (FE), cognitive enrichment (CE), and post-enrichment (PO). Three times a week, five 5-minute behavioural observation sessions took place for every animal by focal sampling, with records made every 30 s. Egg production was also recorded. Behaviours recorded in the experimental stages were compared with BL; egg production during the study period was compared with the productivity of the first six months of 2014–2017 (Repeated-Measures ANOVA/Dunnet or Friedmann/Dunn). The FE stage promoted increased foraging and movement (p

Social species in captivity may face allostatic overload due to artificial grouping and other social constraints. In rescue centres, groups of psittacines are constantly mixed due to the arrival and/or release of individuals; this procedure is potentially harmful to animal welfare. This study aimed at evaluating the possible impacts of mate replacement on the stress levels of captive blue-fronted amazon parrots (Amazona aestiva). During five weeks, we recorded agonistic interactions and dropping-glucocorticoid metabolites (GCM) concentrations of individuals allocated in a group whose members were kept constant and in a group subjected to frequent member replacement. In both groups, non-linear hierarchies developed, without sex differences regarding aggression or hierarchical positions. The replacement of individuals had no effect on the number of agonistic interactions or on the animals' stress levels. In both groups, higher-ranking individuals had higher stress loads than subordinates. Our study, the first to investigate the social dynamics of A. aestiva, indicated that introducing or removing individuals in captive groups does not seem to affect the welfare of the birds in the short term. This information favours release and reintroduction programs and is relevant for conservation management of this, and possibly other parrot species with similar environmental requirements.

The current study investigated associations between behavioral problems in Brazilian dogs and the demographic characteristics of both the dogs and their owners, as well as the quality of owner-dog relationship. Although Brazil has a large population of dogs, little is known about their behavioral profiles and to what extent they are comparable to those of other cultures. For this investigation, we developed a Portuguese language version of the C-BARQ (Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire) and evaluated its psychometrics properties, since it provides a broad and quantitative description of dog behavior, and has been widely validated across multiple countries. A convenience sample of 1741 owners completed the final questionnaire, and Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analyses were used to extract and confirm a 12-factor solution with excellent reliability characteristics. We then applied logistic regression models to investigate which owners’ and dogs’ characteristics, as well as characteristics of their relationships, were associated with the higher scores of behavior problems based on Brazilian C-BARQ data. Important associations were observed. Owner’s gender (female) was found to be associated with separation-related problems in dogs, as well as fear of other dogs, attention-seeking behavior, excitability, and energy. Mixed-breed status (unknown breed) was associated with more aggression towards other dogs, fear of strangers and other dogs, nonsocial fear, and separation-related problems. Aggression towards strangers and attention-seeking behaviors were exhibited more often by those dogs that were not walked by their owners. Our results revealed relevant aspects influencing dog behavioral problems and emphasizes the importance of evaluating dog behavior problems in light of cultural influences.

Although discontinued with the introduction of ultrasonography, the study of mare sexual behavior may provide useful information for herds that lack technical assistance. In order to investigate how mare sexual behavior is associated with ovulation and age, sexual behaviors were recorded for 1,348 teasings of 82 mares during three breeding seasons. From nine days before D-9 until the day of ovulation D0, sexual behaviors were recorded and classified as either estrus-positive or estrus-negative. Estrus-positive behaviors were more frequent, and estrus-negative less frequent, in ovulatory than anovulatory estrus (all P < 0.05, except for Biting). Estrus-positive behaviors increased from D-9 to D-1 and decreased from D-1 to D0 (all P < 0.05), except for Permitting Mount, which increased from D-1 to D0 (P < 0.01). Almost all estrus-negative behaviors decreased from D-9 to D-1 and increased from D-1 to D0 (P < 0.05). A GLM analysis indicated that the older the mare, the earlier she started exhibiting estrus-positive behaviors (all P < 0.01), and ceased estrus-negative behaviors (P < 0.01), except for Vocalizing. The results revealed that: (i) mares with ovulatory estrus and mares with anovulatory estrus exhibit different sexual behaviors; (ii) sexual behavior is influenced by mare age; and (iii) most estrus-positive behaviors increase during estrus and decrease near ovulation, but with the behavior of Permitting Mount increasing around ovulation. These results contribute to understanding equine reproductive biology and may be useful for herds that are not technically assisted by veterinarians.

The captive environment can limit some important behavioral options for nonhuman animals, which often results in decreased welfare. The companion of a conspecific can be a source of complexity in captivity, but this aspect has received little attention for solitary species. This study investigated the effects of two different housing conditions on the behavior of a solitary species, the Southern tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla). Six individuals housed singly and four housed in pairs in two Brazilian zoological institutions were observed for 10 days from 09:00h to 17:00h during the rainy season. Each individual was observed for 26:40 hours. Compared with singly housed tamanduas, paired animals were less inactive (single = 74.62 ± 5.2%, paired = 28.51 ± 0.04% of the records), foraged and explored more (single = 11.07 ± 3.0%, paired 31.48 ± 0.01% of the records), and exhibited a diversity of behaviors 102.56% greater than single tamanduas. These results suggest that interactions with conspecifics in captivity, even for solitary animals, can promote the performance of desirable behaviors, which in several species has been correlated with improved welfare.

The present study evaluates whether increased water temperature induces reproduction by Lophiosilurus alexandri under controlled conditions, and investigates the effects of this procedure on sexual steroids, hematological profile and behavior. A 44-week experiment was performed with four wild males and 12 wild females that had been acclimatized to captive conditions. Water temperature was maintained at 24.4 ± 1.0 °C for weeks 1–22, and then at 29.0 ± 1.1 °C for weeks 22–44. Spawn weight, number of eggs/spawn and hatching rate were satisfactory and ranged 27.5–127.5 g, 1209–5183 and 83–89%, respectively. Hematocrit, leukocytes and glucose were not influenced by increased water temperature, while higher values for erythrocytes were observed for both sexes. The lowest value for plasma protein was for females maintained at 29.0 °C, while the lowest value for testosterone was obtained at the end of the study period at a temperature in 29.0 °C. Serum values of 17β-estradiol were higher in females than in males, however, there was no evidence of variation as a function of experimental temperature or interaction with sex. The reproductive behavior of L. alexandri in captivity is described for the first time. The present study demonstrates that adult individuals are able to maintain a stable hematological profile during an increase in mean water temperature from 24.4 °C to 29.0 °C, even during the reproductive period, and still produce good quality larvae. Nonetheless, whether spawning was associated with increased 17β-estradiol levels could not be determined.

Livestock is the category of animals that suffers the most severe welfare problems. Among these, physical, physiological, and behavioural distress caused by artificial grouping are some of the challenges faced by these animals. Groups whose members are frequently changed have been reported as socially unstable, which could jeopardise the welfare of animals. Here, we assessed the effect of social instability on aggression, stress, and productivity in groups of laying hens (Gallus gallus domesticus). We studied 36 females, distributed into three stable groups (without group membership change) and three unstable groups (where the dominant member was rotated every week) over the course of 10 weeks. We evaluated the frequency of agonistic interactions, glucocorticoid metabolites (GCM) concentrations, and egg production. In both treatments, dominant hens produced more eggs compared to intermediate and subordinates, and intermediate hens had the highest GCM concentrations. Socially unstable groups had lower productivity and higher frequencies of agonistic interactions than stable groups. Social instability also affected GCM of the animals: in stable groups, subordinate hens had higher concentrations than dominants; in unstable groups, this pattern was reversed. Our results point to a social destabilisation in groups whose members were alternated, and suggest the welfare of individuals in unstable groups was compromised. Our results pointed to a complex relationship between hierarchy, productivity, physiological stress and aggression in laying hens, and have implications for their husbandry and management and, consequently, for their welfare levels.

Contrafreeloading occurs when animals spend time and effort to obtain food in the presence of freely available food. There are several interpretations for such an apparent contradiction to optimal foraging models, with an emphasis either on the need to gather and update information about the environment or on the value of performing species-typical responses. Evidence suggests that both gathering information about the environment and the expression of species-typical behaviour are important for the welfare of captive animals. The aim of the present study was to assess the existence of contrafreeloading in maned wolves ( Chrysocyon brachyurus ), in a situation where animals could get food directly from a “free” source and/or search and handle hidden food items, an alternative that requires more effort and is probably more similar to natural foraging conditions. Eight captive, pair-housed maned wolves were given weekly choice tests in which they could obtain food either by approaching the usual food tray in one section of the enclosure (Tray), and/or by searching for food at variable sites amongst the vegetation in the other section of the enclosure (Scattered). Results indicate that maned wolves spent more time in the Scattered than in the Tray section of the enclosure ( P = 0.02) and that they obtained about half of the food from that section (48.54% ± SE 0.69). Our results, the first to demonstrate contrafreeloading in maned wolves, have implications for the husbandry and welfare of this endangered species.

Domestic cats (Felis catus) are widely believed to be highly sensitive to the effects of social stress, especially when living in high density populations. Cats are capable of adapting to living in a group, but this will often require opportunities for escaping and hiding. In this pilot study, adrenocortical activity, as a valuable physiological indicator of arousal underpinning potential emotional stress, was evaluated through the measurement of mean faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (mGCM) in fourteen singly and sixteen group-housed cats. Living conditions and ratings of the owners’ quality of life (evaluated from self-reported questionnaires) were used as factors associated with faecal glucocorticoid levels of the cats. A direct association between the scores of owners’ social dimension of quality of life and the cats’ mGCM was found for single cats only, with higher owner social scores associated with higher cat mGCM. No significant differences in mGCM were found between singly versus group-living cats. This suggests that the under-explored factor of owner lifestyle could play an important role in domestic cats’ day-to-day levels of arousal, especially when kept as single pets.

O lobo guará (Chrysocyon brachyurus), uma espécie vulnerável, tem apresentado problemas reprodutivos e de bem-estar em cativeiro. Buscando técnicas eficazes para melhorar os níveis de bem estar destes animais, e dando continuidade a estudo anterior, procurou-se investigar os efeitos da dispersão do alimento e variáveis possivelmente relacionadas à variabilidade individual e de gênero nas respostas comportamentais e hormonais ao enriquecimento. Foram aplicadas, a 11 animais de três instituições, técnicas de enriquecimento ambiental que consistiam na manipulação da variedade, quantidade e complexidade de estímulos alimentares, com registro do comportamento e dosagem de metabólitos fecais de glicocorticóides. Condições de linha de base e experimentais foram intercaladas no delineamento experimental. Foram aplicados testes de Objeto Novo para mensurar diferenças individuais e de gênero possivelmente envolvidas na resposta ao enriquecimento, e Testes de Escolha para avaliar a preferência dos animais pela busca do alimento. O enriquecimento levou, durante a sua aplicação, a um aumento significativo na frequência de comportamentos de forrageamento, sendo mais marcado o efeito nos indivíduos que tiveram concentrações de glicocorticóides diminuídas durante o enriquecimento. Observou-se que o gênero dos animais influenciava as respostas hormonais aos procedimentos e registrou-se correlação entre o perfil comportamental das fêmeas e sua reação hormonal ao enriquecimento (fêmeas com perfil exploratório tiveram aumento na concentração de metabólitos de glicocorticóides; as com perfil cauteloso, uma redução), um resultado não replicado com os machos. Os Testes de Escolha demonstraram preferência dos animais por uma forma de forrageamento que demandava investimento de esforço, em x detrimento da alternativa de acesso ad lib ao alimento, dando assim uma indicação do valor desses procedimentos para os lobos guarás cativos. O registro de perfis emocionais e a correlação destes com diferentes respostas hormonais ao enriquecimento são inéditos para a espécie e relevantes para as áreas de bem-estar e conservação. Os dados apontam para a importância de uma avaliação dos perfis emocionais individuais de animais cativos, como forma de se delinearem procedimentos que sejam efetivos para a promoção do bem-estar dos mesmos. Em adição a este achado, a preferência registrada pela busca do alimento, assim como o aumento na frequência de forrageamento produzido pelas técnicas de enriquecimento usadas sugerem ser estas técnicas eficazes para o aumento dos níveis de bem-estar de lobos-guarás em cativeiro. The maned wolf, a vulnerable species, has presented problems related to reproduction and welfare in captivity. This study aimed to find efficient techniques to improve the welfare levels of these animals, as a continuation of previous studies. In order to achieve this objective, we investigated the effects of dispersion of food and possible variables related to individual and gender variability in the behavioural responses to environmental enrichment. We applied environmental enrichment techniques to 11 animals, in three institutions. These techniques consisted of the manipulation of the variety, quantity and complexity of feeding stimulus, with evaluation of behaviour and glucocorticoid metabolites. Baseline and experimental conditions were intercalated in the experimental design. Novel Objects were applied in order to measure individual and gender differences, possibly involved in the responses to the environmental enrichment. Choice Tests were used to evaluate the preference of the animals for searching for food. Enrichment promoted a significant increase in foraging. This increase was stronger in the individuals who had diminished glucocorticoid metabolites concentrations during the enrichment. The gender of the animals had affected the hormonal responses to the procedures. There was also a correlation between the behavioural profiles of females and their hormonal reaction to the enrichment (exploratory females had an increase in the glucocorticoid concentrations, whilst cautious ones had a decrease), a result that was not observed in the males. The Choice Tests indicated a preference for a form of laborious foraging, indicating the great value of these procedures to the captive maned wolves. The emotional profiles and the correlation of these profiles with different hormonal responses to the enrichment are original and relevant to the welfare and conservation areas. Our outcomes point to the importance of an xii evaluation of emotional profiles of captive animals to effectively design procedures to improve welfare of captive animals. In addiction to that, the observed preference for the searching of food, as well as the increased foraging promoted by the techniques suggest that these procedures are efficient to improve the welfare in captive maned wolves.

Wildlife trafficking is a major factor contributing to the reduction of biological diversity. In Brazil, trafficked animals are apprehended by environmental agencies and released in the wild. The maintenance of wild animals in captivity may jeopardize their survival in the wild, for example, by reducing their ability to recognize a predator. Saffron finches (Sicalis flaveola) are among the most trafficked Brazilian birds. Twenty-eight apprehended saffron finches were submitted to Temperament and Predator-recognition tests, with presentation of predator and non-predator models: a live and a taxidermised hawk, a taxidermised armadillo and a Lego cube. The captive saffron finches have retained general anti-predator responses, such as increasing alertness, avoiding back-facing and keeping distance when presented with potential predators. The birds responded more strongly to the live hawk than to the cube. Although some responses to the other stimuli were not statistically different from each other, a decrease in intensity of response with the decrease in threat level was remarkable. We found no relationship between temperament traits and responses to predators: a possible consequence of husbandry practices in captivity. Our results indicate saffron finches may retain basic anti-predator responses in captivity, which favours release and reintroduction programmes: information relevant for conservation management.

The welfare of animals in captivity is of considerable societal concern. A major source of stress, especially for wild animals, is the lack of control over their environment, which includes not being able to avoid contact with human beings. Paradoxically, some studies have shown that interactions with human beings may improve the welfare of wild animals in captivity. Here, we investigated the behavioural (behaviours indicative of cooperation or stress) and physiological (variations in salivary cortisol concentrations) effects of the increasingly used practice of training wild animals as a way to facilitate handling and/or as behavioural enrichment. We evaluated the effects of indoor training sessions with familiar caretakers on nine human-socialised individuals of a wild species, the wolf (Canis lupus), in comparison to nine individuals of its domesticated form, the dog (Canis lupus familiaris). All animals were raised and kept in intraspecific packs under identical conditions-in accordance with the social structure of the species-in order to control for socialisation with human beings and familiarity with training. We also collected saliva samples of trainers to measure GC and testosterone concentrations, to control for the effects of trainers' stress levels on the responses of the animals. During the training sessions, separated from pack members, the animals stayed voluntarily close to the trainers and mostly adequately performed requested behaviours, indicating concentration to the task. Similarly to dogs, the salivary cortisol level of wolves-used as an index of stress-dropped during these sessions, pointing to a similar stress-reducing effect of the training interaction in both subspecies. The responses to the requested behaviours and the reduction in salivary cortisol level of wolves and dogs varied across trainers, which indicates that the relaxing effect of training has a social component. This points to another factor affecting the welfare of animals during the sessions, beside the rewarding effect of getting food and control over the situation by successfully completing a task. As all responses performed by the animals corresponded to cues already familiar to them, the reported effects were likely due to the above cited factors rather than to a learning process. Our results support previous findings suggesting that training is a potentially powerful tool for improving welfare in some wild social canids by creating structured and positive interactions between these animals and their human caretakers.

Comportamentos relacionados com a empatia em animais são extremamente interessantes do ponto de vista motivacional, cognitivo, moral e evolutivo. Por seu caráter contraintuitivo no que diz respeito à seleção natural, comportamentos pró-sociais relacionados com a empatia chamaram a atenção de diversos pesquisadores e inspiraram pesquisas com várias espécies de animais nas últimas décadas. A fim de introduzir o tema da empatia animal, o primeiro capítulo dessa dissertação constitui-se em um ensaio cujo objetivo foi fornecer reflexões sobre a empatia animal sob a luz da etologia. O segundo capítulo apresenta uma pesquisa empírica na qual investigamos como os cães reagem quando observam uma pessoa chorando por meio de um paradigma de prisão adaptado. Experimentos anteriores observaram que cães são capazes de abrir uma porta para resgatar seu tutor de dentro de uma caixa, e abriam a porta com mais frequência ou menor latência na condição em que o tutor estava estressado em comparação com a condição que ele estava calmo. Em nosso experimento, ao invés de abrir uma porta, o cão poderia se comunicar com a experimentadora que estava ao lado da grade que o separava da pessoa (atriz) em estado de estresse (chorando). Nossos resultados mostraram que os cães alternam mais olhares entre a atriz e a experimentadora e a atriz e o tutor quando a atriz inacessível estava chorando em comparação com a condição neutra. Também encontramos que a frequência de olhares para o tutor e atriz e a duração do olhar para a atriz foi maior na condição de choro em comparação com a fala. Além disso, observamos que a frequência de vezes que os cães foram para posição próxima da atriz foi maior na condição choro do que na fala. Essa é a primeira vez que um estudo testou a possibilidade de os cães serem capazes de usar a comunicação como uma ferramenta para viabilizar o comportamento pró-social. Behaviors related to empathy in animals are extremely interesting from a motivational, cognitive, moral and evolutionary point of view. Due to its counter-intuitive nature regarding natural selection, pro-social behaviors related to empathy drew the attention of several researchers and inspired research with several species of animals in recent decades. In order to introduce the theme of animal empathy, the first chapter of this dissertation is an essay whose objective was to provide reflections on animal empathy in the light of ethology. The second chapter presents an empirical research in which we investigated how dogs react when they observe a person crying through an adapted prison paradigm. Previous experiments have observed that dogs are able to open the door by rescuing their tutor from a box, and open the door with more frequency or less latency in the condition where the tutor was stressed compared to the condition in which he/she was calm. In our experiment, instead of opening a door, the dog could communicate with the experimenter who was next to the fence that separated him/her from a person (actress) in stress (crying). Our main results showed that dogs alternated more gazes between the actress and the experimenter and the actress and the tutor when the inaccessible actress was crying compared to the neutral condition. We also found that the frequency of gazes at the tutor and the actress and the duration of gazing at the actress was greater in the crying condition compared to the speech condition. Furthermore, we found that the number of times that dogs moved to a position close to the actress was greater in the crying condition than in the speech. This is the first time a study has tested the possibility that dogs are able to use communication as a tool to enable the prosocial behavior

Evidências indicam que os cães exibem comunicação referencial e intencional em situações que exigem cooperação conosco. O sinal comunicativo que ocorre com maior frequência nessas interações é a alternância de olhares entre o receptor (humano) e o referente (alimento de interesse). Nesta pesquisa, além de discutirmos aspectos relativos à relação entre humanos e cães, examinamos a produção comunicativa canina (frequência, duração e tipos de sinais manifestados) em situações nas quais um petisco esteve inacessível em cima de uma mesa de altura regulável e dentro de recipiente apropriado. Variações foram aplicadas, visando a analisar os efeitos da visibilidade do alimento (oculto em recipiente opaco ou visível em transparente - ambos com vedação), da presença (ou ausência) de alimento dentro do recipiente transparente e da presença (ou ausência) do tutor durante a ocultação. Sendo assim a pesquisa discutiu aspectos associados a permanência de objetos, saliência do estímulo visual (alimento) e tomada de perspectiva. Evidenciamos que o principal comportamento comunicativo, a alternância de olhares, não apresentou um declínio significativo na condição em que o alimento esteve oculto, ao compararmos com a condição em que esteve visível. Uma das explicações possíveis diz que os cães mantiveram, na memória, a informação de que o referente era permanente durante o período de sua oclusão (30 segundos). Além disso, corroboramos que a presença do petisco exerceu efeito na comunicação dos cães: ao compararmos a situação de estímulo visual (alimento) com a condição controle (sem comida), pudemos descartar a possibilidade de que o recipiente, a mesa regulável ou a interação do experimentador com tais objetos estavam motivando a comunicação. Os cães conseguiram discriminar visualmente o alimento dentro do recipiente transparente e, por isso, estiveram motivados para a comunicação (foi um estímulo saliente, portanto). Por último, ao analisar as alternâncias de olhares, apresentamos evidências de uma ausência de capacidade discriminativa, por parte dos cães, do nível de conhecimento de seus tutores - os quais entravam no ambiente após a oclusão do petisco. Entretanto, trouxemos à tona um aspecto do experimento que pode ter influenciado o comportamento comunicativo dos cães nessa condição específica (e, consequentemente, essa conclusão): a entrada posterior dos tutores no ambiente experimental possivelmente representou um estímulo mais saliente (dada a relação afetiva tutor-cão), o que resultou na significativa maior duração, em média, de olhar para o tutor, um indicador de captura de atenção Evidence indicates that dogs exhibit referential and intentional communication in situations that require cooperation with us. The most frequent communicative signal in these interactions is the gaze alternation between the receptor (human) and the referent (food). In this research, in addition to discussing aspects of the relationship between humans and dogs, we examined canine communicative production (frequency, duration and types of signals) in situations where a snack was inaccessible on a height-adjustable table and inside a container. Variations were applied to analyze the effects of food visibility (hidden in opaque or visible in transparent container - both sealed), presence (or absence) of food inside the transparent container and presence (or absence) of the owner during hiding. Thus, the research discussed aspects associated with object permanence, salience of visual stimulus (food) and perspective taking. We evidenced that the main communicative behavior, gaze alternation, did not show a significant decline in the condition in which the food was hidden, when compared with the condition in which it was visible. One possible explanation is that the dogs kept in memory the information that the referent was permanent during the occlusion period (30 seconds). Furthermore, we corroborate that the presence of the snack had an effect on the dogs\' communication: by comparing the visual stimulus (food) situation with the control condition (without food), we could rule out the possibility that the container, the adjustable table or the interaction of the experimenter with such objects were motivating communication. Dogs were able to visually discriminate food within the transparent container and were therefore motivated to communicate (it was a salient stimulus, therefore). Finally, by analyzing the behavior of gaze alternation, our research indicated a lack of dogs capacity to discriminate the knowledge state of their owners - who entered the environment after the occlusion of the snack. However, we have brought to light an aspect of the experiment that may have influenced the dogs\' communicative behavior under this particular condition (and, consequently, this conclusion): the entering of the owner into the experimental environment possibly represented a more salient stimulus (given the affective relationship between owner and dog) which resulted in a significantly longer duration, on average, of the behavior looking at the owner, an indicator of attention capture

CNPq - Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico FAPEMIG - Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior Os objetivos deste trabalho foram avaliar o efeito da manipulação da temperatura na reprodução, perfil metabólico e alimentação de larvas do Lophiosilurus alexandri. Para o experimento de reprodução foram utilizados quatro machos e 12 fêmeas. Da semana 1 a 22, a temperatura da água foi mantida em 24,4±1,0 °C. Após a semana 22, a temperatura da água foi elevada e mantida em 29,0±1,1 °C até a semana 44. Para o segundo experimento, foi utilizado a abordagem metabolômica por Ressonância Magnética Núclear na avaliação das respostas metabólicas no soro dos reprodutores, submetidos as mesmas condições de temperatura descrita acima. No terceiro experimento, foram realizadas avaliações sobre a ingestão e digestão dos náuplios de artêmia por larvas de L. alexandri em diferentes temperaturas: 23, 26, 29 e 32 °C; diferentes idades: 8, 13, 18 e 23 dias pós eclosão; e diferentes tempos de coleta: 5, 15, 30, 45, 60, 120, 180 e 300 minutos após a alimentação. O peso da desova, número de ovos/desova e taxa de eclosão foram satisfatórios e variaram em 27,5–127,5g, 1209–5183 e 83–89%, respectivamente. O hematócrito, leucócitos e glicose, não foram influenciados pelo aumento da temperatura (P0,05). O comportamento reprodutivo para L. alexandri foi reportado, incluindo a corte e o cuidado parental. A Análise dos Componentes Principais revelou menores valores de valina, creatina/fosfocreatina e ácidos graxos poli-insaturados com a temperatura em 24,4 °C. Após elevação da temperatura ocorreu aumento de unidade de glicerol dos ácidos graxos que compõem a fração lipídica das lipoproteínas e do colesterol total. Para as larvas, o consumo de náuplios de artêmia, consumo em porcentagem do peso vivo e a taxa de digestão em larvas de L. alexandri foram influenciados (P0.05). Reproductive behavior for L. alexandri has been reported, including court and parental care. Lower values of valine, creatine/phosphocreatine and polyunsaturated fatty acids were verified at 24 °C. After elevation of temperature, there was an increase in the glycerol unit of the fatty acids that make up the lipid fraction of lipoproteins and total cholesterol. For larvae, the consumption of artemia, consumption of live weight percentage and digestion rate in L. alexandri larvae were influenced (P

O Transtorno do Espectro do Autismo (TEA) inclui um conjunto de sintomas, tais como dificuldade para sustentar contato visual direto e comprometimento da linguagem. Apesar da Terapia Assistida Por Animais (TAA) com cães ser considerada uma modalidade terapêutica eficaz para promover o desenvolvimento de pessoas com TEA, ainda não são se sabe quais características dos cães possibilitam alcançar sucesso na terapia. Esta análise quantitativa tem como objetivo verificar o impacto de abordagens laterais e frontais de cães e humanos nas expressões emocionais de alegria e rejeição de crianças com TEA. Através da análise de vídeos de TAA, foram mensuradas duração e frequência das abordagens laterais e frontais de cães e humanos dirigidas às crianças para comparar possíveis diferenças entre ambos e também para verificar se a abordagem escolhida afetava o tipo de expressão emocional exibida pela criança. Os participantes deste projeto foram 11 crianças, 8 do sexo masculino e 3 do sexo feminino, entre 5 e 11 anos. Seis crianças foram atendidas por uma psicóloga, uma condutora e um Border Collie. O segundo grupo era composto pela mesma psicóloga, uma condutora e uma Golden Retriever. Escalas de avaliação foram aplicadas para confirmar o diagnóstico de TEA. Os cães foram previamente avaliados e treinados por uma instituição que atua na área de TAA. Cinco minutos de 8 sessões foram analisadas: um bloco de seis sessões com o cão, uma sessão anterior e uma sessão posterior a este bloco. Para verificar possíveis diferenças temperamentais entre cães, o C-barq (Canine Behavioral Assesment & Research Questionnaire) foi aplicado para analisar o temperamento de ambos. Embora esta análise tenha demonstrado diferenças em relação às categorias busca de atenção e nível de energia dos cães, não foram verificadas diferenças estatísticas entre os cães, em relação às variáveis analisadas neste estudo. Na comparação entre cães e humanos, os cães foram mais efetivos para conseguir expressões de alegria independentemente do tipo de abordagem escolhida. Comparando-se o tempo de abordagem de cães e humanos até obterem expressão emocional das crianças, observou-se uma importante diferença estatística. Os resultados sugerem que os cães exibiram menor latência que humanos para todas expressões emocionais analisadas: alegria (2= 7,312, p=0,007), de rejeição (2= 11,277, p-0,001) e neutras (2=9,097, p=0,043). Além disso, os resultados sugerem que, no contexto da TAA, não há relação entre abordagem lateral ou frontal e expressões de alegria, rejeição ou neutras de crianças com TEA. As expressões de alegria foram mais frequentes diante das abordagens laterais dos cães do que das abordagens frontais, no entanto não foi verificada significância estatística. Em relação aos humanos também não foi verificada preferência por uma abordagem especifica. Assim, os resultados sugerem que a latência para a exibição de uma expressão emocional das crianças depende mais de quem aborda do que do posicionamento lateral ou frontal quando a abordagem é realizada Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) includes a range of symptoms such as failure to maintain direct eye contact and impaired language. Although the Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) is considered a potential therapy to promote development in people with ASD, it´s still unknown which specific characteristics of dogs lead to a successful therapy. This quantitative analysis aims to measure the impact of lateral and frontal approaches from dogs and humans into joy and rejection emotional expressions displayed by children with ASD. Through video´s analysis, frequencies and durations of lateral and frontal approaches from humans and dogs to children were quantified in order to compare potential differences between both and analyze the effect of the chosen approach in emotional expression display. Participated in this project 11 children, 8 males and 3 females, from 5 to 11 years old. They were divided in two groups. A psychologist, a conductor and a border collie attended six of them. The second group was composed by 5 children attended by the same psychologist, a conductor and a golden retriever. Specifics evaluation scales were applied to confirm children´s diagnosis. An institution that works in the AAT area had previously evaluated and trained both dogs. Parents signed a free-consent term before the beginning of the study. Five minutes within 8 sessions were analyzed: 6 sessions with dog´s presence, the session before and the one subsequent this block of sessions. In order to analyze potential temperamental differences between dogs, C-barq (Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire) was applied to check the dogs temperament. The C-barq results showed differences related to the categories search of attention and energy level of the dogs. However, the test did not indicate statistical differences on the measurement of variables linked to this study. Dogs were better than humans to get joy expressions independently on the chosen approach. A significant statistical difference was observed in the comparison of how long dogs and humans spent in approaches until they got an emotional expression from children. The results suggest that dogs showed shorter latency than humans on all analyzed emotional expressions: joy (2= 7.312, p=0.007), rejection (2= 11.277, p-0.001) and neutral (2=9.097, p=0.043) expressions. Moreover, the results suggest no link between lateral or frontal approach and specific expression of emotions in children with ASD in the context of AAT. Expressions of joy were more frequent after lateral than frontal dog´s approach, however no statistically significant difference was found. No approach preference was found in humans. Thus, results suggest that latency to emotional behavior from children depends more on who approaches than on position lateral or frontal when the approach happens

A Bioacoustica oferece ferramentas úteis para diversas ciências e práticas na utilização acadêmica, científica, aplicada e conservação da vida animal. Nossa hipótese é que as chamadas naturais, como o rugido de longo alcance do bugios preto, atuam como elemento de enriquecimento ambiental, se a sua execução aumenta a exibição de um comportamento natural em cativeiro. O bugio faz um uso diário do rugido e sua emissão é conhecida por evocar respostas de outros bandos de bugio em vida livre. Para testar a eficácia dos rugidos em melhorar o bem-estar foi realizado um experimento no Bosque e Zoológico Fábio Barreto, no município de Ribeirão Preto, onde treze indivíduos (6 fêmeas e 7 machos) viviam em cinco recintos adjacentes. Eles tiveram contato visual e acústico entre eles e com outras duas espécies de primatas e outros grupos de vida livre de bugio preto. Adotoamos o delineamento experimental ABABA, em que fases controle A foram intercaladas com o tratamento (playback de rugido) nas fases B, duas vezes ao dia (manhã e tarde). Na primeira fase B, o estímulo foi sempre tocado no mesmo horário (previsível) e, na segunda fase tratamento, horários aleatórios foram adotados (imprevisível). Nós avaliamos as alterações na duração relativa de 6 comportamentos entre as fases A e B, entre sexo e em ambos os períodos, com o teste ANOVA de medidas repetidas. Nós notamos um aumento no comportamento natural da espécie em fases de tratamento, como alerta, atenção dirigida, e interações sociais, juntamente com a diminuição de comportamentos estereotipados, sugerindo melhoria do bem-estar. As emissões naturais de rugidos também aumentaram. Concluímos que ambos os tratamentos, previsível e imprevisível, melhoraram o bem-estar e propomos a utilização da reprodução de chamadas específicas de especies como uma nova categoria de enriquecimento ambiental. A resposta dos outros primatas nos levou a concluir que houve um efeito sobre animais vizinhos que pode ser benéfico ou prejudicial de acordo com a espécie e a condição psicológica dos animais. The Bioacoustics offers useful tools for diverse academic, scientific and applied sciences and practices in use and conservation of animal life. We hypothesized that natural call, as the loud roar of the black-howler monkey, would act as environmental enrichment element if its execution increased the display of natural behavior in captivity. The howler-monkey makes an everyday use of the roar and its emission is known to evoke free-living howler-monkeys to call back in response. To test the effectiveness of roars in improving welfare we conducted an experiment in Bosque e Zoológico Fábio Barreto, in the municipality of Ribeirão Preto where thirteen individuals (6 females and 7 males) were living in five adjacent enclosures. They had visual and acoustic contact between them and with two other primate species and a free-living black-howler monkey group. We adopted the ABABA experimental design, in which control phases A were interspersed with treatment (roar playback) phases B, two times a day (morning and afternoon). In the first B phase, the stimulus was always played at the same time (predictable) and, in the other different random schedules were adopted (unpredictable). We evaluate changes in relative duration of 6 behaviors from A to B phases, between sex and in both periods with a repetitive factorial ANOVA. We reported increase in natural behavior of the species in treatment phases, as alert, oriented attention, and social interactions, coupled with the decrease of stereotyped behaviors, suggesting welfare improvement. Thus, natural emissions of roars also increased. We concluded that both predictable and unpredictable routines improved welfare and we propose the use of playback of specie-specific calls as a new category of environmental enrichment. The answer of the other primates led us to conclude that there was a neighborhood effect that can be beneficial or harmful according to the species and the psychological condition of the animals.

São diversos os estudos sobre a compreensão de dicas comunicativas humanas pelo cão. Em todos eles, a verificação da compreensão do sinal é realizada imediatamente após a emissão do mesmo. A nossa pesquisa busca refletir sobre os processos de memória envolvidos na operação de designação-busca do objeto escondido pelo cão, tendo como objetivo investigar a memória operacional dos cães para um sinal comunicativo humano. Comparamos a retenção de informações para duas condições: quando o cão tinha contato visual direto com o objeto-alvo (não-comunicativa) e quando recebia a informação a respeito da localização do alvo por um sinal comunicativo humano (comunicativa). Num primeiro experimento, quisemos saber como a retenção das informações era afetada em função do intervalo de tempo decorrido para as duas condições. Em outro, também para as duas condições, como a retenção da informação, em um mesmo intervalo de tempo, era afetada em função de diferentes tipos de distração. Para tanto, utilizamos nos dois experimentos uma tarefa de busca pelo objeto escondido, em que o cão recebia a informação sobre a localização de um alimento desejado em uma de duas caixas, esperava por um intervalo retido atrás de um anteparo (barreira visual) e depois era liberado e poderia aproximar-se de uma das caixas. Na condição indicação gestual (comunicativa), a informação era dada pelo experimentador em um gesto de apontar proximal momentâneo. Na condição observação, o cão podia ver o alimento disponível em uma de duas caixas após a colocação do anteparo as caixas eram giradas e o cão perdia a visão do objeto. No Experimento I, os sujeitos recebiam a informação e eram liberados para responder após intervalos de 5, 60 ou 240 segundos. Os resultados indicaram uma tendência à significância nas respostas dos sujeitos no intervalo de 60 segundos, favorecendo a condição indicação gestual. No experimento II, os sujeitos eram testados no mesmo intervalo de retenção (60 segundos), mas variavam as situações de distração entre as tentativas: distração por comando (comunicativa) ou por deslocamento (não-comunicativa), além de uma tentativa controle (sem distração). Os resultados indicam que as distrações não tiveram efeitos significativos para nenhuma das condições. De maneira geral, podemos concluir que a informação transmitida por um gesto comunicativo humano (o apontar do local onde está escondido alimento) pode ser conservada na memória e que ela tem um trajeto mnemônico semelhante a outros constatados no estudo da cognição de cães There are many studies regarding the comprehension of human cues by dogs. In all of them, the comprehension of the cue is verified immediately after its emission. Our research intends to reflect over the memory processes involved in the operation of designation-search of a hidden object by the dog, with the objective of investigating the dogs operational memory for a communicative human sign. We compared the informations retention under two conditions: when the dog had direct visual contact with the target-object (non-communicative situation) and when it received information regarding the targets location through a human communicative sign (communicative situation). In the first experiment, we wanted to know how the informations retention was affected based on the elapsed time for the two conditions. In another experiment, for the same two conditions, we wanted to know how the informations retention, under only one latency period, was affected based on different types of distraction. To do so, we utilized in both experiments a object search task, in which the dog received information regarding the location of a desired piece of food in one of two boxes. The dog was retained for a certain latency period, recluse behind a screen (visual barrier), and then was released and could approach one of the boxes. Under the gestural indication condition (communicative situation), information was given by the experimenter, using a proximal momentary pointing gesture. Under the observation condition, the dog could see the piece of food available in one of two boxes which were turned after the screen was placed, making the dog lose sight of the object. In Experiment I, the subjects received information and were released to respond after a time frame of 5, 60 or 240 seconds. The results indicate a tendency of a difference in the performance of dogs in the 60 seconds-latency period, favoring the gestural indication condition. In Experiment II, the subjects were tested under the same retention latency period (60 seconds), but the distraction situations vary between the attempts: command distraction (communicative situation) or dislocation distraction (non-communicative), besides a control situation (without distraction). The results point that the distractions had no significant effects for neither the conditions. In general, we can conclude that the transmitted information through a human communicative gesture (pointing the location where the food is hidden) can be conserved in the dogs memory and that it has a mnemonic path similar to others found in studies of the dogs cognition