| 2. |
- Sundman, Ann-Sofie, et al.
(författare)
-
Long-term stress levels are synchronized in dogs and their owners
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP. - 2045-2322. ; 9
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study reveals, for the first time, an interspecific synchronization in long-term stress levels. Previously, acute stress, has been shown to be highly contagious both among humans and between individuals of other species. Here, long-term stress synchronization in dogs and their owners was investigated. We studied 58 dog-human dyads and analyzed their hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) at two separate occasions, reflecting levels during previous summer and winter months. The personality traits of both dogs and their owners were determined through owner-completed Dog Personality Questionnaire (DPQ) and human Big Five Inventory (BFI) surveys. In addition, the dogs activity levels were continuously monitored with a remote cloud-based activity collar for one week. Shetland sheepdogs (N = 33) and border collies (N = 25), balanced for sex, participated, and both pet dogs and actively competing dogs (agility and obedience) were included to represent different lifestyles. The results showed significant interspecies correlations in long-term stress where human HCC from both summer and winter samplings correlated strongly with dog HCC (summer: N = 57, chi(2) = 23.697, P amp;lt; 0.001, beta = 0.235; winter: N = 55, chi(2) = 13.796, P amp;lt; 0.001, beta = 0.027). Interestingly, the dogs activity levels did not affect HCC, nor did the amount of training sessions per week, showing that the HCC levels were not related to general physical activity. Additionally, there was a seasonal effect in HCC. However, although dogs personalities had little effects on their HCC, the human personality traits neuroticism, conscientiousness, and openness significantly affected dog HCC. Hence, we suggest that dogs, to a great extent, mirror the stress level of their owners.
|
|
| 3. |
- Sauveroche, Mathilde, et al.
(författare)
-
Hair cortisol in horses (Equus caballus) in relation to management regimes, personality and breed
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Journal of Veterinary Behavior. - : Elsevier. - 1558-7878. ; 37
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Hair cortisol is a promising biomarker to measure long-term stress since cortisol is incorporated into the hair shaft as it grows. However, few studies have previously assessed hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) in horses. In this study, HCC was evaluated in both mane hair from the neck and body hair from the withers in 153 horses of different breeds, from seven different stables with three different management regimes (Free-roaming horses, Riding school horses, Trotter horses). In addition, 4 hours of behavioral observations were performed at each stable, and for 43 of the horses, a personality survey was completed. Mane and withers HCC correlated moderately, but significantly (rs=0.48, p<0.001). Differences between the stables were found for both mane and withers hair (both p<0.01) and the stable with lowest HCC also showed highest occurrences of positive social and resting behaviors (both p<0.01). There were no significant differences in HCC between the management regimes even though Free-roaming horses showed less negative social behavior compared to Riding school horses (p=0.041) and Trotter horses (p=0.055). The personality traits Dominance, Anxiousness, and Excitability revealed weak to moderate correlations with mane HCC (rs=-0.34, p=0.027; rs=-0.46, p=0.002; rs=-0.31, p=0.043 respectively) which might suggest that personality could also be related to long-term stress levels in horses.
|
|
