| 1. |
- Arvelius, Per, et al.
(författare)
-
Genetic analysis of a temperament test as a tool to select against everyday life fearfulness in Rough Collie
- 2014
-
Ingår i: Journal of Animal Science. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0021-8812 .- 1525-3163. ; 92, s. 4843-4855
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Fear-related problems are common among Rough Collies in Sweden. Annually, on average, >200 Rough Collies are subjected to the dog mentality assessment (DMA), a temperament test during which 33 behavioral reactions are rated. Previous research has shown that a dog's DMA result can be condensed into 5 underlying personality traits. The aim of the study was to evaluate if it is possible to use the DMA for selection for temperament in Swedish Rough Collies, in particular to decrease everyday life fearfulness. We also wanted to compare 2 methods to compute the personality traits: summated scales (SS) and factor scores (FS). The DMA data for 2,953 Rough Collies were used to estimate genetic parameters for the 5 personality traits (both SS and FS), using a linear animal model including fixed effects of sex, year and month of test, and random effects of litter, judge, test occasion, genetic effect of the individual, and residual. Age at test was included as linear and quadratic regressions. The DMA personality trait heritability estimates ranged from 0.13 to 0.25. The SS showed greater or equal heritability estimates compared with the FS. To validate the DMA, data on everyday life behavior of 1,738 Rough Collies were collected using an extended version of the Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire. Each dog's questionnaire result was condensed into 18 underlying behavioral subscales. Genetic parameters for the subscales were estimated using a linear animal model, including a fixed effect of sex and random genetic effect of the individual and residual. Age when the questionnaire was completed was included as linear and quadratic regressions. Heritability estimates for the questionnaire subscales were 0.06 to 0.36. There were high and significant genetic correlations between DMA personality traits and questionnaire subscales. For instance, the DMA personality trait Curiosity/Fearlessness correlated strongly genetically to the questionnaire subscale Non-social fear (-0.70), DMA Sociability to Stranger-directed interest (0.87) and Stranger-directed fear (-0.80), DMA Playfulness to Human-directed play interest (0.63), and DMA Chase-proneness to Chasing (0.73). We could not detect any obvious difference in validity between DMA SS and FS. We conclude that the DMA is an effective tool for selection of breeding animals with the goal to decrease everyday life fearfulness among Swedish Rough Collies. The DMA can also be used for breeding for other traits. The SS method seems to perform at least as good the FS method.
|
|
| 2. |
- Arvelius, Per, et al.
(författare)
-
Good Possibilities to Select Against Fearfulness in Rough Collie
- 2014
-
Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Fear-related problems are common among Swedish Rough Collies. Genetic analyses were performed on 4 composite behavioral traits based on 2953 Rough Collie results from a temperament test. Heritabilities ranged from 0.13-0.25. Validation of the test was done using a dog owner questionnaire, which generated information about everyday life behavior for 1738 Rough Collies. There were high and significant genetic correlations between traits measured in the test, and the everyday life behavior of the dogs as described by the owners. For instance, Curiosity/fearlessness in the test was negatively genetically correlated with Nonsocial fear in the questionnaire (-0.70, SE 0.10). We conclude that data from the analyzed test is possible to use for selection to decrease everyday life fearfulness in the Swedish Rough Collie population.
|
|
| 3. |
|
|
| 4. |
- Eken Asp, Helena, et al.
(författare)
-
Breed differences in everyday behaviour of dogs
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Applied Animal Behaviour Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 0168-1591 .- 1872-9045. ; 169, s. 69-77
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The domestication of the dog and the ensuing breed creation has resulted in a plethora of dog breeds that differ not only in morphology but also in terms of behaviour. In addition, a majority of the dogs today are no longer utilized for their working ability, but are mainly kept as companion animals. The main aim of this study was to estimate breed differences in everyday behaviour traits, as well as to study the phenotypic correlations between these traits. Dog owners described their dogs' everyday behaviour in a questionnaire. The responses to the questions were combined into 18 behavioural subscale scores (BSS). After editing, the material included dog owner responses for 3591 dogs from 20 different breeds. The breeds represent both working and non-working breeds.We can conclude that breed (and grouping into working vs non-working breeds), age and sex had significant effects on many everyday behaviour traits. The working breeds were about 10% more trainable, showed 30% more interest in playing with humans and were 10-60% less fearful. Furthermore, our results showed that fearful dogs were more aggressive, whereas more social dogs were less fearful and less aggressive. We also found that dogs that were more eager to play with humans were also easier to train. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
|
|
| 5. |
- Eken Asp, Helena
(författare)
-
Everyday behaviour in dogs : breed differences and genetic analysis
- 2015
-
Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The absolute majority of dogs are kept as companion animals. Dogs kept as family pets are frequently exposed to noisy and crowded environments, and often have to interact with unfamiliar dogs and humans. In Sweden, we have a long history of recording behaviour in dogs on a large scale. The Swedish Working Dog Association (SBK) has, since 1989, carried out a standardized behavioural test called Dog Mentality Assessment (DMA). Results from the DMA can be condensed into five personality traits: playfulness, sociability, curiosity/fearlessness, chase-proneness and aggression. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the possibility to use information from the DMA to select for improved everyday life in dogs and to study the genetic background of everyday behaviour. This was done by estimating factors affecting everyday life behaviour as well as the genetic background of behaviour assessed either through a questionnaire or measured in the DMA. In the first study (I) we investigated factors affecting everyday behaviour in 20 dog breeds. The analysis was based on records from a total of 3,591 dogs. In the second study (II) we estimated genetic parameters for behaviour in the Rough Collie both for everyday behaviour assessed through a questionnaire and for behaviour assessed in the DMA. The analysis included records for 1,738 dogs on everyday behaviour and records for 2,953 dogs from the DMA. Results from the studies showed that age, sex, breed and breed group (working vs non-working breeds) had a significant effect on everyday behaviour. Working dog breeds were overall more interested in playing with humans and more trainable. Phenotypic correlations showed, for example, that more fearful dogs were more aggressive and dogs that were more eager to play with humans were easier to train. The estimated heritabilities for both everyday behaviour and DMA behaviour traits ranged between 0.06 and 0.36. The genetic correlations between everyday behaviour traits and DMA results indicate that the DMA could be used as an effective tool for selection of everyday behaviour in the Rough Collie.
|
|
| 6. |
- Eken Asp, Helena, et al.
(författare)
-
Genetics of Aggression, Fear and Sociability in Everyday Life of Swedish Dogs
- 2014
-
Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Most potential dog owners are looking for a non-aggressive, non-fearful, social and easily trained dog that functions well in everyday life. Despite this, most studies of genetic components for behavior traits have mainly focused on analyzing results from behavior tests and not everyday behavior data. The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for aggression, fear, sociability and trainability in everyday life by using a questionnaire to assess information of the dog's everyday behavior. The genetic analysis included 3128 records distributed over 14 breeds. The effect of breed, sex and age were adjusted for in the estimations of genetic parameters. The estimated heritabilities ranged between 0.08 and 0.38, with the highest heritability found for human-directed play interest. Positive genetic correlations were found between aggression and fear traits. Sociability traits showed a negative genetic correlation with both aggression and fear traits.
|
|
| 7. |
|
|
