This
time British scientists got worried seriously about dogs'
behavior and health. The question is when the dogs are alone
they are getting naughty – chew things and furniture, eat food
leaving on the table and even foul. Vets make no doubt that
mentally sane and adequate dog should keep calm and not to
blow wig without its owner.
Considering
the fact that more than five millions of English dogs (50% of
general population) turn their house upside down at least once
in their life, vets and scientists under the guidance of
Michael Mendl from the University of Bristol decided to study
the behavior, cognitive abilities and mental sane of the dogs
addicted to mischief.
Home Alone
Twenty
four residents of specialized dog kennels took part in the
experiment. When 7-12 days were left after the owners and the
dogs had been settled into the kennel, the scientists made
pretests to identify the risk group.
For
this purpose every dog spent some time with a person
(scientist), which had been wriggling into the dog’s favor. As
soon as the contact had been approached, the person left. The
dog began being impatient and anxious. The scientists defined
inclination to disruptive behavior according to the dog's
worrying response duration.
Bad Mood
The
explorers made the second experiment next day. It was based on
empirical knowledge that animals' behavior (humans' too)
depends on their mood. The dog being in a low spirits is
addicted to accept more pessimistic decisions. Optimists are
without a care in the world. They are ready to run into
difficulties and believe in success. Dogs' behavior is also
depends on the mood according to the vets' article. The
scientists specified with the help of special tests that the
dogs from the risk group suffer from bad mood or even
depression. These pets made out with their tasks worth, moved
more slowly and showed nervousness. The results of the
analysis didn't depend neither of the breed, nor of the age or
sex.
Though
it's difficult to imagine how the scientist could fix the
proper connection between the dog's behavior and some
reflection gathering such a small group of various breeds.
Nevertheless, the men of science had come to a conclusion that
mischievous dogs turn everything in the house upside down not
when they are happy, but when they are anxious or in a bad
mood.
"The
results we got allow us to help the dogs with problem behavior
and probably to lower the percent of refuses from dogs", -
writes Michael Mendl in the article Dogs
showingseparation-relatedbehaviorexhibita
“pessimistic”cognitivebias in CurrentBiology journal.
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