title: [Characterization of the vegetative-nervous response of dogs and the vegetative-nervous interaction between dogs and dog trainers by noninvasive measurement of skin potentials].
abstract: The study involved a total of 5 pairs consisting of dog and dog trainer who were examined by continuous noninvasive recording of skin potentials within the scope of a defined exercise program. The exercise program consisted of the following phases: preparatory free run exercise (16 min in duration), exercise in submission (4 min in duration), follow-up phase with free run (16 min in duration). The objective of the study was to demonstrate the possibility to register, by means of skin potential recordings, the vegetative-nervous behavior of dogs and the vegetative-nervous interaction between dog and dog trainer. The tests carried out with dogs and humans showed that it was possible to verify behavior-specific traits of dogs by means of time-series analysis of the data registered. It was demonstrated that especially the frequency distribution of a regulatory function, such as the parameter skin potential, permits the detection of characteristic behavioral traits. By means of a newly developed method for determining a dynamic cross-correlation, the vegetative-emotional interaction could be demonstrated during the submission exercise. By using typical exercise patterns (shot, walking, "down", etc.), it was demonstrated that "shot" lead to deterioration of the vegetative-nervous relationship in all pairs. Having the dog "sit" and praising it lead to a positive correlation in all pairs. The command "down" lead to deterioration of the correlation in three pairs.
authors.forename: Hans-Ullrich
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Balzer
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pietzko
authors.forename: Klaus Dieter
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Bigalke
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000503:physiopathology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D004285:Dogs / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005260:Female; D001841:Human-Animal Bond; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena