title: Exploring human interaction and diet effects on the behavior of dogs in a public animal shelter.
abstract: This study examined the effects of 2 manipulations--a brief, regular period of human contact and diet--on the behavior of dogs confined in a public animal shelter. A behavioral battery designed to assess reactions to novel situations, and a test of responsiveness to an unfamiliar human were administered both prior to (pretest) and immediately following (posttest) the 8-week intervention period. Overall, the regular periods of increased human contact together with a diet that contained augmented levels of digestible protein, fat, calories, and animal-derived ingredients reduced signs of behavioral reactivity from pretest to posttest. In some cases, the comparison diet appeared more effective, but only for dogs receiving minimal human interaction. The results indicate that a combination of human interaction and high quality diet may positively affect the behavior of dogs in animal shelters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Wright State University, Dayton, OH 45435, USA. michael.hennessy@wright.edu
authors.forename: Michael B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Hennessy
authors.forename: Victoria L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Voith
authors.forename: Travis L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Jesse L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hawke
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Centrone
authors.forename: Angela L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: McDowell
authors.forename: Fran
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Linden
authors.forename: Gary M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Davenport
mesh_terms: D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D004032:Diet; D004285:Dogs / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D001841:Human-Animal Bond; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome