Herron Meghan E, Kirby-Madden Taylor M, Lord Linda K
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210.
J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2014 Mar 15;244(6):687-92. doi: 10.2460/javma.244.6.687.
To determine the effect of food-toy enrichment combined with cage-behavior training on desirable behaviors in shelter dogs and adoption rates.
Randomized controlled clinical trial.
107 dogs.
Dogs placed up for adoption in a municipal shelter were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n = 48) or control group (59). Experimental group subjects were exposed to an environmental enrichment and training protocol consisting of twice-daily cage-behavior training and daily provision of a food-filled toy. Cage-behavior training included operant conditioning via positive reinforcement of desirable behaviors, including approaching the front of the cage, sitting or lying, and remaining quiet when approached. Behavioral observations were performed by a blinded observer in a scan-sampling technique on day 0 (first day on adoption floor) and again on day 3 for experimental (n = 26) and control (32) dogs. Body posture, location in cage, and other behavioral parameters were recorded. Adoption information and behavioral observation data were compared between groups.
Compared with the control group, the experimental group had a significantly greater percentage of dogs with an increase in desirable behaviors of sitting or lying down (17/26 [65%] vs 7/32 [22%]) and being quiet (9/26 [35%] vs 4/32 [13%]) and a significantly greater percentage of dogs with a decrease in the undesirable behavior of jumping (15/26 [57%] vs 3/32 [9%]). Location in cage, fearfulness, and eye contact were not significantly different between groups. Survival analysis revealed no significant difference in adoption rates between groups.
Results suggested that enrichment programs improve desirable behaviors and decrease undesirable behavior in shelter dogs, which may enhance welfare.
确定食物玩具丰富化与笼内行为训练相结合对收容所犬只的期望行为及领养率的影响。
随机对照临床试验。
107只犬。
在市立收容所待领养的犬只被随机分为实验组（n = 48）或对照组（59只）。实验组的犬只接受环境丰富化和训练方案，包括每日两次的笼内行为训练以及每天提供一个装有食物的玩具。笼内行为训练包括通过对期望行为（如靠近笼子前部、坐或躺、被接近时保持安静）进行正强化来进行操作性条件反射。在第0天（进入领养区的第一天）以及第3天，由一名不知情的观察者采用扫描取样技术对实验组（n = 26）和对照组（32只）的犬只进行行为观察。记录身体姿势、在笼内的位置及其他行为参数。比较两组之间的领养信息和行为观察数据。
与对照组相比，实验组中坐或躺的期望行为增加的犬只百分比显著更高（17/26 [65%] 对7/32 [22%]），保持安静的犬只百分比也显著更高（9/26 [35%] 对4/32 [13%]），且跳跃这一不良行为减少的犬只百分比显著更高（15/26 [57%] 对3/32 [9%]）。两组在笼内位置、恐惧程度和眼神接触方面无显著差异。生存分析显示两组在领养率上无显著差异。
结果表明，丰富化方案可改善收容所犬只的期望行为并减少不良行为，这可能会提高其福利水平。
