Jezierski Tadeusz, Camerlink Irene, Peden Rachel S E, Chou Jen-Yun, Marchewka Joanna
Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Department of Animal Behaviour and Welfare, ul. Postępu 36A, Jastrzębiec, 05-552, Poland.
Newcastle University, School of Natural and Environmental Science, Agriculture Building, NE1 7RU, UK.
Appl Anim Behav Sci. 2021 Aug;241:105395. doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105395. Epub 2021 Jul 1.
The COVID-19 pandemic affects human health, movement and behaviour, and this may consequently influence the behaviour and health of their pets. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pet dogs' behaviour, as reported by their owners, as well as the owners' experience in relation to their dogs. We hypothesized that dog owners who underwent lockdown or quarantine would indicate more behavioural changes in their dogs and experience support in having a dog during the pandemic. An international online survey asked dog owners questions regarding their household, the dog, and dog-related changes during the pandemic. A total of 688 surveys, collected May-June 2020, were analysed. Respondents were from across Europe (87 %), the Americas (9%), and Asia and Australia (together 4%). Data were analysed in GLMM models with a binary distribution and country included as random variable. The main predictor variable was whether the respondent experienced lockdown (300 respondents, 44 %), quarantine (76 respondents, 11 %) or no restrictions (312 respondents, 45 %). Respondents who underwent lockdown or quarantine were 1.8 times more likely to report behavioural changes in their dogs ( = 0.02), with more negative behavioural changes in the dogs reported by respondents in lockdown than expected by chance. However, overall behavioural changes were more often positive (30 %) than negative (24 %). Respondents in lockdown were 2.6 times more likely to report health changes in their dogs ( = 0.02). The dog was perceived as a source of support during the pandemic: 65 % of the respondents indicated reduced tension due to their dog and 47 % indicated that the ability to walk the dog outside was another benefit. Advantages were reported more by respondents in lockdown and quarantine as compared to respondents who did not face these restrictions ( < 0.001). Difficulties in dog care were increased for respondents who experienced lockdown or quarantine ( < 0.01) and those who had no garden as compared to those who did ( < 0.001). One-third of the respondents took dog-related measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, and this was associated with more behavioural changes and more difficulties. In conclusion, lockdown, and to a lesser extent quarantine, may influence the dogs' behaviour and health, or the owners' awareness of it, and can contribute to a perceived tension-reduction in the owners.
新冠疫情影响着人类的健康、活动和行为，因此可能会对其宠物的行为和健康产生影响。本研究的目的是评估新冠疫情对宠物狗行为的影响（由狗主人报告）以及主人与狗相处的体验。我们假设经历封锁或隔离的狗主人会指出他们的狗有更多行为变化，并且在疫情期间养狗能获得支持。一项国际在线调查向狗主人询问了有关他们的家庭、狗以及疫情期间与狗相关的变化等问题。对2020年5月至6月收集的688份调查问卷进行了分析。受访者来自欧洲各地（87%）、美洲（9%）以及亚洲和澳大利亚（共4%）。数据在具有二元分布且将国家作为随机变量的广义线性混合模型（GLMM）中进行分析。主要预测变量是受访者是否经历了封锁（300名受访者，44%）、隔离（76名受访者，11%）或未受限制（312名受访者，45%）。经历封锁或隔离的受访者报告其狗有行为变化的可能性高出1.8倍（ = 0.02），封锁中的受访者报告其狗有更多负面行为变化，超出偶然预期。然而，总体行为变化更多是积极的（30%）而非消极的（24%）。封锁中的受访者报告其狗有健康变化的可能性高出2.6倍（ = 0.02）。在疫情期间，狗被视为一种支持来源：65%的受访者表示因为狗紧张感减轻，47%的受访者表示能带着狗外出散步是另一个好处。与未面临这些限制的受访者相比，封锁和隔离中的受访者报告的好处更多（ < 0.001）。与有花园的受访者相比，经历封锁或隔离的受访者以及没有花园的受访者在照顾狗方面遇到的困难增加（ < 0.01和 < 0.001）。三分之一的受访者采取了与狗相关的措施来预防冠状病毒传播，这与更多行为变化和更多困难相关。总之，封锁以及在较小程度上的隔离，可能会影响狗的行为和健康，或者主人对其的认知，并有助于减轻主人的紧张感。
