Dawson Jessica K, Tepper Deanna L, Ruby Matthew B, Howell Tiffani J, Bennett Pauleen C
Anthrozoology Research Group, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia.
School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia.
Animals (Basel). 2025 Aug 6;15(15):2302. doi: 10.3390/ani15152302.
Millions of puppies are welcomed into the homes of families around the world each year. However, understanding the ways in which puppies are bred and raised by their breeders, as well as the perspectives and perceptions underpinning these practices, is still in its infancy. The current study administered an online survey to 200 Australian dog breeders to investigate their breeding program characteristics, breeding dog selection, understanding of the importance of early experiences in puppyhood, and the extent and diversity of their puppy rearing and socialisation practices. Results indicated that breeders were motivated by breed improvement and producing dogs for themselves rather than providing companion dogs, despite most of their puppies being placed in companionship roles. The participating breeders also acknowledged the important role they play in shaping puppies' behaviour and temperament, which was reflected in both their breeding dog selection and in their rearing and socialisation practices. The majority of breeders housed their litters within their residence for the initial weeks of life but the socialisation experiences they provided were variable in type and frequency. Longer-term breeders and those with larger, more intensive programs reported providing human-focused socialisation experiences less frequently, though the correlational nature of these findings require cautious interpretation. Whilst future research should endeavor to explore these results more comprehensively among a more diverse sample, these findings provide valuable insight into the breeding, rearing, and socialisation process undertaken by dog breeders in Australia.
每年，数以百万计的幼犬受到世界各地家庭的欢迎。然而，了解幼犬饲养者繁育和饲养幼犬的方式，以及支撑这些做法的观点和看法，仍处于起步阶段。当前的研究对200名澳大利亚犬类饲养者进行了一项在线调查，以探究他们的繁育计划特点、种犬选择、对幼犬早期经历重要性的理解，以及他们饲养和社会化幼犬做法的程度和多样性。结果表明，饲养者的动机是品种改良以及为自己培育犬只，而非提供伴侣犬，尽管他们的大多数幼犬最终都成为了伴侣犬。参与调查的饲养者也承认他们在塑造幼犬行为和性格方面所起的重要作用，这在他们选择种犬以及饲养和社会化幼犬的做法中都有所体现。大多数饲养者在幼犬出生后的最初几周将它们养在自己家中，但他们提供的社会化体验在类型和频率上各不相同。长期从事繁育工作的饲养者以及那些繁育规模更大、更密集的饲养者报告称，他们较少提供以人类为中心的社会化体验，不过这些结果的相关性需要谨慎解读。虽然未来的研究应努力在更多样化的样本中更全面地探索这些结果，但这些发现为澳大利亚犬类饲养者的繁育、饲养和社会化过程提供了有价值的见解。
