From: IN%"Eva.Sondergaard@agrsci.dk" "=?iso-8859-1?Q?Eva_S=F8ndergaard?=" 2-FEB-2004 03:15:17.83 To: IN%"Applied-ethology@sask.usask.ca" CC: Subj: Can horse groups be too large? Hi In our working group on legislation on housing of horses in Denmark we = have discussed the number of animals to be kept in a group. Does anyone = know of investigations on large groups of horses? Is there an upper = limit i.e. will very large groups compromise the welfare of individual = animals? How about group composition? Should the horses be similar in = sex and/or age? Or should they be like the natural horse groups i.e. = haremgroups and bachelorgroups?=20 We have also been discussing the problem of letting very well trained = competition horses loose in paddocks, which during Danish winter = conditions might be very muddy. Horse owners claim that even if you let = them loose in an indoor arena these horses are prone to injury because = of their physical fitness i.e. they will bolt and kick to such an extent = that they may damage tendons and muscles. Has this ever been = investigated? Is there a physical explanation to that behaviour? is it = just too much energy (fed)? I hope for some help on these matters! Eva S=F8ndergaard Forsker/Research scientist Afd. for Husdyrsundhed og Velf=E6rd/Dep. of Animal Health and Welfare Forskningscenter Foulum/Research Centre Foulum 8830 Tjele, Denmark Tlf./ph. +45 89 99 13 19 =20 From: IN%"D.Lexer@gmx.at" "Daniela Lexer" 4-FEB-2004 07:22:05.55 To: IN%"applied-ethology@sask.usask.ca" CC: IN%"christoph.wagner@utanet.at" Subj: animal welfare issues in pet shops Dear all, we are now about to initiate a project evaluating animal welfare issues in Austrian pet shops. However, our search on relevant literature was not as successful as we hoped for. In our study we want to get beside other things some basic information about animal keeping (species, number, cages…) and about pet shop owners (knowledge, attitudes). Perhaps anyone of you has already gained experience (visiting pet shops, questionnaire) in this field or does know relevant literature. Would be great if we get some information. Thanks a lot for your help! Best regards, Daniela & Claudia -- Institut für Tierhaltung und Tierschutz Veterinärmedizinische Universität Wien A-1210 Wien Institute of Animal Husbandry & Animal Welfare University of Veterinary Medicine Austria GMX ProMail (250 MB Mailbox, 50 FreeSMS, Virenschutz, 2,99 EUR/Monat...) jetzt 3 Monate GRATIS + 3x DER SPIEGEL +++ http://www.gmx.net/derspiegel +++ From: IN%"adpvo@yahoo.com" "Andreia De Paula Vieira" 4-FEB-2004 11:16:01.08 To: IN%"D.Lexer@gmx.at" "Daniela Lexer", IN%"applied-ethology@sask.usask.ca" CC: IN%"christoph.wagner@utanet.at" Subj: RE: animal welfare issues in pet shops Liebe Daniela und Claudia, Ich habe etliche Artikeln gefunden. Vielleicht, neue Idee über Pets Verhalten und Gesundheit Forschung erscheint werden! Achtung mit Ansteckende Krankheiten, die sehr allgemeine im Zwinger sind. Es gibt viele Referenzen in der Artikeln. Glück wünschen! m.f.G. aus Brasilien, Andreia An ethical viewpoint: the role of veterinarians and behaviourists in ensuring good husbandry for cats Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, Peter F Neville, 2004, 6, 43-48 Plasma cortisol levels of dogs at a county animal shelter Physiology and Behavior, Michael B Hennessy et al, 1997, 62, 485-490 Reported behaviour problems in pet dogs in Denmark: age distribution and influence of breed and gender Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Jorgen Damkjer Lund et al, 1996, 28, 33-48 and access online these articles... www.ivis.org/advances/Behavior_Houpt/luescher/chapter_frm.asp?LA=1 www.ivis.org/advances/Behavior_Houpt/beata/chapter_frm.asp?LA=1 www.ivis.org/advances/Behavior_Houpt/seksel/chapter_frm.asp?LA=1 www.ivis.org/advances/Behavior_Houpt/schwartz/chapter_frm.asp?LA=1 www.ivis.org/advances/Behavior_Houpt/shorwitz/chapter_frm.asp?LA=1 www.ivis.org/advances/Behavior_Houpt/king/chapter_frm.asp?LA=1 ------------------------------------------------------ Andreia De Paula Vieira, DVM Londrina State University Animal Welfare Researcher ------------------------------------------------------ Daniela Lexer wrote: > Dear all, > > we are now about to initiate a project evaluating > animal welfare issues in > Austrian pet shops. However, our search on relevant > literature was not as > successful as we hoped for. > In our study we want to get beside other things some > basic information about > animal keeping (species, number, cages…) and about > pet shop owners > (knowledge, attitudes). > Perhaps anyone of you has already gained experience > (visiting pet shops, > questionnaire) in this field or does know relevant > literature. Would be great if > we get some information. > Thanks a lot for your help! > > Best regards, > > Daniela & Claudia > > > -- > Institut für Tierhaltung und Tierschutz > Veterinärmedizinische Universität Wien > A-1210 Wien > > Institute of Animal Husbandry & Animal Welfare > University of Veterinary Medicine > Austria > > GMX ProMail (250 MB Mailbox, 50 FreeSMS, > Virenschutz, 2,99 EUR/Monat...) > jetzt 3 Monate GRATIS + 3x DER SPIEGEL +++ > http://www.gmx.net/derspiegel +++ > __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free web site building tool. Try it! http://webhosting.yahoo.com/ps/sb/ From: IN%"storrey@uoguelph.ca" "Stephanie Torrey" 4-FEB-2004 14:09:23.59 To: IN%"applied-ethology@sask.usask.ca" CC: Subj: Peter A. Phillips Does anyone have a current email address for Peter A. Phillips? He was or still is a Research Scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Thanks! Stephanie -- ******************************************* Stephanie Torrey Ph.D. Candidate, Animal Behaviour Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences University of Guelph Guelph, ON, N1G2W1 Canada (519) 824 4120 x56226 ******************************************* From: IN%"pajor@purdue.edu" "Pajor, Edmond A." 5-FEB-2004 14:58:07.35 To: IN%"applied-ethology@sask.usask.ca", IN%"ISAEnet-l@usask.ca" CC: Subj: Graduate students Two graduate student stipends are available in the Livestock Behavior Research unit of the USDA-Agricultural Research Service. This research unit is located on the Purdue University campus and students will need to be admitted to the Purdue, Department of Animal Science Graduate program. The students will work primarily on one of two projects, 1) effects of stress on salmonella infection in swine, using biophotonics as a tool to monitor progression of infections, or 2) assessment of sow well-being. The Livestock Behavior Research unit is a multidisciplinary team of researchers consisting of two ethologists, a stress physiologist, a neurologist, and an immunologist. Our mission is to address issues challenging animal agriculture and pre-harvest food safety. You can review to our web page at: http://ag.ansc.purdue.edu/usda If you are interested, please send your resume to Dr. Donald C. Lay Jr. and apply to the Purdue Animal Science Graduate school and indicate that you are applying to Dr. Lay's program. If you have any questions, contact Dr. Lay at layd@purdue.edu or 765-496-7750 Dr. Ed Pajor. Ph.D. Animal welfare and behavior Dept. of Animal Sciences Purdue University Poultry Science Building 125 S.Russell Street West Lafayette, IN 47904-2042 PH: 765-496-6665 Fax 765-494-9347 Email: pajor@purdue.edu From: IN%"Carol.Petherick@dpi.qld.gov.au" "Petherick, Carol" 5-FEB-2004 22:48:12.13 To: IN%"applied-ethology@sask.usask.ca" "Ethology (E-mail)" CC: Subj: hazing Does anybody have any knowledge of/experience with/references to 'hazing' of animals? - I'm told it generally involves shooting at (non-lethal) animals or discharging firearms, or similar devices, in order to make animals move away from a particular vicinity (I guess gas-guns for frightening birds off crops is an example). A colleague has asked me about the possible effectiveness of such a strategy to make crocodiles so fearful of people that they will avoid them and the areas that people inhabit. Before crocs became protected species here they were hunted and reports are that they were seldom seen by people. Now that they are no longer hunted they are cropping up everywhere - even in the central business districts of towns! Some of this is, no doubt, due to increasing croc populations and increasing encroachment by people into croc habitats, but the belief is that since hunting of crocs was stopped they have become much less fearful of people. My feeling is that hunting probably resulted in selection for crocs that kept out of the way of humans (those that didn't did not pass on their genes!) and that hazing would only be effective if it was continually reinforced because the motivation of crocs to capture and kill prey would be really strong. I'd be interested to hear others' ideas - on the strategy itself and specifically in relation to crocs if anybody out there has any expertise in them. Many thanks Carol "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated" Mahatma Gandhi Carol Petherick Principal Scientist (Animal Behaviour and Welfare) Agency for Food and Fibre Sciences Department of Primary Industries PO Box 6014, Central Qld Mail Centre N. Rockhampton Queensland 4702 Australia Telephone +61 (0)7 4936 0331; Fax +61 (0)7 4936 0390 Email carol.petherick@dpi.qld.gov.au Website www.dpi.qld.gov.au Call Centre 13 25 23 ********************************DISCLAIMER**************************** The information contained in the above e-mail message or messages (which includes any attachments) is confidential and may be legally privileged. It is intended only for the use of the person or entity to which it is addressed. If you are not the addressee any form of disclosure, copying, modification, distribution or any action taken or omitted in reliance on the information is unauthorised. Opinions contained in the message(s) do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Queensland Government and its authorities. If you received this communication in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete it from your computer system network. From: IN%"kc@synalia.com" 6-FEB-2004 10:19:33.19 To: IN%"Carol.Petherick@dpi.qld.gov.au" CC: IN%"applied-ethology@sask.usask.ca" Subj: RE: hazing Dear Carol, There may be a genetic componant to this behavior (avoidance related to hunting) but there is certainly a learned componant. I have watched deer slink out of the woods of a National Forest (where hunting is allowed), during hunting season, to walk into the open meadow 50 feet away in a National Park (hunting never allowed). These deer were apparently aware of where the hunting boundaries were. Besides gas guns, I have heard of rubber pellets, paint balls, salt, and dogs used to make approach unpalatable, where either people, areas, or animals needed protection. Electrified perimeters have had limited success. I have experience with booby trapping off limit areas effectively. This way, the animal is served a consequence when it encroaches on a place or item, even if I am not there to see it. However, this is normally done only in controlled environments. (where one would not inadvertantly expose another kind of animal to the disuasion device). I have found these measures to be very effective with a number of animals and situations. It takes only one to three paired exposures to condition an animal. I think it would be highly effective to "spank" animals accompanied by some sound cue, perhaps in a range not perceptible to humans. Then perimeters could be staked out around towns, campgrounds, etc. It might also be possible to provide people with personal beacons with the same sound, which might even include an alarm connection with some authorities. If the croc ate them or stashed them, the device might also serve as a beacon to guide people trying to hunt the croc/person. Might prevent the death of innocent crocs in case of a mankill. I agree that the temptation to grab soft humans for a late night snack might lead a croc to challenge the perimeters, so enforcement would be necessary, at least for awhile. However, it is possible to be highly effective in changing the predatory habits even of highly successful hunters (with presumably strongly entrenched habits and attitudes) with consistent pressure and consequences. Of course it is helpful it one can get the people to stop feeding the animals (problem with bears and aligators in the US). People not only have been known to feed dangerous animals on purpose, but in Florida, they let their dogs out unaccompanied, sometimes into the jaws of an aligator. Then they are surprized to find the gator stalking their doors. Best, Kayce Kayce Cover, Syn Alia Training Systems http://www.synalia.com 757 630 2000 or 757 619 5557 > Does anybody have any knowledge of/experience with/references to > 'hazing' of animals? - I'm told it generally involves shooting at > (non-lethal) animals or discharging firearms, or similar devices, in > order to make animals move away from a particular vicinity (I guess > gas-guns for frightening birds off crops is an example). > > A colleague has asked me about the possible effectiveness of such a > strategy to make crocodiles so fearful of people that they will avoid > them and the areas that people inhabit. Before crocs became protected > species here they were hunted and reports are that they were seldom > seen by people. Now that they are no longer hunted they are cropping > up everywhere - even in the central business districts of towns! Some > of this is, no doubt, due to increasing croc populations and increasing > encroachment by people into croc habitats, but the belief is that since > hunting of crocs was stopped they have become much less fearful of > people. My feeling is that hunting probably resulted in selection for > crocs that kept out of the way of humans (those that didn't did not > pass on their genes!) and that hazing would only be effective if it was > continually reinforced because the motivation of crocs to capture and > kill prey would be really strong. > > I'd be interested to hear others' ideas - on the strategy itself and > specifically in relation to crocs if anybody out there has any > expertise in them. > > Many thanks > > Carol > > "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the > way its animals are treated" Mahatma Gandhi > > Carol Petherick > Principal Scientist (Animal Behaviour and Welfare) > Agency for Food and Fibre Sciences > Department of Primary Industries > PO Box 6014, Central Qld Mail Centre > N. Rockhampton > Queensland 4702 > Australia > > Telephone +61 (0)7 4936 0331; Fax +61 (0)7 4936 0390 > Email carol.petherick@dpi.qld.gov.au > Website www.dpi.qld.gov.au Call Centre 13 25 23 > From: IN%"ceannicrc@yahoo.com" "Cecilia Lambert" 12-FEB-2004 06:31:52.67 To: IN%"applied-ethology@sask.usask.ca" CC: Subj: Morrell coyote and the big boot Good morning, My coyote that lives in my house was trying to carry one of my big work boots through the doggie door to go outside this morning. The door was too small for her and the boot to get through at the same time. She went through the door, leaving the boot inside. Then, she reached through the door with her muzzle and worked the boot out. Is this an example of "problem solving?" Coyotes are sooo smart. CeAnn ===== CeAnn Lambert Indiana Coyote Rescue Center www.WolfPark.org/ICRC __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance: Get your refund fast by filing online. http://taxes.yahoo.com/filing.html From: IN%"n.robertson@openerg.com" "Nigel Robertson" 15-FEB-2004 17:23:43.01 To: IN%"Applied-ethology@sask.usask.ca" CC: Subj: Dogs home alone Hi everyone, I'm a volunteer with a charity which finds homes for Greyhounds as pets when they finish racing, in England. (You're probably aware that thousands of Greyhounds are put to sleep every year when they retire.) I run our website (www.rgtnottingham.org.uk) and in researching a page on separation anxiety I found your excellent page http://www.usask.ca/wcvm/herdmed/applied-ethology/behaviourproblems/anxiety. html. I was struck by the advice that " Once the dog can be left alone for 1.5 hours, it can usually be left all day". Currently we only accept homes that will limit the time they are left home alone to 1/2 day, this means we are losing some homes of course, where both partners work full time. Could I ask for comments or more information about this? Every home refused is a dog put to sleep so we're very keen to be doing the right thing. Thanks! Nigel Robertson Retired Greyhound Trust Woodborough, Nottingham, UK From: IN%"Carol.Petherick@dpi.qld.gov.au" "Petherick, Carol" 15-FEB-2004 17:38:50.50 To: IN%"n.robertson@openerg.com" "Nigel Robertson", IN%"Applied-ethology@sask.usask.ca" CC: Subj: RE: Dogs home alone Nigel I'm not a "dog expert" by any means, but based on my own experience and that of friends I would suggest (and am very willing to be corrected) that there could be a breed factor involved in this. Some breeds of dogs and their crossbreeds (particularly the "working" ones - and maybe greyhounds fall into this category?) appear to need lots of stimulation and, whilst they may not necessarily suffer separation anxiety (although some appear to), you are likely to return home to a destroyed house or yard if they are left on their own all day (a friend's dog - spaniel - literally burrowed through their kitchen wall one day!). I guess that there are also breeds that are more inclined to form very strong attachments with their owners, and would be more prone to suffer separation anxiety. I don't know if 2 dogs, rather than one would resolve these issues, but it seems intuitive that it would help. Of course, it's not all down to genetics, and the dogs' previous experiences would play significant roles. Carol Carol Petherick Principal Scientist (Animal Behaviour and Welfare) Agency for Food and Fibre Sciences Department of Primary Industries Telephone +61 (0)7 4936 0331; Fax +61 (0)7 4936 0390 Email carol.petherick@dpi.qld.gov.au -----Original Message----- From: Nigel Robertson [mailto:n.robertson@openerg.com] Sent: Monday, 16 February 2004 9:24 AM To: Applied-ethology@skyway.usask.ca Subject: Dogs home alone Hi everyone, I'm a volunteer with a charity which finds homes for Greyhounds as pets when they finish racing, in England. (You're probably aware that thousands of Greyhounds are put to sleep every year when they retire.) I run our website ( www.rgtnottingham.org.uk) and in researching a page on separation anxiety I found your excellent page http://www.usask.ca/wcvm/herdmed/applied-ethology/behaviourproblems/anxiety.html. I was struck by the advice that " Once the dog can be left alone for 1.5 hours, it can usually be left all day". Currently we only accept homes that will limit the time they are left home alone to 1/2 day, this means we are losing some homes of course, where both partners work full time. Could I ask for comments or more information about this? Every home refused is a dog put to sleep so we're very keen to be doing the right thing. Thanks! Nigel Robertson Retired Greyhound Trust Woodborough, Nottingham, UK ********************************DISCLAIMER**************************** The information contained in the above e-mail message or messages (which includes any attachments) is confidential and may be legally privileged. It is intended only for the use of the person or entity to which it is addressed. If you are not the addressee any form of disclosure, copying, modification, distribution or any action taken or omitted in reliance on the information is unauthorised. Opinions contained in the message(s) do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Queensland Government and its authorities. If you received this communication in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete it from your computer system network. From: IN%"applied.ethology@katiestuff.com" "Katie Lukas" 15-FEB-2004 17:46:23.59 To: IN%"Applied-ethology@sask.usask.ca" CC: Subj: RE: Dogs home alone Hi Nigel - Unlike many of the folks on this list, I can't comment as a scientist or ethologist, only as a dog owner, trainer (professionally, I mean), and survivor of a puppyhood with extremely severe separation anxiety (my first dog, Sophie). I personally think that some qualifiers are necessary when it comes to the question of home alone. I *don't* think that leaving a dog confined in a small space (crate) with nowhere to potty and no interaction for eight or more hours is okay, especially if having "busy" parents means having parents with not enough time to play even once they do get home. That said, if the dog is getting plenty of exercise, playtime, and quality time with his people, and he is spending the day in a more open area with opportunities to eliminate appropriately (either in an area or with dog walkers), and which includes water, chewies, and bedding, I believe that that is the kind of environment many dogs would dream of. For my clients, my basic rule of thumb is that if I believe that the people truly care about the dog and are willing to spend both the time and the money to keep him happy and healthy, and, of course, assuming that they are willing to do whatever work is necessary to resolve any major behavioral issues, that wins out over the difference between six hours alone and eight hours alone. When Sophie got older, she was able to spend quite a while on her own, with the run of the house. When she was a puppy, I had to employ a complex network of flexible work hours, dog sitters and walkers, friends, and dashes home. It was difficult, and I was lucky to work at the time in an industry that allowed me to make those adjustments, but I don't think that anyone who knew either of us would have believed we were better without one another. I know I certainly don't. Basically, all I'm really saying here is that if the family is truly invested, and if they can find a way to work full-time while supporting the emotional and physical needs of the dog, that's a lot better than another dead dog or life in a shelter cage. I hope that helps! Katie Lukas Hi everyone, I'm a volunteer with a charity which finds homes for Greyhounds as pets when they finish racing, in England. (You're probably aware that thousands of Greyhounds are put to sleep every year when they retire.) I run our website (www.rgtnottingham.org.uk) and in researching a page on separation anxiety I found your excellent page http://www.usask.ca/wcvm/herdmed/applied-ethology/behaviourproblems/anxiety.html. I was struck by the advice that " Once the dog can be left alone for 1.5 hours, it can usually be left all day". Currently we only accept homes that will limit the time they are left home alone to 1/2 day, this means we are losing some homes of course, where both partners work full time. Could I ask for comments or more information about this? Every home refused is a dog put to sleep so we're very keen to be doing the right thing. Thanks! Nigel Robertson Retired Greyhound Trust Woodborough, Nottingham, UK ------------- Katie Lukas Dog Trainer & Behavioralist http://www.katiek9.com katie@katiek9.com From: IN%"Amanda.Kobelt@dpi.vic.gov.au" 15-FEB-2004 17:55:22.08 To: IN%"n.robertson@openerg.com", IN%"Applied-ethology@sask.usask.ca" CC: Subj: dogs home alone Hi Nigel I would agree with Carol that this is breed dependant to a certain extent. I have just completed my PhD on the behaviour of dogs in backyards in Melbourne, Australia. I focused on Labrador Retrievers and found that many of the factors we intuitively think will be important in affecting dog behaviour were not. The size of the yard, whether there was one or two dogs, the time people spent with their dogs and enrichment with toys had no relationship to the amount of 'problem' behaviour dogs showed when left in the yard. My feeling from my data is that it is the level of attachment to the owner that is more important. Dogs with a 'closer' relationship with their owner (i.e. are kept inside at night, provided with toys etc. are the ones that are more likely to show problem behaviours when left alone in the yard. So I do not think we can simply say that the dogs require a certain amount of human contact or even the presence of another dog. Regards Amanda Amanda Kobelt PhD Student Animal Welfare Science Centre University of Melbourne Australia From: IN%"warblerneck@hotmail.com" "Jo Angleberger" 15-FEB-2004 19:50:54.04 To: IN%"Applied-ethology@sask.usask.ca" CC: Subj: RE: Dogs home alone You wrote: Currently we only accept homes that will limit the time they are left home alone to 1/2 day, this means we are losing some homes of course, where both partners work full time. Could I ask for comments or more information about this? Every home refused is a dog put to sleep so we're very keen to be doing the right thing. ======To add to the valuable replies you've already received, I am compelled to stress that a total physical exam can be quite important when a dog misbehaves home alone. Case in point, I am having my 10 year old dalmatian checked for diabetes because he continues to outwit me and escape from his daytime den (where there are two other dogs he loves), destroying anything left out on counters or tables, eating raw potatoes if accessible, packs of ketchup, anything. I fear that the hunger and thirst I witness from him may indicate a medical problem, driving him to these behaviors. So, it would be good to advise anyone with such an animal that the dog may have a medical problem. Jo Angleberger Maryland _________________________________________________________________ Get some great ideas here for your sweetheart on Valentine's Day - and beyond. http://special.msn.com/network/celebrateromance.armx From: IN%"Gerflannigan@aol.com" 15-FEB-2004 22:46:45.79 To: IN%"Applied-ethology@sask.usask.ca" CC: Subj: RE: Dogs home alone There is a wide range the clinical manifestations of dogs who have separation anxiety. One group of dogs show the signs within the first 1 to 1.5 hours of the day and appear calm for the rest of the day. I surmise that this is what the author was referring to and not that the dogs should be left indefinitely. Some dogs with separation anxiety show signs of distress for the entire day while others only show signs in anticipation of their owners return (perhaps an hour pre-arrival). I would remind that the student paper was written in 1997. If you are limiting your adopters to those that do not leave their dogs alone for longer than 4 hours, I personally believe that you are limiting your pool of homes needlessly. Many adult dogs are left alone for 8 or more hours without causing any problems. Gerry _________________________________________________________________ Gerrard Flannigan DVM, MSc., Diplomate ACVB (behavior) Carolina Veterinary Specialists Greensboro/Charlotte, North Carolina 336-632-0605 (Voice) 336-632-0703 (Fax) gerflannigan@aol.com