New study on the onset of fear-related avoidance behavior in puppies

[yorkiemini]

Very interesting study. Thanks for posting.

[Mike1975]

First of all I wanna thank you Phill for posting this very interesting study!


But - and this has nothing to do with you of course

There was an EXACT SAME study back in 2010, entitled

"VARIATION IN THE ONSET AND EXPRESSION OF HAZARD AVOIDANCE BEHAVIOR ACROSS THREE BREEDS OF DOMESTIC DOGS"

A Thesis

Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of a Master of Science in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University
By Mary E. Kopechek, B.S.
Graduate Program in Animal Sciences
The Ohio State University
2010

Thesis Committee:
Dr. Joseph Ottobre, Advisor
Dr. Joy Pate, Advisor
Dr. Peter Neville
Dr. Normand St-Pierre


Here is the link
https://etd.ohiolink.edu/rws_etd/doc...8233077/inline

The authors of the 2015 study are
Mary Morrow,
Joseph Ottobre,
Ann Ottobre,
Peter Neville,
Normand St-Pierre,
Nancy Dreschelc,
Joy Patec,

I don't see any Mary E. Kopechek

[Mike1975]

Inspector Gadget strikes again

Mary Morrow IS Mary Kopechek

(The wedding of Luke Adam Morrow and Mary Elizabeth Kopechek on March 17, 2012)

[pstinard]

Originally Posted by Mike1975

First of all I wanna thank you Phill for posting this very interesting study!


But - and this has nothing to do with you of course

There was an EXACT SAME study back in 2010, entitled

"VARIATION IN THE ONSET AND EXPRESSION OF HAZARD AVOIDANCE BEHAVIOR ACROSS THREE BREEDS OF DOMESTIC DOGS"

A Thesis

Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of a Master of Science in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University
By Mary E. Kopechek, B.S.
Graduate Program in Animal Sciences
The Ohio State University
2010

Thesis Committee:
Dr. Joseph Ottobre, Advisor
Dr. Joy Pate, Advisor
Dr. Peter Neville
Dr. Normand St-Pierre


Here is the link
https://etd.ohiolink.edu/rws_etd/doc...8233077/inline

The authors of the 2015 study are
Mary Morrow,
Joseph Ottobre,
Ann Ottobre,
Peter Neville,
Normand St-Pierre,
Nancy Dreschelc,
Joy Patec,

I don't see any Mary E. Kopechek

Theses are often resubmitted to peer-reviewed publications so they receive broader diffusion and acceptance. Masters theses are often very obscure and difficult to access. Kudos to you for finding this one, though. It gives a lot more details and background for the study. It's not behind a paywall for me, but I'm curious. Can everyone else view this thesis?

[pstinard]

Originally Posted by Mike1975

Inspector Gadget strikes again

Mary Morrow IS Mary Kopechek

(The wedding of Luke Adam Morrow and Mary Elizabeth Kopechek on March 17, 2012)

Thank you, Inspector Gadget , for bringing the Masters thesis to everyone's attention. The Literature Review and Introduction should be required reading for dog breeders. Here are some excerpts:

The socialization period begins at approximately three weeks of age and continues to approximately 12 weeks of age (Scott and Fuller, 1965). The period of socialization is one of the most important critical periods of development in the life of an animal. This is the period in which the most critical social relationships are built (Scott and Fuller, 1965). In many animals there is an initial period of imprinting and socialization which allows emotional attachment to any object (normally the mother), that is followed by a period of strong avoidance behavior to novel stimuli.

[..]

By studying hazard avoidance behavior in greater detail and identifying the variation in times of onset in additional breeds of domestic dogs, it is hoped that dog breeders, current and future dog owners, veterinary professionals, behaviorists, and researchers will have a more reliable understanding of fear-related behavioral development in young puppies. This knowledge could be further applied to rearing, training, socialization, and behavioral modification techniques in domestic dogs. In addition, a broader understanding of hazard avoidance behavior could potentially lead to the prevention of some fear-related behavioral problems by increasing the potential for, and understanding of, appropriately-timed exposure and socialization techniques for puppies in the sensitive periods of their development.

[pstinard]

Originally Posted by pstinard

Thank you, Inspector Gadget , for bringing the Masters thesis to everyone's attention. The Literature Review and Introduction should be required reading for dog breeders. Here are some excerpts:

The socialization period begins at approximately three weeks of age and continues to approximately 12 weeks of age (Scott and Fuller, 1965). The period of socialization is one of the most important critical periods of development in the life of an animal. This is the period in which the most critical social relationships are built (Scott and Fuller, 1965). In many animals there is an initial period of imprinting and socialization which allows emotional attachment to any object (normally the mother), that is followed by a period of strong avoidance behavior to novel stimuli.

[..]

By studying hazard avoidance behavior in greater detail and identifying the variation in times of onset in additional breeds of domestic dogs, it is hoped that dog breeders, current and future dog owners, veterinary professionals, behaviorists, and researchers will have a more reliable understanding of fear-related behavioral development in young puppies. This knowledge could be further applied to rearing, training, socialization, and behavioral modification techniques in domestic dogs. In addition, a broader understanding of hazard avoidance behavior could potentially lead to the prevention of some fear-related behavioral problems by increasing the potential for, and understanding of, appropriately-timed exposure and socialization techniques for puppies in the sensitive periods of their development.

Here is more information on the Scott and Fuller (1965) book cited in the thesis. The first forty or so pages are available to read for free in Google books:

Genetics and the Social Behavior of the Dog - John Paul Scott - Google Books

If that whets your appetite, the whole book can be purchased on amazon.com:

Genetics and the Social Behavior of the Dog: John...

The methods of these researchers are a little disturbing, but they were humane for 1965, and the results are fascinating.