ABS 2023
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A Case Study Approach to Characterizing Maternal Behaviors in Commercial Breeding and Working Dog Populations
Aynsley C. Romaniuk1, Lucia Lazarowski 2, Shanis Barnard1, Lane Montgomery2, Candace Croney1. 1Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States; 2Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, United States

Maternal care is essential for offspring survival and welfare in domestic dogs. The characterization of maternal care and factors that affect its expression differ between populations. Thus, to further understand these topics, it is essential to explore maternal care in different populations using standardized methodology. The current study investigated maternal behaviors in a working dog population (n=8 dams) and a US commercial breeding kennel (CBK) (n=12 dams). Dams’ maternal behaviors were continuously recorded�at three time points�on days�three, seven, ten, fourteen, seventeen, and twenty-one post whelping. Data were analyzed separately for each population using descriptive statistics and generalized linear models. Results showed that patterns of maternal care were consistent with other populations and factors such as day, time, parity, litter size, and whelping type affected its expression. Implications for this work include a basis for caretakers in different populations to monitor dams’ maternal behaviors and intervene when warranted.�This may aid in supporting dams’ welfare when providing maternal care and their puppies’ welfare while with dams and throughout adulthood.�