Presentation Details
| Pharmacological and Behavioral Interventions Do Not Alter Performance on Canine Impulse Control Tasks Ellen Furlong1, Frida ึster2, Rebecca Singer3, Molly Robinson1, Braden Antle1, Katherine Judy1, Julia Whorton1. 1Transylvania University, Lexington, KY, USA.2Uppsala University, Uppsala Sweden.3Berea College, Berea, KY, USA |
Abstract
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and behavioral training are widely used to address "impulse-control"–related behavioral issues in dogs, but their effects on inhibitory control as a cognitive function are unclear. We tested whether fluoxetine or short-term training alters performance on impulse control tasks. Pet dogs receiving fluoxetine were compared with untreated controls on tasks including the cylinder, A-not-B, middle cup, and V-detour. In a parallel study, minimally trained shelter dogs were tested before and after a brief intervention using the “It’s Yer Choice” game, with controls receiving equivalent human interaction. Across both studies, neither fluoxetine nor short-term training improved task performance. These findings suggest common interventions may not generalize to laboratory measures of inhibitory control and highlight limits in modifying cognitive aspects of impulsivity in dogs.
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