Presentation Details
| A Comparison of Fear and Startle Reactions in Temperament Tests of Sporting and Toy Breeds Mary R.Burch, Douglas V.Ljungren. American Kennel Club, Raleigh, NC, USA |
Abstract
This study compares the fear and startle reactions in the AKC Temperament Test (ATT) for 50
dogs in the AKC Toy breeds group, and 50 dogs in the AKC Sporting breeds group.
Fear and startle reactions were defined as the dog jumping or pulling away from the handler or stimulus, trembling, barking, or showing fearful body language. If the dog showed a fear or startle response, it had to recover within 5 seconds.
Across each of the six AKC Temperament Test categories (Social, Auditory, Visual, Tactile, Proprioceptive, and Unexpected Stimulus), the data were totaled for fear and startle reactions for 50 randomly selected Toy breed dogs and 50 randomly selected Sporting breed dogs.
The numbers of fear and startle reactions were similar across the two groups, however, the Sporting breeds showed more fear and startle reactions in the Auditory and Visual categories.
The three most common specific test items within the six categories for which dogs showed fear or startle reactions included:
1) Auditory - shake large plastic bottle with coins
2) Visual - umbrella opened as dog walks by and,
3) Tactile - walks on a wire grate.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
dogs in the AKC Toy breeds group, and 50 dogs in the AKC Sporting breeds group.
Fear and startle reactions were defined as the dog jumping or pulling away from the handler or stimulus, trembling, barking, or showing fearful body language. If the dog showed a fear or startle response, it had to recover within 5 seconds.
Across each of the six AKC Temperament Test categories (Social, Auditory, Visual, Tactile, Proprioceptive, and Unexpected Stimulus), the data were totaled for fear and startle reactions for 50 randomly selected Toy breed dogs and 50 randomly selected Sporting breed dogs.
The numbers of fear and startle reactions were similar across the two groups, however, the Sporting breeds showed more fear and startle reactions in the Auditory and Visual categories.
The three most common specific test items within the six categories for which dogs showed fear or startle reactions included:
1) Auditory - shake large plastic bottle with coins
2) Visual - umbrella opened as dog walks by and,
3) Tactile - walks on a wire grate.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
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