The influence of maternal factors on the development of stress reactivity in dogs.

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26450433
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Veterinary medical science
• Research Institution: Jichi Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Nagasawa Miho 自治医科大学, 医学部, ポスト・ドクター (70533082)
• Research Collaborator: SHIBATA You 麻布大学, 獣医学部
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: イヌ / 発達 / ストレス応答 / 母性因子 / コルチゾール

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We investigated the influence of maternal factors on stress reactivity and behavioral characteristics after growth in dogs. Mother dogs and their puppies who gave birth at the Japan Guide Dog Association were subjected. Urinary cortisol and maternal behavior of mother dogs were measured in order to quantify the maternal factors. Puppies' urinary cortisol levels were measured under mild isolation stress as an index of stress reactivity. Urinary cortisol was also measured when puppies entered the training center after coming back from puppy raisers, which was used as an index of stress reactivity to novel environment. We also conducted dog’s behavior and temperament assessment by trainers. As the results, we found that the maternal behavior from the mother dogs affected the puppies’ adaptability to the novel environment after growing up via the stress reactivity at the developmental periods, and also related to the temperament such as training ability and superiority after growth .

Free Research Field

動物行動学