The UK homeless population is increasing. Companion animal ownership amongst homeless people is n... more The UK homeless population is increasing. Companion animal ownership amongst homeless people is not uncommon, but the positive and negative consequences of this association for both humans and animals are unknown. We conducted semi-structured interviews with homeless dog owners covering how their dog impacted them, and how they met the dog’s welfare needs. Twenty-one homeless dog owners were recruited via a dog welfare charity that works with homeless people and their dogs. The interviews were transcribed and analysed thematically. Dogs were reported to provide similar benefits to dogs owned in households, but additionally owner believed they helped facilitate routine, assisted them through mental health issues and provided continuous emotional support. Owners noted difficulties accessing long- and short-term accommodation, and services, such as shops, due to their dog, and generally only entrusted other individuals to look after their dog in urgent cases. All the dogs were reported...
Dog training methods: their use, effectiveness and interaction with behaviour and welfare
Animal Welfare
Historically, pet dogs were trained using mainly negative reinforcement or punishment, but positi... more Historically, pet dogs were trained using mainly negative reinforcement or punishment, but positive reinforcement using rewards has recently become more popular. The methods used may have different impacts on the dogs’ welfare. We distributed a questionnaire to 364 dog owners in order to examine the relative effectiveness of different training methods and their effects upon a pet dog's behaviour. When asked how they trained their dog on seven basic tasks, 66% reported using vocal punishment, 12% used physical punishment, 60% praise (social reward), 51% food rewards and II% play. The owner's ratings for their dog's obedience during eight tasks correlated positively with the number of tasks which they trained using rewards (P< 0.01), but not using punishment (P = 0.5). When asked whether their dog exhibited any of 16 common problematic behaviours, the number of problems reported by the owners correlated with the number of tasks for which their dog was trained using puni...
Context Habitat loss and alteration affect wildlife populations worldwide. Bush encroachment alte... more Context Habitat loss and alteration affect wildlife populations worldwide. Bush encroachment alters landscapes and threatens arid and semi-arid grasslands, but its effects on predator–prey relationships and carnivore community ecology are not well understood. Predation strategies of large predators, for example high-speed pursuits versus ambush from short distances, are likely to be affected differently by bush encroachment. Objectives We assessed how bush encroachment affects overall predation success of cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) and leopards (Panthera pardus) in a savanna landscape under variable fractional woody cover (FWC). We tested if predation success remained relatively unchanged for leopards across a gradient of FWC, and whether cheetah predation was most successful at low to intermediate cover and varied seasonally. Methods Belly scores of predators were measured from camera-trap images collected over 7 years in north-central Namibia and used to index predation success. ...
Owl cafes, where customers view and interact with owls, have become popular in Japan. There are m... more Owl cafes, where customers view and interact with owls, have become popular in Japan. There are multiple aspects of the environment which may be stressful to nocturnal owls, including lighting, tethering and frequent interactions with humans but, to date, welfare has not been investigated. This preliminary study examines the effects of owl cafes and customers on the physiological stress (faecal corticosterone levels [FCL]) and behaviour of the owls. Seven eagle owls (Bubo bubo) and two African scops owls (Ptilopsis leucotis), in two cafes, were studied over an eight-day period. Cafe A (n = 5) was closed for one day per week, whilst cafe B (n = 4) was open every day. In cafe A there was higher FCL in owls during open days than closed days suggesting that the conditions on open days increase stress in owls. Eight of nine owls showed evidence of some aversion or avoidance of humans, whilst no affiliative behaviours were observed. The number of visitor interactions was not associated wi...
A species-specific composite pain scale is a prerequisite for adequate pain assessment. The aim o... more A species-specific composite pain scale is a prerequisite for adequate pain assessment. The aim of this study was to develop a multidimensional pain scale specific to rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) called the Bristol Rabbit Pain Scale (BRPS). The scale was developed over five phases using a unique combination of methods: focus groups and behavioural observation. The first two phases aimed at identifying descriptors to describe a rabbit in pain, and then reducing their number, both using focus groups. A total of 72 pain descriptors were grouped under six categories (Demeanour, Posture, Facial expression, Attention to the painful area, Audible and Other) and ‘No pain’ descriptors were added. The third phase aimed to confirm, through video observation of rabbits, the categories and descriptors previously described, to reject those terms that were ambiguous, and identify any new descriptors that had not been included in the previous list of descriptors. This led to the rejection of the...
In Africa, wildlife-watching experiences create substantial revenue from tourists that can financ... more In Africa, wildlife-watching experiences create substantial revenue from tourists that can finance wildlife conservation. Horseback safaris, where an experienced guide takes guests through the bush on horseback to observe plains game species, are a popular activity. Close encounters between ridden horses and game species are unnatural and potentially stressful situations, and horseback safaris may have adverse impacts on both the horses and the wildlife they have come to observe. This study aims to provide a preliminary insight into the behavioural responses of horses and herbivorous plains game species, including giraffe, zebra and impala, as a proxy measure of the potential welfare implications of horseback safaris. Seventeen group safari rides were observed encompassing 72 encounters with plains game species. Game species differed in their response to encounters with the horseback safari ride. Equine response behaviour appeared to be influenced by the species of game encountered....
Korotkoff sounds describe the reverberation auscultated during the traditional human method of bl... more Korotkoff sounds describe the reverberation auscultated during the traditional human method of blood pressure assessment. The aim of this study was to identify whether Korotkoff sounds can be auscultated in dogs and to investigate if this technique is comparable to other indirect methods of blood pressure assessment.
Each DAD showed significant changes in variance of at least one trained attention-seeking behavio... more Each DAD showed significant changes in variance of at least one trained attention-seeking behaviour, with several dogs also showing changes in non-trained behaviours such as Change of State, Playing with Owner and potential stress-related behaviours (Yawning and Lip-Licking). This is the first study to objectively show that DADs differ in their behaviour during periods of owner glucose fluctuation and further highlights the individuality of responses.
The effects of games on the dog-owner relationship
Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science, 2003
It is often claimed that certain dominance-related problems in dogs can be triggered by the games... more It is often claimed that certain dominance-related problems in dogs can be triggered by the games played by dog and owner. In particular it is thought that allowing a dog to win uncontrolled games such as Tug-of-War will increase the likelihood of it attempting to become dominant over its owner. However questionnaires (Goodloe & Borchelt, 1998) and experimental studies of Labrador and Golden Retrievers (Rooney & Bradshaw, 2002) have found no evidence for these postulated effects. In this paper we further investigate possible links between the types of games played in the domestic environment and both dominance and attachment dimensions of the dog-owner relationship.
Objective To provide an overview of pain and analgesia in rabbits with the aim of developing a mo... more Objective To provide an overview of pain and analgesia in rabbits with the aim of developing a more accurate understanding of these topics. To illustrate and discuss the areas that have advanced in recent years and those that still require further research.
Introduction The success of the domestic dog as a species depends upon its ability to interact so... more Introduction The success of the domestic dog as a species depends upon its ability to interact socially with members of its own species and, crucially, with humankind. Effective interaction depends upon both a repertoire of signals whereby social intentions can be expressed, and also the cognitive ability to interpret the behavior of others. For the dog, both of these abilities must inevitably be derived from those of their ancestral species, the grey wolf, Canis lupus , and many traditional accounts of dog behavior have borrowed heavily from studies of wolves (e.g. Fox, 1973). However, over the past decade scientific consensus has shifted dramatically in two areas, both of which call into question the reliability of these comparisons. Firstly, studies of wolf packs in the wild have painted a very different picture of their social organization than had previously emerged from studies of captive wolves. Secondly, the cognitive abilities of the domestic dog have been shown to have been markedly altered by domestication. Field studies of wild wolf packs have revealed that the natural unit of wolf society is the family (e.g. Mech, 1999), casting doubt on the validity of much previous research using captive packs. Wild packs are usually kin-selected units in which young adults assist their parents for one or two breeding seasons before dispersing. Neighboring packs tend to avoid contact with one another, but when they do meet, unrestrained conflict is likely to occur (Mech & Boitani, 2003). Most of the classic studies of captive wolves (e.g. Rabb et al. , 1967; Schenkel, 1947; van Hooff & Wensing, 1987; Zimen, 1975) were conducted on artificially assembled groups of unrelated adults. Prevented from dispersing, and presumably perceiving one another as originating from different packs and therefore competitors, most of these wolves were placed in the position of having to fight before they could reproduce. From the outcome of these competitions grew the concept of the wolf “dominance hierarchy,” in which one male and one female wolf, the “alphas,” suppressed breeding in all the other adults through aggression. By contrast, in most natural packs the non-breeding members, both pre- and post-reproductive, have chosen to remain with the breeding pair rather than disperse. The term “alpha” is therefore redundant because it simply becomes a synonym for “parent” (Mech, 2008).
Bush encroachment is a habitat change phenomenon that threatens savanna and grassland ecosystems ... more Bush encroachment is a habitat change phenomenon that threatens savanna and grassland ecosystems worldwide. In Africa, large carnivores in bush encroached landscapes must adjust to increasing woody plant cover and biomass, which could affect predation success at multiple stages through complex and context-dependent pathways. We highlight, interpret, and compare studies that assessed how bush encroachment or related habitat parameters affect the predation stages of large African carnivores. Bush encroachment may directly or indirectly affect predation success in various ways, including by: (1) altering habitat structure, which may affect hunting efficiency and prey accessibility; (2) changing prey abundance/distribution, with smaller species and browsers being potentially favoured; (3) influencing interference competition within the carnivore guild. For habitat or dietary specialists, and subordinate predators that are vulnerable to both top-down and bottom-up ecosystem effects, thes...
Simple Summary Dental disease affects many dogs worldwide and is believed to be particularly prob... more Simple Summary Dental disease affects many dogs worldwide and is believed to be particularly problematic for racing greyhounds. It costs the industry and rehoming charities financially and likely causes unnecessary suffering to a large number of dogs. The risk factors for dental disease in this population are debated, and the best methods to overcome it are relatively unresearched. We carried out a trial in which 160 racing greyhounds were divided into three groups. The staff looking after them either brushed their teeth daily, weekly or never, for a period of two months. An experimenter measured the dog’s level of calculus (hardened dental plaque) and gingivitis (gum inflammation) at the start, and again after two months. We found that both weekly and daily brushing resulted in significant reductions in calculus, but for gingivitis only daily brushing resulted in a significant reduction. The effects, however, were not noticeable on the front incisor teeth. Since the staff implement...
The UK homeless population is increasing. Companion animal ownership amongst homeless people is n... more The UK homeless population is increasing. Companion animal ownership amongst homeless people is not uncommon, but the positive and negative consequences of this association for both humans and animals are unknown. We conducted semi-structured interviews with homeless dog owners covering how their dog impacted them, and how they met the dog’s welfare needs. Twenty-one homeless dog owners were recruited via a dog welfare charity that works with homeless people and their dogs. The interviews were transcribed and analysed thematically. Dogs were reported to provide similar benefits to dogs owned in households, but additionally owner believed they helped facilitate routine, assisted them through mental health issues and provided continuous emotional support. Owners noted difficulties accessing long- and short-term accommodation, and services, such as shops, due to their dog, and generally only entrusted other individuals to look after their dog in urgent cases. All the dogs were reported...
Dog training methods: their use, effectiveness and interaction with behaviour and welfare
Animal Welfare
Historically, pet dogs were trained using mainly negative reinforcement or punishment, but positi... more Historically, pet dogs were trained using mainly negative reinforcement or punishment, but positive reinforcement using rewards has recently become more popular. The methods used may have different impacts on the dogs’ welfare. We distributed a questionnaire to 364 dog owners in order to examine the relative effectiveness of different training methods and their effects upon a pet dog's behaviour. When asked how they trained their dog on seven basic tasks, 66% reported using vocal punishment, 12% used physical punishment, 60% praise (social reward), 51% food rewards and II% play. The owner's ratings for their dog's obedience during eight tasks correlated positively with the number of tasks which they trained using rewards (P< 0.01), but not using punishment (P = 0.5). When asked whether their dog exhibited any of 16 common problematic behaviours, the number of problems reported by the owners correlated with the number of tasks for which their dog was trained using puni...
Context Habitat loss and alteration affect wildlife populations worldwide. Bush encroachment alte... more Context Habitat loss and alteration affect wildlife populations worldwide. Bush encroachment alters landscapes and threatens arid and semi-arid grasslands, but its effects on predator–prey relationships and carnivore community ecology are not well understood. Predation strategies of large predators, for example high-speed pursuits versus ambush from short distances, are likely to be affected differently by bush encroachment. Objectives We assessed how bush encroachment affects overall predation success of cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) and leopards (Panthera pardus) in a savanna landscape under variable fractional woody cover (FWC). We tested if predation success remained relatively unchanged for leopards across a gradient of FWC, and whether cheetah predation was most successful at low to intermediate cover and varied seasonally. Methods Belly scores of predators were measured from camera-trap images collected over 7 years in north-central Namibia and used to index predation success. ...
Owl cafes, where customers view and interact with owls, have become popular in Japan. There are m... more Owl cafes, where customers view and interact with owls, have become popular in Japan. There are multiple aspects of the environment which may be stressful to nocturnal owls, including lighting, tethering and frequent interactions with humans but, to date, welfare has not been investigated. This preliminary study examines the effects of owl cafes and customers on the physiological stress (faecal corticosterone levels [FCL]) and behaviour of the owls. Seven eagle owls (Bubo bubo) and two African scops owls (Ptilopsis leucotis), in two cafes, were studied over an eight-day period. Cafe A (n = 5) was closed for one day per week, whilst cafe B (n = 4) was open every day. In cafe A there was higher FCL in owls during open days than closed days suggesting that the conditions on open days increase stress in owls. Eight of nine owls showed evidence of some aversion or avoidance of humans, whilst no affiliative behaviours were observed. The number of visitor interactions was not associated wi...
A species-specific composite pain scale is a prerequisite for adequate pain assessment. The aim o... more A species-specific composite pain scale is a prerequisite for adequate pain assessment. The aim of this study was to develop a multidimensional pain scale specific to rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) called the Bristol Rabbit Pain Scale (BRPS). The scale was developed over five phases using a unique combination of methods: focus groups and behavioural observation. The first two phases aimed at identifying descriptors to describe a rabbit in pain, and then reducing their number, both using focus groups. A total of 72 pain descriptors were grouped under six categories (Demeanour, Posture, Facial expression, Attention to the painful area, Audible and Other) and ‘No pain’ descriptors were added. The third phase aimed to confirm, through video observation of rabbits, the categories and descriptors previously described, to reject those terms that were ambiguous, and identify any new descriptors that had not been included in the previous list of descriptors. This led to the rejection of the...
In Africa, wildlife-watching experiences create substantial revenue from tourists that can financ... more In Africa, wildlife-watching experiences create substantial revenue from tourists that can finance wildlife conservation. Horseback safaris, where an experienced guide takes guests through the bush on horseback to observe plains game species, are a popular activity. Close encounters between ridden horses and game species are unnatural and potentially stressful situations, and horseback safaris may have adverse impacts on both the horses and the wildlife they have come to observe. This study aims to provide a preliminary insight into the behavioural responses of horses and herbivorous plains game species, including giraffe, zebra and impala, as a proxy measure of the potential welfare implications of horseback safaris. Seventeen group safari rides were observed encompassing 72 encounters with plains game species. Game species differed in their response to encounters with the horseback safari ride. Equine response behaviour appeared to be influenced by the species of game encountered....
Korotkoff sounds describe the reverberation auscultated during the traditional human method of bl... more Korotkoff sounds describe the reverberation auscultated during the traditional human method of blood pressure assessment. The aim of this study was to identify whether Korotkoff sounds can be auscultated in dogs and to investigate if this technique is comparable to other indirect methods of blood pressure assessment.
Each DAD showed significant changes in variance of at least one trained attention-seeking behavio... more Each DAD showed significant changes in variance of at least one trained attention-seeking behaviour, with several dogs also showing changes in non-trained behaviours such as Change of State, Playing with Owner and potential stress-related behaviours (Yawning and Lip-Licking). This is the first study to objectively show that DADs differ in their behaviour during periods of owner glucose fluctuation and further highlights the individuality of responses.
The effects of games on the dog-owner relationship
Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science, 2003
It is often claimed that certain dominance-related problems in dogs can be triggered by the games... more It is often claimed that certain dominance-related problems in dogs can be triggered by the games played by dog and owner. In particular it is thought that allowing a dog to win uncontrolled games such as Tug-of-War will increase the likelihood of it attempting to become dominant over its owner. However questionnaires (Goodloe & Borchelt, 1998) and experimental studies of Labrador and Golden Retrievers (Rooney & Bradshaw, 2002) have found no evidence for these postulated effects. In this paper we further investigate possible links between the types of games played in the domestic environment and both dominance and attachment dimensions of the dog-owner relationship.
Objective To provide an overview of pain and analgesia in rabbits with the aim of developing a mo... more Objective To provide an overview of pain and analgesia in rabbits with the aim of developing a more accurate understanding of these topics. To illustrate and discuss the areas that have advanced in recent years and those that still require further research.
Introduction The success of the domestic dog as a species depends upon its ability to interact so... more Introduction The success of the domestic dog as a species depends upon its ability to interact socially with members of its own species and, crucially, with humankind. Effective interaction depends upon both a repertoire of signals whereby social intentions can be expressed, and also the cognitive ability to interpret the behavior of others. For the dog, both of these abilities must inevitably be derived from those of their ancestral species, the grey wolf, Canis lupus , and many traditional accounts of dog behavior have borrowed heavily from studies of wolves (e.g. Fox, 1973). However, over the past decade scientific consensus has shifted dramatically in two areas, both of which call into question the reliability of these comparisons. Firstly, studies of wolf packs in the wild have painted a very different picture of their social organization than had previously emerged from studies of captive wolves. Secondly, the cognitive abilities of the domestic dog have been shown to have been markedly altered by domestication. Field studies of wild wolf packs have revealed that the natural unit of wolf society is the family (e.g. Mech, 1999), casting doubt on the validity of much previous research using captive packs. Wild packs are usually kin-selected units in which young adults assist their parents for one or two breeding seasons before dispersing. Neighboring packs tend to avoid contact with one another, but when they do meet, unrestrained conflict is likely to occur (Mech & Boitani, 2003). Most of the classic studies of captive wolves (e.g. Rabb et al. , 1967; Schenkel, 1947; van Hooff & Wensing, 1987; Zimen, 1975) were conducted on artificially assembled groups of unrelated adults. Prevented from dispersing, and presumably perceiving one another as originating from different packs and therefore competitors, most of these wolves were placed in the position of having to fight before they could reproduce. From the outcome of these competitions grew the concept of the wolf “dominance hierarchy,” in which one male and one female wolf, the “alphas,” suppressed breeding in all the other adults through aggression. By contrast, in most natural packs the non-breeding members, both pre- and post-reproductive, have chosen to remain with the breeding pair rather than disperse. The term “alpha” is therefore redundant because it simply becomes a synonym for “parent” (Mech, 2008).
Bush encroachment is a habitat change phenomenon that threatens savanna and grassland ecosystems ... more Bush encroachment is a habitat change phenomenon that threatens savanna and grassland ecosystems worldwide. In Africa, large carnivores in bush encroached landscapes must adjust to increasing woody plant cover and biomass, which could affect predation success at multiple stages through complex and context-dependent pathways. We highlight, interpret, and compare studies that assessed how bush encroachment or related habitat parameters affect the predation stages of large African carnivores. Bush encroachment may directly or indirectly affect predation success in various ways, including by: (1) altering habitat structure, which may affect hunting efficiency and prey accessibility; (2) changing prey abundance/distribution, with smaller species and browsers being potentially favoured; (3) influencing interference competition within the carnivore guild. For habitat or dietary specialists, and subordinate predators that are vulnerable to both top-down and bottom-up ecosystem effects, thes...
Simple Summary Dental disease affects many dogs worldwide and is believed to be particularly prob... more Simple Summary Dental disease affects many dogs worldwide and is believed to be particularly problematic for racing greyhounds. It costs the industry and rehoming charities financially and likely causes unnecessary suffering to a large number of dogs. The risk factors for dental disease in this population are debated, and the best methods to overcome it are relatively unresearched. We carried out a trial in which 160 racing greyhounds were divided into three groups. The staff looking after them either brushed their teeth daily, weekly or never, for a period of two months. An experimenter measured the dog’s level of calculus (hardened dental plaque) and gingivitis (gum inflammation) at the start, and again after two months. We found that both weekly and daily brushing resulted in significant reductions in calculus, but for gingivitis only daily brushing resulted in a significant reduction. The effects, however, were not noticeable on the front incisor teeth. Since the staff implement...
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Papers by Nicola Rooney