Study May Be Of Interest To Breeders

[corvus]

Here's another cool study that may be of interest, particularly to breeders. It's available from Applied Animal Behaviour Science, but it's not free.

Exposure to video images between 3 and 5 weeks of age decreases neophobia in domestic dogs

Jolanda J.T.M. Pluijmakers, b, David L. Appleby and John W.S. Bradshaw

Abstract

Restricted experience in early life is known to contribute to long-lasting predispositions to fear and anxiety in mammals. It is commonplace for young domestic dogs not to experience many features of the environment in which they will spend their adult lives until after 8 weeks of age: simulations of that environment presented before 8 weeks might therefore reduce subsequent fear and anxiety. A series of experiments tested whether fearful and exploratory behaviour up to 8 weeks of age is reduced by exposure to audiovisual playback between 3 and 5 weeks of age. First, it was demonstrated that puppies between 3 and 5 weeks of age do respond to video images. Second, the reactions of puppies, exposed to audiovisual playbacks for 30 min per day for 14 days between 3 and 5 weeks old, to test objects in both familiar and unfamiliar environments, were compared with those of control, unexposed puppies; the unexposed puppies visited most of the objects significantly more frequently than did the exposed puppies. Third, another sample of puppies given the same treatments was tested at 7–8 weeks of age; the unexposed puppies were significantly more fearful than the exposed, and also tended to visit the objects more frequently. Audiovisual simulations therefore appear to be worthy of further investigation as a way of enhancing coping strategies in dogs.

[Bisart Dobes]

The reason we have a tv in the whelping room (and it gives me something to watch when I can't sleep ). They react to the light and shade changes and the audio at 3 weeks and are far more aware and able to focus by 4 weeks - kids programs are more visually exciting to them but the exposure to normal world noises is very valuable I believe.

Still doesn't replace good old socialisation . . .

[Lab lady]

Would be interesting to know what type of video they are being exposed to.

I also have the tv near the whelping box, if it's not on then there is usually music playing.

[HeavyPaws]

My Dane's siblings were shown videos of dogs and puppies playing and the breeders were kind enough to show Mannie and his littermates a home video of our family a few times a week so he got used to the noises of our house and our voices.

Settling him into the home when he was brought home was so easy, and I believe the video helped.

This is something I believe breeders have known for a long time

[Christina]

Not suprised. Even more interesting with kittens. They sit & bat the things on TV & sit there sometimes with their heads going from side to side watching. Its very cute & funny & starts at an early age.

[WreckitWhippet]

The reason we have a tv in the whelping room (and it gives me something to watch when I can't sleep ). They react to the light and shade changes and the audio at 3 weeks and are far more aware and able to focus by 4 weeks - kids programs are more visually exciting to them but the exposure to normal world noises is very valuable I believe.

Still doesn't replace good old socialisation . . .

I make mine watch SBS

[Lab lady]

The reason we have a tv in the whelping room (and it gives me something to watch when I can't sleep ). They react to the light and shade changes and the audio at 3 weeks and are far more aware and able to focus by 4 weeks - kids programs are more visually exciting to them but the exposure to normal world noises is very valuable I believe.

Still doesn't replace good old socialisation . . .

I make mine watch SBS

I suppose that's one way to get them to sleep

[WreckitWhippet]

No, I raise them as tolerant, , multi-cultural puppies. LOL

I was watching something years ago on SBS when the litter was first born and didn't change the TV over until after they'd left.

The more recent litters get whatever is on, the next litter shall have to live through guitar hero , the poor bloody things LOL

[MolassesLass]

It is commonplace for young domestic dogs not to experience many features of the environment in which they will spend their adult lives until after 8 weeks of age: simulations of that environment presented before 8 weeks might therefore reduce subsequent fear and anxiety.

This says more to me about the breeders of dogs than anything - I can't think of any responsible breeder who DOESN'T already know that it's important to expose their pups to everything they're likely to encounter in life before 8 weeks.

[corvus]

I can't think of any responsible breeder who DOESN'T already know that it's important to expose their pups to everything they're likely to encounter in life before 8 weeks.

But you can only do so much with a puppy that isn't fully vaccinated. I know one of the toughest things for me to handle when bringing home a new puppy has been handling the fear of unexpected things. I don't know what the puppy has seen and what they haven't. All I can do is assume that it's going to be scared of just about everything. I've seen plenty of new puppy owners dismayed and bewildered because their puppy is apparently afraid of the world.

[Steve]

I can't think of any responsible breeder who DOESN'T already know that it's important to expose their pups to everything they're likely to encounter in life before 8 weeks.

But you can only do so much with a puppy that isn't fully vaccinated. I know one of the toughest things for me to handle when bringing home a new puppy has been handling the fear of unexpected things. I don't know what the puppy has seen and what they haven't. All I can do is assume that it's going to be scared of just about everything. I've seen plenty of new puppy owners dismayed and bewildered because their puppy is apparently afraid of the world.

Interesting. Corvus are you aware that we have added a new category which is sponsored by Canine Comfort [Fit fur life] to our Dog Owners

Choice awards to cater for people doing this type of stuff to be nominated? Its a good way to get a bit of free publicity and let people know what you guys are up to.

29. Best contribution to Canine Science and or Research. Must be based in Australia.Sponsored by Visit My Website

You can spread the flyers around and let students etc know and nominate via our website Visit My Website

MDBA Dog owners Choice Awards sponsored by

[MolassesLass]

I can't think of any responsible breeder who DOESN'T already know that it's important to expose their pups to everything they're likely to encounter in life before 8 weeks.

But you can only do so much with a puppy that isn't fully vaccinated. I know one of the toughest things for me to handle when bringing home a new puppy has been handling the fear of unexpected things. I don't know what the puppy has seen and what they haven't. All I can do is assume that it's going to be scared of just about everything. I've seen plenty of new puppy owners dismayed and bewildered because their puppy is apparently afraid of the world.

Eh?! What are you trying to say?

[Norskgra]

Our babies are introduced to the TV not long after being whelped. I have also made up a couple of cd's with different sound effects that have been loaded onto an ipod with all different types of music and this played 24/7 from the time they are whelped.

[Steve]

Our babies are introduced to the TV not long after being whelped. I have also made up a couple of cd's with different sound effects that have been loaded onto an ipod with all different types of music and this played 24/7 from the time they are whelped.

Mine are whelped about 2 feet away from the telly

[corvus]

Eh?! What are you trying to say?

That puppies tend to be frightened of new things, regardless of whether they came from a responsible breeder or not.

ETA Thanks for that, Steve.

Edited July 2, 2010 by corvus

[MolassesLass]

Riiight, well, thanks for the random piece of information corvus.

[WreckitWhippet]

Eh?! What are you trying to say?

That puppies tend to be frightened of new things, regardless of whether they came from a responsible breeder or not.

ETA Thanks for that, Steve.

Crap, they are.

Met a 9 week old Rotti pup for the first time this week and you'd have to belt it off with a stick. A very confident, happy little puppy, that I met outside of it's home environment.

[Bisart Dobes]

The reason we have a tv in the whelping room (and it gives me something to watch when I can't sleep ). They react to the light and shade changes and the audio at 3 weeks and are far more aware and able to focus by 4 weeks - kids programs are more visually exciting to them but the exposure to normal world noises is very valuable I believe.

Still doesn't replace good old socialisation . . .

I make mine watch SBS

Multi-lingual - is that why staffies talk like that

[Steve]

I dont think mine are .The new owners are always telling me how they walk in like they have lived there all their lives .

Ive got a litter of 6 week old Maremma babies here now. They are spread out in front of the fire now sound asleep but today they have been chased by a vacumn cleaner ,supervised while I did the washing, helped me make beds,played with the cat and beagle pups and soon they will hang out and watch me get dinner. I expect when they go home they will act as if they are timid as thats what they are bred to do until the new flock accept them but they will also be bombproof and should be afraid of nothing and no one.

[Bisart Dobes]

Eh?! What are you trying to say?

That puppies tend to be frightened of new things, regardless of whether they came from a responsible breeder or not.

A well socialised and well rounded puppy that has been prepared for the big bad world properly will not be scared of new things - they may startle at weird things but they recover and investigate rapidly. Our 2 yr old boy had the open dogs at shows grumbling at him when he was 16 weeks old because he was so full of himself and so confident. I know for a fact that a properly raised puppy will be a confident bold puppy - one that isn't hasn't been socialised and / or is genetically fear based - either is highly undesirable.