behaviour

Abstracts: Behaviour and adoptability of hoarded cats admitted to an animal shelter

October 3, 2022October 13, 2022adminLeave a Comment

Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyse the behavioural characteristics and success of adoption for previously hoarded cats. Methods: Shelter records and post-adoption surveys were analysed for hoarded cats ⩾6 months old at intake. A non-standard scoring system was used. Intake scores were allocated contemporaneously, and socialisation scores were applied retrospectively for three time points […]

Abstracts: Dog cognitive development – a longitudinal study

June 4, 2021June 1, 2021adminLeave a Comment

While our understanding of adult dog cognition has grown considerably over the past 20 years, relatively little is known about the ontogeny of dog cognition. To assess the development and longitudinal stability of cognitive traits in dogs, we administered a battery of tasks to 160 candidate assistance dogs at 2 timepoints. The tasks were designed […]

Abstracts: Are observer ratings influenced by prescription? A comparison of Free Choice Profiling and Fixed List methods of Qualitative Behavioural Assessment

July 25, 2016August 5, 2016adminLeave a Comment

Qualitative methods of behavioural assessment use observer rating scales to score the overall demeanour or body language of animals. Establishing the reliability of such holistic approaches requires test and validation of the methods used. Here, we compare two methodologies used in Qualitative Behavioural Assessment (QBA): Fixed-Lists (FL) and Free-Choice Profiling (FCP). A laboratory class of […]

Abstracts: Impacts of visitor number on kangaroos housed in free-range exhibits

August 15, 2015August 12, 2015adminLeave a Comment

Free range exhibits are becoming increasingly popular in zoos as a means to enhance interaction between visitors and animals. However very little research exists on the impacts of visitors on animal behaviour and stress in free range exhibits. We investigated the effects of visitor number on the behaviour and stress physiology of Kangaroo Island (KI) Kangaroos, Macropus […]

Crisis? What Crisis?

February 16, 2013March 1, 2013adminLeave a Comment

Although their behaviour may not equate with some of the clichéd lifestyle changes associated with human midlife crises, a paper published recently in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests emotional highs and lows may also be an inherent characteristic in chimpanzees and orang-utans. An international team that included scientists, zookeepers, and […]