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Creative Canine: Original Intentional Canine-to-Human Communication and message percentages for each variable to compare with the behavior and message baselines. When calculating survey results, I applied no statistical smoothing, no appropriate algorithms, no scientific controls nor any other mathematical rigor besides basic arithmetic, a calculator and many erasers. Therefore, I likely made some hopefully minor calculation errors, but I believe the effects of such remain for the most part negligible. The limited sample size of some of the data probably had more negative impact. For example, one owner with a toy breed and two hound owners responded resulting in less than ideal representation for these groups. Because this study relies on anecdotal contributions by mostly lay observers with little understanding of animal behavior complexities, anthropomorphism can rear its disputed head. Many scientists discount anecdotal information due to anthropomorphic concerns, the obvious lack of laboratory distance and controlled conditions. Ethologist Marc Bekoff believes that anthropomorphism while unavoidable, can be scientifically valid with proper considerations, and can help make the animal world more accessible to both scientists and lay people. 14 Csányi and his fellow researchers found that lay observers could accurately explain an animal’s behavior without anthropomorphic bias when describing the animal’s actual activity. They also noted that owners tended to report only on situations that happened repeatedly which increased the veracity of the data. 15 As Csányi proposed, the behavior descriptions for this study appeared rather straightforward; however, human-interpreted messages tended to be much more subjective and emotional as would be expected. Results The on-line survey received a total 112 responses with 89 of those applicable. Incomplete surveys were not counted. Some respondents participated more than once and each survey response was counted separately. For this paper, I decided to summarize the highlights and the most interesting observations. Academics, please don’t take umbrage! Behavior Categories (Figure 3) Respondents reported more vocal behavior than any other. This result should not surprise as humans rely on speech to communicate with each other. We constantly talk to our pets as if they understand us, so participants likely attune to vocalizations more than other transmissions. 16 Likewise, humans tend to be highly aware of their dogs’ often obnoxious pawing or nudging. These gesture behaviors ranked second highest for overall communication behaviors. Action behaviors involving more elaborate movements came in next. Complex and modeling appeared to be more inventive and combined several behavior categories. Perhaps anthropomorphism counted for these categories fairly high scores. However, these behaviors produced some Figure 1: Behavior Ethogram Behaviors Definition Action change of position, location or activity to convey message (i.e. sit, down, movement) Complex combination of two or more behaviors to communicate message (does not include modeling) Gaze eye movements including stare, glance or look at a specific person or in specific direction Gesture singular body movement in limited space (pawing, nudging, scratching) Modeling imitation of human-like behavior or action; or the manipulation of objects not normally associated with canine activities Touch a single use of paw or nose to contact a specific person or object Vocal vocalization or other natural dog-made sounds (growling, barking, whimpering) to communicate to a specific human but not to a stranger or unknown situation Figure 2: Message Ethogram Message Definition Potty dog communication interpreted by human to mean a dog!s need to go outside to eliminate Request interpretation that dog requests the human to perform an activity or service for the dog other than related to elimination Affection/Empathy human interprets behavior as an expression of affection or empathy for a particular person Alert Behavior interpreted as a specific warning to its human (not directed to a stranger), an announcement, an attempt to protect human or a non-threatening notification of a situation of which the human should be aware Attention Human interprets the dog seeks human attention for reasons not otherwise listed Avoidance Human interprets behavior as dog!s desire not to be involved with an activity, behavior or situation Beg Human interprets behavior as a request for food or other resource currently possessed by human Greet Human interprets behavior as a pleasurable welcome for a known human Permit Behavior interpreted as seeking human!s approval for a specific action or behavior to be performed by dog Play Behavior interpreted as a an invitation by the dog to the human to engage in play-related activities Pleasure-other Behavior interpreted by human as dog seeking other pleasurable action by human not mentioned elsewhere Other Behavior interpreted as dog communication not mentioned elsewhere unexpected results. Two of the poorest scoring behaviors in the overall results ranked extremely high in these areas. For example, gaze equaled only 8% of the behaviors but a huge 29% of those included in the complex category, a particularly interesting result as researchers cite gaze as > 26 w The APDT Chronicle of the Dog w November/December 2008 www.APDT.com Value Title 100% 75% 50% 25% 0% Figure 3: Behavior Mean Baseline 29% 3% 11% 20% 8% 12% 17% Behavior Baseline Vocal (29%) Touch (3%) Modeling (11%) Gesture (20%) Gaze (8%) Complex (12%) Action (17%)
Value Title 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% Figure 6: Message Behaviors a major dog communication method with both cospecifics and humans. 17 Similarly, touch was the overall lowest ranking behavior at a measly 3% but 26% of the behaviors making up the modeling category and 13% of the complex. The most popular behavior, vocal, was totally absent from reported modeling behaviors. Instead action behaviors topped the modeling mix. Message Categories (Figure 4) General requests (i.e. walks, help) topped the humaninterpreted messages closely followed by attention seeking and the inevitable potty urges. Affection and alert messages closely matched. Seemingly less popular messages were those for play, avoidance, and greet with permission seeking and beg the least popular. In Figure 6, I summarize each message’s most frequent and less frequent behaviors as well as behaviors not used for specific messages. Potty and general requests produced the most varied behavior assortment. Dogs in this survey preferred action behaviors www.APDT.com Figure 4: Message Mean Baseline 4% 5% 3% 5% 2% 5% 18% 11% 10% 21% 14% Message Baseline Other (4%) Play (5%) Permission (3%) Greet (5%) Beg (2%) Avoidance (5%) Attention (18%) Alert (11%) Affection (10%) Request (21%) Potty (14%) Message Most Frequent Behavior(s) Less Frequent Behavior(s) No Behavior(s) in Message Potty vocal, modeling, touch, action, gesture complex gaze Request modeling, action, complex vocal, touch, gaze all represented Affection vocal gesture, action complex, gaze, modeling, touch Alert complex vocal, action, gaze modeling. gesture, touch Attention vocal, gesture complex action, gaze, modeling, touch Avoidance action gesture, modeling complex, gaze, touch, vocal Beg gesture none all others Greet vocal none all others Permission gaze gesture action, complex, modeling, touch, vocal Play action gaze complex, gesture, modelling, touch, vocal Other modeling gaze, vocal action, complex, gesture, touch to request play while gaze was the behavior of choice when they sought permission and gesture for a beg. Dogs used mostly vocal behaviors such as purring, low growls, moans, sighs and other soft sounds to indicate affection. Alert messages involved complex behaviors, such as vocal, action, gaze, and gestures. Humans identified most alerts not as warnings but as announcing visitors or identifying specific situations. Variable Summary AKC Groups Herding dogs represented 40% of the groups so their behavior results closely matched both the overall behavior and message categories. Only sporting and herding breeds included all seven behavior categories while the hound and toy groups had the least, most likely due to their limited sample size. Action behaviors produced a few surprises. Hounds, non-sporting and sporting breeds posted the most action behaviors, but the normally feisty terriers scored no action responses nor did the working dogs with high-energy herding dogs only above the baseline. True to their digging acumen, terriers proved king of gestures. Working breeds and mixes gestured just above the baseline. Non-sporting dogs showed no gesture behaviors. Sporting dog scored considerably and, surprisingly, below the gesture baseline yet these breeds along with herding dogs displayed at least twice the touch baseline behaviors. Hounds obviously proved their vocal mettle but the diverse non-sporting breeds matched them with 50% of their behaviors as vocal and the terriers followed close behind. Sporting breeds seemed the least vocal which may relate to their need stay quiet in the field. Non-sporting dogs also used their eyes to signal the most, three times above the gaze baseline. Sporting dogs and working dogs gazed half as much as the non-sporting breeds. However, Border Collies may feel slighted since herding dogs used gaze only 3% of the time. Working and sporting dogs excelled at the more complex behaviors. Terriers and the sample-limited toys and hounds demonstrated no complex behaviors in this survey. However, terriers mastered modeling behaviors at a rate well above average compared to other breed groups in the survey. Working, mixed, and sporting breeds came close to the average, while non-sporting breeds demonstrated no complex or modeling behaviors. As the owner of a quick-witted Sheltie and hyperactive Malinois, I thought herding dogs would rank higher for the more complicated or action-oriented behaviors. They ranked close to the average for modeling and below for complex behaviors, with their action score only slightly higher than the category average. Herding dogs also were one of two groups to show avoidance and beg messages, both slightly above the average. Herding dogs scored lowest in affection messages. Working dogs sent the most Valentines (nearly four times the average) with sporting and mixes cuddling up with average [continued on next page] November/December 2008 w The APDT Chronicle of the Dog w 27 Creative Canine: Original Intentional Canine-to-Human Communication
Page 1 and 2: The APDT CHRONICLE of the Dog Novem
Page 3 and 4: Ma n a g i n g ed i t o r /co M M u
Page 5 and 6: A Message From the President ... Ke
Page 7 and 8: CANINE BEHAVIOR Handelman $49.95 CH
Page 9 and 10: FREE SAMPLE ISSUE! 2. I have learne
Page 11 and 12: (Riverside, CA) comparing 50 assess
Page 13 and 14: www.APDT.com November/December 2008
Page 15 and 16: they adopt the attitudes that yield
Page 17 and 18: “Give Me a Break!” Recently, a
Page 19 and 20: “We’re back on. This is for you
Page 21 and 22: Hence, an uncertified but enthusias
Page 23 and 24: Teaching Classes Safety First Joan
Page 25: Creative Canine: Original Intention
Page 29 and 30: plus other species evinced a messag
Page 31 and 32: Endotes 1. Miklósi, Á., Topál, J
Page 33 and 34: There’s often a belief that lower
Page 35 and 36: One variable—location—is the sa
Page 37 and 38: woman named Fawn, who said to me,
Page 39 and 40: At Afirst glance, the dog appeared
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Page 43 and 44: Face Diving: When the dog repeatedl
Page 45 and 46: Wide Panting: When the dog’s mout
Page 47 and 48: What the APDT Web Site Can Do For Y
Page 49 and 50: Crate Games for Self Control and Mo
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