1/14/2024 0 Comments Canine science collaboratory![]() Shelters are constantly looking for ways to get animals into homes. Instead of a one-day baseline, they’ll be collecting a two-day sample. They were recently awarded a grant to carry out this study at four shelters across the U.S. Gunter has been carrying out the study in collaboration with a researcher at Carroll College in Helena, Montana. That’s something they can’t get at the shelter because they have a lot of noisy neighbors.” The dogs are getting a good night’s sleep. ![]() That could be one mechanism by which we’re seeing this reduction in cortisol. “Getting good, uninterrupted sleep could benefit them as well. “Is sleep potentially a component to their welfare?” she said. We didn’t imagine that just one night out would make a difference.”Īnecdotally, people who took a dog home for a sleepover reported that after the dog settled down, it would immediately go for a long sleep. “When we saw the cortisol had significantly reduced on just one overnight, that was pretty exciting. “We’re trying to get more at the dog’s welfare, how they’re feeling on a larger timescale, not just 10 or 15 minutes,” Gunter said. The researchers took cortisol samples at three time points: the dog at the shelter, the dog at the sleepover and the dog back at the shelter. Lowered stress levels could allow the dog to behave more naturally, giving people a better view of the dog’s true personality. We knew it at least dropped for one night.” “When they returned the next day, it was the same. “We saw one night out significantly reduced their cortisol,” Gunter said. She also took a behavioral snapshot of each dog, asking such questions as: What’s he like on a leash? What’s he like when he sees another dog? What’s he like when you come into his kennel? Gunter measured levels of cortisol, a diurnal hormone that is a measure of stress. “Is that what someone will see in their house? … That has been a challenge in sheltering.” “We wanted to see how one night out of the shelter would impact the dogs,” Gunter said. The question she had was this: Is their behavior on the sleepover predictive? Gunter looked at the sleepover program offered by Best Friends, where visitors can take a dog back to their hotel room for the night. People come and take weeklong “volunteer vacations.” It’s a popular vacation destination for pet lovers. About 1,600 dogs and cats live there, visited by about 30,000 people per year. Lisa Gunter, a doctoral candidate studying behavioral neuroscience at the Canine Science Collaboratory in the Department of Psychology, began the project as a pilot study at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah, the largest no-kill shelter in the country. If you wish to inquire about participating with your pooch, send your inquiries to: *protected email* NOTE: the ASU Canine Science Collaboratory in the Department of Psychology is often looking for local dogs to participate in their gentle studies. The study results proved that the dog’s cortisol level was measurably reduced and the dog’s enjoyed a good night’s sleep. Imagine the Pup joy for any shelter dog that is given a special furr-lough away from the fray of their confinement. While I have encouraged local shelters to adopt a similar program, many are reticent to assume the liability or lack the volunteer resource to implement it.įortunately, Best Friends and ASU are now collaborating on a special study to determine the beneficial effects for shelter pets to seek refuge, if only for a night, away from the stress of their daily environment. I personally took advantage of a dog-day afternoon, walking one of their shelter dogs in the high country. Similarly, the Aspen Animal Shelter in Colorado offers the same opportunity. Visit their site for more information about their life-saving efforts. Best Friends is the largest no-kill shelter in the country. I especially enjoyed learning more about Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah and a special sleepover program which allows visitors to host a shelter pet overnight (in their hotel room). As an ASU Alumni, and fierce advocate for all dogs, especially those living in shelters, I was thrilled to read the article below in ASU News recently.
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