- Email: [email protected]
Monitoring of dog bites toward people in an urban environment: an example of an integrated approach
Abstracts CAN WE EMPLOY EYE-TRACKER FOR STUDYING DOGS’ COMMUNICATIVE SKILLS? A GAZE-FOLLOWING EXPERIMENT an1, J ozsef Top al1,*, Anna Gergely2, Krisztina Kup 1 Ern} o T egl as 1 Institute for Psychology, Hungarian Academy of Science, H-2132, Victor Hugo 18-22, Hungary, Budapest 2 Department of Ethology, Eotvos University, H-1117, Pazmany P. s. 1/c, Hungary, Budapest *Corresponding author: [email protected] Recent evidence suggests that gaze following is tied to ostensive contexts in human infants and this behavior may serve communicative purposes in early human development. It has also been hypothesized that eye gaze is both perceived and produced as a communicative cue by dogs. Dogs often rely on visual signals (looking and gaze alternation) which may be functionally similar to those used by humans. These findings raise the question whether dogs show increased tendency to follow human eye gaze in communicative context as compared to a non-communicative context, and whether this behavior can be studied by eye-tracking techniques, which have been used successfully for collecting data on infants’ looking behavior. In our experiment we employed video presentation of a human actor turning toward one of two objects and recorded dogs’ gaze-following behavior with eye tracker techniques (Tobii 1750 Eye Tracker). Demonstrations started with a scene with a woman, seated behind a table, facing down. Two objects were placed on the table, one to each side of the human. The videos consisted of three phases: 1) baseline – the human remained still for some seconds, 2) attention-getting – either by non-communicative signals or by communicative cues, 3) gazing – the human turned her head toward one of the two objects. Results showed that eye tracker technique is suitable for recording dogs’ looking behavior. Importantly, however, head turning is not simply perceived as a referential cue; ostensivecommunicative addressing signals facilitates gaze-following in dogs. This finding raises the possibility that dogs may understand some aspects of human communicative motives. Key words: communication; eye-tracker technique
87 storymaking. Dogs (as a medium) have been with us throughout the Holocene; what does dog-as-medium reveal to us about a shared evolutionary aesthetic? Vicki Hearne, writing about the investigation of human and/ as animal consciousness characterizes both as ‘an investigation of language, and this ought to remind us of what an investigation of language is.’’ Does this kind of cross-cultural cross-species conduct leave us, as Temple Grandin has wondered, lost in translation? Language at its most abstract can be understood as a secondary and tertiary semiotic system. Humans are probably the only ones around who get to the tertiary part of this, but many other creatures (dogs, bees, horses, chimps, rats) can be said to ‘‘speak’’ in the sense that they use a secondary semiotic systemdthey rely on signs to communicate messages. Whatever it is that enables a mind to formulate a link between a signifier and a signified, they got it. We can argue about the degree to which these links are negotiable for any individual animal, but they’re there. Linguists Lakoff and Johnson have demonstrated that reason, even in its most abstract form, makes use of rather than transcends our animal nature and in doing so, affirms the co-evolutionary relationships we have with certain animals, especially dogs, not by separating us from them but placing us on a semiotic continuum. Brian Boyd observes that ‘‘a bio-cultural approach to literature simply requires that we take seriously that evolution has powerfully shaped not just our bodies but also our minds and behavior." Boyd also notes that techniques for dealing with mind are ‘‘computationally expensive’’, requiring longer and more complex linguistic devices. As the vocabulary and tactics are invented they can be shared, used and accumulated so that the repertoire of story increases over time. But this accumulation is not free; it requires resources. Children must be educated in the use of these terms and techniques; the dog must be trained. Those who have learned their lessons will have symbol and gesture available for use in reflection and storytelling. Key words: dog; language; co-evolution; storytelling
DOES THE SEMIOTIC DOG BITE: BEHAVIOR AS STORYTELLING J. Morstad* Division of Humanities, Everett Dick Administration Building Room 409, Union College, 3800 S. 48th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska 68506, USA *Corresponding author: [email protected]; Phone: 1 402 483 7403
MONITORING OF DOG BITES TOWARD PEOPLE IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT: AN EXAMPLE OF AN INTEGRATED APPROACH Angelo Gazzano1,*, Chiara Mariti1, Carlo Ciceroni2, Enrico Loretti2, Zilocchi Marcella1, Martelli Franco1 1 Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiologiche - Universita` di Pisa – viale delle Piagge, 2 56124 Pisa, Italy 2 A.U.S.L., 10 viale Corsica, 4 50127, Firenze, Italy *Corresponding author: [email protected]; Phone: 139 050 2216843; Fax: 139 050 2216851
Storytelling is a behavior that exists in all human cultures. Story is play; as a form of cognitive play, it appeals to us for the rich inferences that pattern allows. Humans have enticed domestic animals into forms of play that parallel
Canine aggression toward people is a topic that should be tackled and analyzed scientifically. The aim of this research was to assess the epidemiology of dog bites toward people in an urban environment using an integrated approach.
88
Journal of Veterinary Behavior, Vol 6, No 1, January/February 2011
Bites occurring in the years 2002-2007 in Florence were monitored by using medical reports from first aid stations and reports for rabies prophylaxis. In total data on 1,272 cases was gathered, and where necessary and possible, data were integrated with others from the dogs’ registry office. Almost all injuries were slight, such as scratches, contusions, lacerated and lacerated-contused wounds (98.7%). Arms and legs were more frequently targeted (77.8%). People more often bitten were 41 to 65 years old (29.3%); those between 11 and 20 years, 21 to 40 years and greater than 65 years were bitten in 17-18% of cases. Children were less commonly injured: 0 to 5 year olds comprised 5.4% of bites, and those 6 to 10 years, 4.8% of bites. In the earlier literature, children were found to be the group most often bitten (Wright, 1985; Thompson, 1997). This difference is probably due to the fact that the current research did not focus solely on serious injures. With respect to dog characteristics, a clear prevalence of males emerged (73.1%), in disagreement with the equal distribution of sexes in the Florentine canine population (51.5% vs. 48.5%). As has been noted in the literature, male sex seems to be a risk factor for dogs that bite people. Breeds represented were: mixed-breeds (418), German shepherds (143), pit bulls (32), Doberman pinschers (31), Maremma sheepdogs (31) and rottweilers (23). Although certain breeds may be predisposed to aggressiveness, the term ‘pit bull’ may be used to categorize a wide variety of dogs, especially where attacks by these breeds have been turned into a spectacle (Overall, 2001). The same concern is valid for other breeds such as German shepherds. Moreover, these data should be examined with respect to the real breed composition of the canine population in Florence. Unfortunately, the non-registration of dogs at the office in charge did not permit us to be certain that the official data reflect the true breed distribution. The same problem led to information about 30% of dogs’ and owners’ characteristics. Lack of information may also have depended on the owners’ fear of incurring fines. A slight decrease in the number of bites has been observed from 2002 to 2005, which was then followed by an increase. If the number of dogs in the monitored population is relatively constant, the reduction found in the initial phase of the period studied could be part of a trend of reduction in dog bites already in progress in the previous years in the same area (Ciceroni, 2004). During the hottest months (May, June, July and August) statistically more aggressive encounters were reported than during the coldest moths (November, December, January and February) (45.2% vs. 25.6%; c25105.696; P50.000). With respect to patterns of dog bites and weekly schedules, 13.2% of the bites occurred on a working day, with 15.8% of bites occurring on the weekend. This study represents an example of how canine aggressiveness to people can be studied by using a varied, scientific and precise approach. Key words: aggression; bite; dog; monitoring; people
References Ciceroni, C., 2004. Aggressivita` canina come fattore di rischio sanitario. Not published. Proceedings of the round-table ‘‘La gestione pericolosa del cane: un’emergenza dimenticata?,’’ 4th June 2004, Florence, Italy. Overall, K.L., 2001. La clinica comportamentale del cane e del gatto. C.G. Edizioni Medico-Scientifiche, Torino, Italy, p. 139. Thompson, P.G., 1997. The public health impact of dog attacks in a major Australian city. Med. J. Aust. 167, 129–132. Wright, J.C., 1985. Severe attacks by dogs: characteristics of the dogs, the victims and the attack setting. Public Health Rep. 100, 55.
SURVEY OF UNDESIRABLE BEHAVIORS IN GERMAN SHEPHERD DOGS Manuel Mengoli*, Chiara Mariti, Elisa Paoletti, Francesca Papi, Michele Ducci, Angelo Gazzano Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle piagge 2 56124 Pisa, Italy *Corresponding author: [email protected]; Phone: 139 338 3298591; Fax: 050 2216851 The German shepherd is one of the most widespread canine breeds and is common in behavioral caseloads. Traditionally, German shepherds have been employed as potential guide dogs (Willis, 1995), but use of Labrador retrievers and golden retrievers has been increasing because German shepherd have been considered less sociable, more aggressive and possessive and with lower self-control capability (Witchel, 1996; Svatberg and Forkman, 2002). The aim of this study was to survey the incidence of undesirable behaviors in German shepherd dogs as noticed by the owners. We administered 219 anonymous closeditem questionnaires, completed by 94 German shepherd owners and 125 owners of mixed-breed dogs or those of other breeds (control group). Data were analyzed by using the c2 test (P , 0.05). German shepherd dogs tended to show intra-specific aggression more than dogs in the control group (25.5% vs. 14.4%; c253.601; P50.058), especially that involving barking or growling toward other dogs. German Shepherd dogs’ owners also noticed inter-specific aggressiveness more frequently in comparison to dogs belonging to other breeds or to mixed-breeds (59.6% vs. 18.4%; c2537.679; P50.000). In particular, German shepherds showed more aggressive behaviors when owners put a hand on the dog’s head (21.3% vs. 0.0%; c2526.761; P50.000), and they were more prone to dislike to be petted (7.4% vs. 8.0%; c254.979; P50.026). German shepherd dogs also showed a stronger inclination to chasing cats in comparison to the control group (50.0% vs. 26.4%; c2511.891; P50.000). This kind of behavior was usually considered as related to dog’s ‘‘inappropriate chase behavior’’ or, in differential diagnosis, to ‘‘predatory behavior’’ (Lindell, 2009) and is seldom directed to people (Horwitz, 2004).
87 storymaking. Dogs (as a medium) have been with us throughout the Holocene; what does dog-as-medium reveal to us about a shared evolutionary aesthetic? Vicki Hearne, writing about the investigation of human and/ as animal consciousness characterizes both as ‘an investigation of language, and this ought to remind us of what an investigation of language is.’’ Does this kind of cross-cultural cross-species conduct leave us, as Temple Grandin has wondered, lost in translation? Language at its most abstract can be understood as a secondary and tertiary semiotic system. Humans are probably the only ones around who get to the tertiary part of this, but many other creatures (dogs, bees, horses, chimps, rats) can be said to ‘‘speak’’ in the sense that they use a secondary semiotic systemdthey rely on signs to communicate messages. Whatever it is that enables a mind to formulate a link between a signifier and a signified, they got it. We can argue about the degree to which these links are negotiable for any individual animal, but they’re there. Linguists Lakoff and Johnson have demonstrated that reason, even in its most abstract form, makes use of rather than transcends our animal nature and in doing so, affirms the co-evolutionary relationships we have with certain animals, especially dogs, not by separating us from them but placing us on a semiotic continuum. Brian Boyd observes that ‘‘a bio-cultural approach to literature simply requires that we take seriously that evolution has powerfully shaped not just our bodies but also our minds and behavior." Boyd also notes that techniques for dealing with mind are ‘‘computationally expensive’’, requiring longer and more complex linguistic devices. As the vocabulary and tactics are invented they can be shared, used and accumulated so that the repertoire of story increases over time. But this accumulation is not free; it requires resources. Children must be educated in the use of these terms and techniques; the dog must be trained. Those who have learned their lessons will have symbol and gesture available for use in reflection and storytelling. Key words: dog; language; co-evolution; storytelling
DOES THE SEMIOTIC DOG BITE: BEHAVIOR AS STORYTELLING J. Morstad* Division of Humanities, Everett Dick Administration Building Room 409, Union College, 3800 S. 48th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska 68506, USA *Corresponding author: [email protected]; Phone: 1 402 483 7403
MONITORING OF DOG BITES TOWARD PEOPLE IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT: AN EXAMPLE OF AN INTEGRATED APPROACH Angelo Gazzano1,*, Chiara Mariti1, Carlo Ciceroni2, Enrico Loretti2, Zilocchi Marcella1, Martelli Franco1 1 Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiologiche - Universita` di Pisa – viale delle Piagge, 2 56124 Pisa, Italy 2 A.U.S.L., 10 viale Corsica, 4 50127, Firenze, Italy *Corresponding author: [email protected]; Phone: 139 050 2216843; Fax: 139 050 2216851
Storytelling is a behavior that exists in all human cultures. Story is play; as a form of cognitive play, it appeals to us for the rich inferences that pattern allows. Humans have enticed domestic animals into forms of play that parallel
Canine aggression toward people is a topic that should be tackled and analyzed scientifically. The aim of this research was to assess the epidemiology of dog bites toward people in an urban environment using an integrated approach.
88
Journal of Veterinary Behavior, Vol 6, No 1, January/February 2011
Bites occurring in the years 2002-2007 in Florence were monitored by using medical reports from first aid stations and reports for rabies prophylaxis. In total data on 1,272 cases was gathered, and where necessary and possible, data were integrated with others from the dogs’ registry office. Almost all injuries were slight, such as scratches, contusions, lacerated and lacerated-contused wounds (98.7%). Arms and legs were more frequently targeted (77.8%). People more often bitten were 41 to 65 years old (29.3%); those between 11 and 20 years, 21 to 40 years and greater than 65 years were bitten in 17-18% of cases. Children were less commonly injured: 0 to 5 year olds comprised 5.4% of bites, and those 6 to 10 years, 4.8% of bites. In the earlier literature, children were found to be the group most often bitten (Wright, 1985; Thompson, 1997). This difference is probably due to the fact that the current research did not focus solely on serious injures. With respect to dog characteristics, a clear prevalence of males emerged (73.1%), in disagreement with the equal distribution of sexes in the Florentine canine population (51.5% vs. 48.5%). As has been noted in the literature, male sex seems to be a risk factor for dogs that bite people. Breeds represented were: mixed-breeds (418), German shepherds (143), pit bulls (32), Doberman pinschers (31), Maremma sheepdogs (31) and rottweilers (23). Although certain breeds may be predisposed to aggressiveness, the term ‘pit bull’ may be used to categorize a wide variety of dogs, especially where attacks by these breeds have been turned into a spectacle (Overall, 2001). The same concern is valid for other breeds such as German shepherds. Moreover, these data should be examined with respect to the real breed composition of the canine population in Florence. Unfortunately, the non-registration of dogs at the office in charge did not permit us to be certain that the official data reflect the true breed distribution. The same problem led to information about 30% of dogs’ and owners’ characteristics. Lack of information may also have depended on the owners’ fear of incurring fines. A slight decrease in the number of bites has been observed from 2002 to 2005, which was then followed by an increase. If the number of dogs in the monitored population is relatively constant, the reduction found in the initial phase of the period studied could be part of a trend of reduction in dog bites already in progress in the previous years in the same area (Ciceroni, 2004). During the hottest months (May, June, July and August) statistically more aggressive encounters were reported than during the coldest moths (November, December, January and February) (45.2% vs. 25.6%; c25105.696; P50.000). With respect to patterns of dog bites and weekly schedules, 13.2% of the bites occurred on a working day, with 15.8% of bites occurring on the weekend. This study represents an example of how canine aggressiveness to people can be studied by using a varied, scientific and precise approach. Key words: aggression; bite; dog; monitoring; people
References Ciceroni, C., 2004. Aggressivita` canina come fattore di rischio sanitario. Not published. Proceedings of the round-table ‘‘La gestione pericolosa del cane: un’emergenza dimenticata?,’’ 4th June 2004, Florence, Italy. Overall, K.L., 2001. La clinica comportamentale del cane e del gatto. C.G. Edizioni Medico-Scientifiche, Torino, Italy, p. 139. Thompson, P.G., 1997. The public health impact of dog attacks in a major Australian city. Med. J. Aust. 167, 129–132. Wright, J.C., 1985. Severe attacks by dogs: characteristics of the dogs, the victims and the attack setting. Public Health Rep. 100, 55.
SURVEY OF UNDESIRABLE BEHAVIORS IN GERMAN SHEPHERD DOGS Manuel Mengoli*, Chiara Mariti, Elisa Paoletti, Francesca Papi, Michele Ducci, Angelo Gazzano Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle piagge 2 56124 Pisa, Italy *Corresponding author: [email protected]; Phone: 139 338 3298591; Fax: 050 2216851 The German shepherd is one of the most widespread canine breeds and is common in behavioral caseloads. Traditionally, German shepherds have been employed as potential guide dogs (Willis, 1995), but use of Labrador retrievers and golden retrievers has been increasing because German shepherd have been considered less sociable, more aggressive and possessive and with lower self-control capability (Witchel, 1996; Svatberg and Forkman, 2002). The aim of this study was to survey the incidence of undesirable behaviors in German shepherd dogs as noticed by the owners. We administered 219 anonymous closeditem questionnaires, completed by 94 German shepherd owners and 125 owners of mixed-breed dogs or those of other breeds (control group). Data were analyzed by using the c2 test (P , 0.05). German shepherd dogs tended to show intra-specific aggression more than dogs in the control group (25.5% vs. 14.4%; c253.601; P50.058), especially that involving barking or growling toward other dogs. German Shepherd dogs’ owners also noticed inter-specific aggressiveness more frequently in comparison to dogs belonging to other breeds or to mixed-breeds (59.6% vs. 18.4%; c2537.679; P50.000). In particular, German shepherds showed more aggressive behaviors when owners put a hand on the dog’s head (21.3% vs. 0.0%; c2526.761; P50.000), and they were more prone to dislike to be petted (7.4% vs. 8.0%; c254.979; P50.026). German shepherd dogs also showed a stronger inclination to chasing cats in comparison to the control group (50.0% vs. 26.4%; c2511.891; P50.000). This kind of behavior was usually considered as related to dog’s ‘‘inappropriate chase behavior’’ or, in differential diagnosis, to ‘‘predatory behavior’’ (Lindell, 2009) and is seldom directed to people (Horwitz, 2004).