- Email: [email protected]
Personality and performance in working dogs
Journal of Veterinary Behavior (2009) 4, 73–87
Shelter and working dogs 48 PERSONALITY AND PERFORMANCE IN WORKING DOGS Samuel Gosling1,*, Stewart J. Hilliard2, Steven J. Schapiro3, Simine Vazire4, Virginia S.Y. Kwan5, Oliver P. John6 1 Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 2 341st Training Squadron, United States Air Force, United States 3 M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, Houston, Texas 4 Department of Psychology, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 5 Department of Psychology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 6 Department of Psychology, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California *Corresponding author: [email protected] It is well established that personality can be assessed in nonhuman animals, including dogs. In addition to physical abilities (in olfaction), personality traits (emotional stability) are a primary determinant of effectiveness of explosivedetection dogs in the field. Therefore, one way canine science can contribute to research on threat detection is by improving the personality assessments that are critical for selecting military working dogs (MWD). We believe MWD are by far the most effective and versatile means of identifying explosives in combat and low-intensity conflicts (e.g., Iraq). MWD are exceptionally sensitive sensors for all known threat substances and existing dogs can be trained rapidly to detect new substances. Our presentation begins by reviewing core measurement issues underlying all attempts to assess personality in nonhuman animals. Assessments of animal personality have faced 3 concerns: (1) that personality cannot be measured reliably in animals; (2) that assessments of animal personality are overly subjective; and (3) that the methods required to obtain valid personality assessments are impractical. Using data from our studies of several species we address each concern and evaluate the viability of canine personality assessments. Next, we summarize the latest findings from a major project conducted in collaboration with the 341st Training Squadron 1558-7878/$ - see front matter Ó 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
of the United States Air Force, which is responsible for selecting, training, and evaluating the vast majority of explosive detector MWD. In Study 1, we show that interval-scaling methods yield reliable measures of personality; specifically, strong inter-judge agreement coefficients were obtained across behaviors assessed (e.g., environmental behavior, a 5 0.91; gun sureness, a 5 0.86; threat bite quality, a 5 0.83), with a mean a of 0.85 across the 13 tests. In Study 2, we show that behavioral codings made by nonexperts from videotaped behaviors agree with codings made by experts; specifically, the median correlation between novice and expert codings was 0.87. In Study 3, we report the findings of a field task analysis; specifically, quantitative analyses showed that the mean number of explosives found in the field was 1.9 (range 5 0–9). Open-ended questions provided exceptionally rich information (in terms of environmental situations that affected the MWD effectiveness, including the presence of loud noises and heavy machinery, gunfire, crowds, extreme heat and humidity, hot sand, grille floors, and the presence of loose animals). Discussion focuses on how the research can illuminate the links between personality and work performance and to understanding personality assessment in animals. Findings will pave the way subsequent work in canine genetics, health, and the biologic and environmental influences on personality. Key words: personality; temperament; measurement; ratings; behavioral coding 49 EFFECT OF BEHAVIORAL TESTING ON THE PREVALENCE OF FEAR AND AGGRESSION IN THE DUTCH ROTTWEILER POPULATION Joanne A.M. Van der Borg*, Elisabeth A.M. Graat Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, Netherlands *Corresponding author: [email protected] Since June 2001, the Dutch Kennel Club has mandated that both parents of Dutch purebred Rottweilers should pass the SAB test (Planta and de Meester, 2007) to get a pedigree certificate for their offspring. To pass the test, Rottweilers must not show any aggressive biting tendencies or panic reactions. Because of this policy, the estimated size of the population of purebred Rottweilers is about 7000, and the population of look-alikes (Rottweilers without a pedigree certificate) is about the same size. The goal of this study was to estimate the prevalence of fear and aggression in
Shelter and working dogs 48 PERSONALITY AND PERFORMANCE IN WORKING DOGS Samuel Gosling1,*, Stewart J. Hilliard2, Steven J. Schapiro3, Simine Vazire4, Virginia S.Y. Kwan5, Oliver P. John6 1 Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 2 341st Training Squadron, United States Air Force, United States 3 M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, Houston, Texas 4 Department of Psychology, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 5 Department of Psychology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 6 Department of Psychology, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California *Corresponding author: [email protected] It is well established that personality can be assessed in nonhuman animals, including dogs. In addition to physical abilities (in olfaction), personality traits (emotional stability) are a primary determinant of effectiveness of explosivedetection dogs in the field. Therefore, one way canine science can contribute to research on threat detection is by improving the personality assessments that are critical for selecting military working dogs (MWD). We believe MWD are by far the most effective and versatile means of identifying explosives in combat and low-intensity conflicts (e.g., Iraq). MWD are exceptionally sensitive sensors for all known threat substances and existing dogs can be trained rapidly to detect new substances. Our presentation begins by reviewing core measurement issues underlying all attempts to assess personality in nonhuman animals. Assessments of animal personality have faced 3 concerns: (1) that personality cannot be measured reliably in animals; (2) that assessments of animal personality are overly subjective; and (3) that the methods required to obtain valid personality assessments are impractical. Using data from our studies of several species we address each concern and evaluate the viability of canine personality assessments. Next, we summarize the latest findings from a major project conducted in collaboration with the 341st Training Squadron 1558-7878/$ - see front matter Ó 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
of the United States Air Force, which is responsible for selecting, training, and evaluating the vast majority of explosive detector MWD. In Study 1, we show that interval-scaling methods yield reliable measures of personality; specifically, strong inter-judge agreement coefficients were obtained across behaviors assessed (e.g., environmental behavior, a 5 0.91; gun sureness, a 5 0.86; threat bite quality, a 5 0.83), with a mean a of 0.85 across the 13 tests. In Study 2, we show that behavioral codings made by nonexperts from videotaped behaviors agree with codings made by experts; specifically, the median correlation between novice and expert codings was 0.87. In Study 3, we report the findings of a field task analysis; specifically, quantitative analyses showed that the mean number of explosives found in the field was 1.9 (range 5 0–9). Open-ended questions provided exceptionally rich information (in terms of environmental situations that affected the MWD effectiveness, including the presence of loud noises and heavy machinery, gunfire, crowds, extreme heat and humidity, hot sand, grille floors, and the presence of loose animals). Discussion focuses on how the research can illuminate the links between personality and work performance and to understanding personality assessment in animals. Findings will pave the way subsequent work in canine genetics, health, and the biologic and environmental influences on personality. Key words: personality; temperament; measurement; ratings; behavioral coding 49 EFFECT OF BEHAVIORAL TESTING ON THE PREVALENCE OF FEAR AND AGGRESSION IN THE DUTCH ROTTWEILER POPULATION Joanne A.M. Van der Borg*, Elisabeth A.M. Graat Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, Netherlands *Corresponding author: [email protected] Since June 2001, the Dutch Kennel Club has mandated that both parents of Dutch purebred Rottweilers should pass the SAB test (Planta and de Meester, 2007) to get a pedigree certificate for their offspring. To pass the test, Rottweilers must not show any aggressive biting tendencies or panic reactions. Because of this policy, the estimated size of the population of purebred Rottweilers is about 7000, and the population of look-alikes (Rottweilers without a pedigree certificate) is about the same size. The goal of this study was to estimate the prevalence of fear and aggression in