Encounters between pairs of unfamiliar dogs in a dog park

Ivaylo Borislavov Iotchev; Anna Egerer; Serena Grafe; András Adorján; Enikő Kubinyi

doi:10.1556/019.70.2019.20

Jump to Content

Biologia Futura

Volume/Issue:: Volume 70: Issue 2

Encounters between pairs of unfamiliar dogs in a dog park

Authors:

Ivaylo Borislavov Iotchev

Ivaylo Borislavov Iotchev Department of Ethology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary

Search for other papers by Ivaylo Borislavov Iotchev in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed

Anna Egerer

Anna Egerer Department of Ethology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary

Search for other papers by Anna Egerer in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed

Serena Grafe

Serena Grafe Department of Animal Hygiene, Herd-health and Veterinary Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary

Search for other papers by Serena Grafe in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed

András Adorján

András Adorján Department of Animal Hygiene, Herd-health and Veterinary Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary

Search for other papers by András Adorján in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed

, and

Enikő Kubinyi

Enikő Kubinyi Department of Ethology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary

Search for other papers by Enikő Kubinyi in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed

View More View Less

Pages:: 156–165

Online Publication Date:: 26 Jul 2019

Publication Date:: 01 Jun 2019

Article Category:: Journal Article

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1556/019.70.2019.20

Keywords:: intraspecific interactions; spontaneous encounters; sexual dimorphism; aging

Open access

Download PDF

Introduction

The aim of this study was to explore spontaneous social interactions between dyads of unfamiliar adult dogs. Although intraspecific encounters are frequent events in the life of pet dogs, the factors that might influence encounters, such as sex, dyad composition, reproductive status, age, and state of cohabitation (keeping the dogs singly or in groups), remained unexplored.

Methods

In this study, we assigned unfamiliar, non-aggressive dogs to three types of dyads defined by sex and size. We observed their unrestrained, spontaneous behaviors in an unfamiliar dog park, where only the two dogs, the owners, and experimenter were present.

Results

We found that the dogs, on average, spent only 17% of the time (less than 1 min) in proximity. Sex, dyad composition, reproductive status, and age influenced different aspects of the interactions in dyads. Female dogs were more likely to initiate the first contact in their dyad but later approached the partner less frequently, were less likely to move apart, and displayed less scent marking. Following and moving apart were more frequent in male–male interactions. Neutered dogs spent more time following the other dog and sniffed other dogs more frequently. The time companion dogs spent in proximity and number of approaches decreased with age.

Conclusion

The study provides guidance for dog owners about the outcomes of intraspecific encounters based on the dog’s age, sex, and reproductive status, as well as the sex of the interacting partner.

Save
Cite
Email this content

Share Link

Copy this link, or click below to email it to a friend
Email this content
or copy the link directly:

https://akjournals.com/view/journals/019/70/2/article-p156.xml
The link was not copied. Your current browser may not support copying via this button.

Link copied successfully

Collapse
Expand

Biologia Futura

Print ISSN:: 2676-8615

Online ISSN:: 2676-8607

To see the editorial board, please visit the website of Springer Nature.

Manuscript Submission: HERE

For subscription options, please visit the website of Springer Nature.

Biologia Futura
Language	English
Size	A4
Year of Foundation	2019 (1950)
Volumes per Year	1
Issues per Year	4
Founder	Magyar Tudományos Akadémia
Founder's Address	H-1051 Budapest, Hungary, Széchenyi István tér 9.
Publisher	Akadémiai Kiadó Springer Nature Switzerland AG
Publisher's Address	H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245. CH-6330 Cham, Switzerland Gewerbestrasse 11.
Responsible Publisher	Chief Executive Officer, Akadémiai Kiadó
ISSN	2676-8615 (Print)
ISSN	2676-8607 (Online)