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Behavioural Processes 110 (2015) 1–2

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Behavioural Processes

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This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Canine Behavior.It has been just over five years since the first ‘Canine Spe-

ial Issue’ was published in Behavioral Processes. As predicted inhat issue, we have seen exponential growth in the number ofesearchers studying canine behavior, and consequently in theumber of new publications arising from laboratories around theorld. Pet domestic dogs have been the focus of much of this new

esearch, however the number of studies investigating the behav-or of wild canines, feral dogs, working dogs and shelter dogs haslso grown significantly. Given the unique place pet and workingogs hold in many societies (Udell and Wynne, 2008), the billionsf dollars such societies invest in dogs each year (APPA, 2014)nd the important benefits and risks associated with human–dognteractions world-wide (e.g. McCardle et al., 2010; Overall andove, 2001), this trend is likely to continue. Dogs have also becomen important model for understanding social development, cogni-ive evolution and human ageing and disease, including cognitivend behavioral dysfunction (Head, 2013; Topál et al., 2009). How-ver despite our 14,000+ year relationship with dogs (Nobis, 1979),ohabitation, and many years of fruitful scientific study, it is clearerhan ever that we are just beginning to scratch the surface whent comes to understanding the rich behavior and cognition of theogs we live with. We have even more ground to cover with non-et populations including working dogs, strays, and free-roamingogs – populations that represent the majority of the domesticog species. Due to shrinking habitats, increased urbanization anduman–predator conflicts the study of non-domesticated canids,

ncluding wolves, foxes and coyotes, has also become more criticalhan ever.

This special issue, entitled New Directions in Canine Behavior, fea-ures an important collection of new research findings, approachesnd ideas within the field of canine behavior and cognition. Manyf these articles were invited based on presentations given as a partf the 2013 International Ethological Conference (IEC)-Associationor the Study of Animal Behaviour (ASAB) canine behavior sympo-ium, held in Newcastle Gateshead, England, or the 2014 Societyor the Promotion of Applied Research in Canine Science Confer-nce (SPARCS) held in Newport, RI (see caninescience.info for moreetails).

For example, two papers in this issue tackle the challengingopic of play behavior in dogs. While dogs are notorious for playful

ehavior even into adulthood, the origins and function of playehavior has been heavily debated (Bekoff and Byers, 1998). Onages 82–87 of this issue, John Bradshaw and colleagues challenge

ttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2014.12.001376-6357/© 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

the traditional single mechanism view of play behavior in dogs.Instead they suggest that ‘play’ may really be several differentbehavioral repertories with unique functions, motivations andevolutionary origins. An article by Kerri Norman, Sergio Pellis,Louise Barrett and Peter Henzi (pages 88–95) also challenges along held belief about play – specifically the notion that rolloversin dog–dog play interactions are submissive in nature. Instead theysuggest that dogs often roll over during play to gain a strategicadvantage within an ongoing play sequence.

As was true five years ago, canine scientists also continue todig deeper into the origins of dogs’ responsiveness to human ges-tures. While the majority of research in this area has focusedon dogs’ successes in this domain, two articles in the currentissue demonstrate that dogs are not universally successful whenit comes to reading human behavior. For example, an investiga-tion of laboratory-reared dogs, by Lazarowski and Dorman (pages60–67), suggests that environment and experience are critical to adog’s ability to follow human points. Another study by Yong andRuffman (pages 74–81) finds that dogs may not understand certainemotional expressions, such as human fear, as well as previouslypresumed. While dogs may indeed have an impressive capacity forresponding to human behavior, a more refined understanding ofthe necessary conditions for this behavior to develop, and limita-tions of these abilities, may provide a wealth of new informationabout the origins and development of canine social cognition. Suchresearch may also provide knowledge about human–canine inter-actions and environmental influences on cognition that may proveuseful in applied settings.

The origins and influence of canine–human attachment hasalso gained increased attention in recent years. In this issue,Nathaniel Hall and colleagues (pages 15–21) demonstrate thatdogs are not alone in their ability to establish close bonds withhuman caretakers–human reared wolf pups show similar patternsof attachment suggesting a common origin for this predisposition.Kerepesi, Dóka, and Miklósi (pages 27–36) investigate the influenceof human presence (owner vs familiar vs unfamiliar individuals) onthe behavior of dogs in a variety of situations. Their findings con-firm the powerful role a bonded caretaker can play in the life of adog – especially when the dog is afraid. These studies have raisednew and important questions about what dogs and other caninesmay know about their human companions, as well as the aspects

of human behavior they find salient or rewarding (see Feuerbacheret al., pages 47–59) and how this may influence their success inhuman controlled environments.

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Scientists are also turning more focus towards working dogs, anmportant group that has long been underrepresented in scientifictudies on canine behavior and cognition. Mia Cobb and colleaguespages 96–104) address current limitations of knowledge about theraining and care of working dogs. With training success rates ofess than 50% across industries, lack of understanding has comet considerable economic cost. Poor outcomes have also strainedublic perception, raising concerns about the long-term progno-is for unsuccessful dogs. In this issue, working dog industries andanine scientists are challenged to seek evidence-based answershat will lead to a new era of improved training, performance andelfare outcomes for dogs serving or assisting humans across aiverse range of settings. Importantly, prior behavioral research

primarily focused on pet dog populations – may not accuratelyredict the behavior of this population. New research suggests thathe specialized training that working dogs receive can lead to dif-erences in social and problem solving behavior when compared toets (see D’Aniello et al., pages 68–73).

Finally, promising new methods and approaches for studyinganine behavior are being employed and evaluated. For example,n article by Gregory Berns and colleagues (pages 37–46) featureset dogs trained to hold still in an MRI brain scanner while stillwake, allowing scientists to monitor the dog’s brain activity ast is presented with a variety of stimuli – including the smells ofamiliar and unfamiliar individuals. Holly Miller and colleaguespages 22–26) investigate the role of glucose and fructose in replen-shing canine persistence after activities that require self-control.anine scientists have also begun to engage the general public inanine research and behavioral assessment. Citizen science projectsHecht and Spicer Rice, pages 125–132), and methods that rely onurveys and other forms of community and owner generated data,re being used to gain an intimate understanding of dogs in theiromes, as well as to study obscure or large populations that woulde difficult to assess using traditional methods. The efficacy of non-xpert ratings is also being assessed as a possible resource-savingeasure for working dog evaluations; a task that currently con-

umes large amounts of expert time (Fratkin et al., pages 105–116).f course, with new methodologies and techniques come new chal-

enges. This issue addresses both the strengths and potential pitfallsssociated with these new developments, while celebrating thexciting new possibilities ahead.

In sum, this special issue features 15 articles that repre-ent important New Directions in Canine Behavior, including new

pproaches, ideas, discoveries, interpretations and critiques thatach contribute to the forward momentum of this growing field.hese articles will no doubt serve as a catalyst for further advance-ent in canine research in the years ahead, along with the growing

esses 110 (2015) 1–2

body of literature on canine behavior found in the pages of thisjournal and beyond.

Acknowledgments

I would first like to thank all of the authors that contributedtheir work to this special issue – it was a pleasure working withall of you. Thank you also to the many reviewers that providedtimely and constructive feedback, the Behavioural Processes edito-rial and production staff for their continued assistance, and JohanBolhuis for serving as the lead editor for several of the articles in thisissue. Finally, a special thanks to Shamus O’Reilly and Clive Wynne,who provided me with the opportunity to serve as the Guest Editorfor this special issue- and for the invaluable guidance and supportalong the way.

References

APPA, 2014. National pet owners survey: industry statis-tics and trends [WWW Document]. Am. Pet Prod. Assoc.http://www.americanpetproducts.org/press industrytrends.asp (accessed10.15.14).

Bekoff, M., Byers, J.A., 1998. Animal Play: Evolutionary, Comparative and EcologicalPerspectives. Cambridge University Press.

Head, E., 2013. A canine model of human aging and Alzheimer’s dis-ease. Biochim. Biophys. Acta BBA – Mol. Basis Dis. 1832, 1384–1389,http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bbadis.2013.03.016.

McCardle, P., Mccune, S., Griffin, J.A., Maholmes, V. (Eds.), 2010. How AnimalsAffect Us: Examining the Influence of Human–Animal Interaction on ChildDevelopment and Human Health. , 1st ed. American Psychological Association,Washington, DC.

Nobis, G., 1979. Der älteste Haushunde lebte vor 14000 Jahren (The oldest domesticdog lived 14,000 years ago). Umschau 79, 610.

Overall, K.L., Love, M., 2001. Dog bites to humans—demography, epi-demiology, injury, and risk. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 218, 1923–1934,http://dx.doi.org/10.2460/javma.2001.218.1923.

Topál, J., Miklósi, Á., Gácsi, M., Dóka, A., Pongrácz, P., Kubinyi, E., Virányi, Z., Csányi, V.,2009. Chapter 3 – the dog as a model for understanding human social behavior.In: Jane Brockmann, H., Marc Naguib, T.J.R., Wynne-Edwards, K.E., Mitani, J.C.,Simmons, L.W. (Eds.), Advances in the Study of Behavior. Academic Press, pp.71–116.

Udell, M.A.R., Wynne, C.D.L., 2008. A review of domestic dogs’ (canisfamiliaris) human-like behaviors: or why behavior analysts shouldstop worrying and love their dogs. J. Exp. Anal. Behav. 89, 247–261,http://dx.doi.org/10.1901/jeab.2008.89-247.

Monique A.R. Udell ∗

Department of Animal & Rangeland Sciences, OregonState University, 308 Withycombe Hall, 2901 SWCampus Way, Corvallis, OR 97331, United States

∗ Tel.: +1 541 737 9154; fax: +1 541 737 4174.E-mail address: MoniqueUdell@gmail.com