Dog behavior

French Bulldog welfare crisis: a preliminary descriptive survey on caregivers' awareness of breed-specific health issues and behavioral impact

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The longstanding popularity of the French Bulldog, despite recognized significant health hazards associated with genetic selection, underscores a critical dichotomy between caregivers’ information and purchasing decisions. This preliminary Italian study sought to examine caregiver motives for obtaining a French Bulldog, their level of health awareness, and the subsequent impact on future adoption plans. An online survey was conducted with 121 Italian French Bulldog caregivers to evaluate demographics, acquisition sources, primary motivations (temperament versus aesthetics), health awareness, and intentions for future repurchase. The primary incentive for adoption was found to be temperament. A significant level of awareness was observed, with 97.5% of caregivers recognizing potential health difficulties and 81% admitting that genetic selection induces suffering. Notably, most French Bulldog necessitated surgical intervention or specialist consultations for breed-specific concerns. Notwithstanding these factors, 71.1% of caregivers expressed their plan to acquire the breed once more. The elevated repurchase intention is driven by robust breed loyalty and the expectations regarding favorable behavioral traits of the dogs. The findings reveal a notable awareness paradox: factual knowledge of health dangers does not inhibit purchasing behavior, indicating a normalization of sickness in which non-health variables predominantly influence decision-making. Proactive pre-purchase consultation by veterinary behaviorists is essential to close this educational gap and facilitate genuinely informed adoption.

Physical exercise impacts the performance of explosives detection dogs

Eleanor Jud, Emmeline Howarth — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Dogs (Canis familiaris) are widely used as scent detectors due to their sensitive olfactory capabilities, endurance, and ability to cover large areas quickly. They are in high demand due to a global rise in terrorist threats using specialized explosive contraptions. Detection dogs are often faced with high temperatures and physical exertion, which can increase panting rate as a function of evaporative cooling, inhibiting olfactory ability. This study examined the impact of exercise on the search performance of 11 explosive detection dogs (eight labradors and three springer spaniels). They completed two trial sets: one after exercise with a ball thrower and one without exercise. They were timed while searching for three types of explosives: trinitrotoluene, composition-4, and ammonium nitrate. Data were analyzed in R using mixed effects models, revealing that exercise significantly affected search duration and success for all types of explosives. Searches averaged 29.58 seconds without exercise, while post-exercise searches took 44.91 seconds. Dogs were 1.14 times more likely to locate explosives without prior exercise. Dogs took the longest to find trinitrotoluene and were fastest with ammonium nitrate and composition-4. These findings highlight the importance of allowing detection dogs adequate rest, as even brief exercise can impact their search performance.

Looking beyond the mind: the gut microbiome as a potential new avenue for treating behavioral disorders in dogs.

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The gut-microbiota-brain axis represents a complex and essential bidirectional communication system that governs physiological and mental health in dogs. Canine cognitive dysfunction, anxiety, and neurobehavioral comorbidities linked to epilepsy are progressively acknowledged as conditions potentially involving intestinal dysbiosis. Increasing evidence regarding this axis has prompted research into novel gut microbiota-based therapeutic approaches. This review examines current research investigating the modulation of gut-microbiome to treat behavioral disorders. Promising outcomes from specific probiotic strains, nutraceutical supplements, and fecal microbiota transplantation are examined, emphasizing their capacity to modulate stress markers and enhance behavioral deficits. Despite the interest surrounding these new frontiers, the existing data reveal significant heterogeneity, attributable to the diversity of the samples (companion, working, and shelter dogs) and the absence of methodological standardization. Conclusions derived from animal models (e.g., rodents) and human clinical studies, while intriguing, are not directly applicable to veterinary practice.