Automation in canine science: enhancing human capabilities and overcoming adoption barriers.

The emerging field of canine science has been slow in adopting automated approaches for data analysis. However, with the dramatic increase in the volume and complexity of the collected behavioral data, this is now beginning to change. This paper aims to systematize the field of automation in canine science.

Evaluation of shelter dog activity levels before and during COVID-19 using automated analysis.

Animal shelters have been found to represent stressful environments for pet dogs, both affecting behavior and influencing welfare. The current COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light new uncertainties in animal sheltering practices which may affect shelter dog behavior in unexpected ways. To evaluate this, we analyzed changes in dog activity levels before COVID-19 and during COVID-19 using an automated video analysis within a large, open-admission animal shelter in New York City, USA.

Objective Video-Based Assessment of ADHD-Like Canine Behavior Using Machine Learning.

Canine ADHD-like behavior is a behavioral problem that often compromises dogs' well-being, as well as the quality of life of their owners; early diagnosis and clinical intervention are often critical for successful treatment, which usually involves medication and/or behavioral modification. Diagnosis mainly relies on owner reports and some assessment scales, which are subject to subjectivity. This study is the first to propose an objective method for automated assessment of ADHD-like behavior based on video taken in a consultation room.

Exploring the dog-human relationship by combining fMRI, eye-tracking and behavioural measures.

Behavioural studies revealed that the dog-human relationship resembles the human mother-child bond, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we report the results of a multi-method approach combining fMRI (N = 17), eye-tracking (N = 15), and behavioural preference tests (N = 24) to explore the engagement of an attachment-like system in dogs seeing human faces. We presented morph videos of the caregiver, a familiar person, and a stranger showing either happy or angry facial expressions.

Computational Analysis of Movement Patterns of Dogs with ADHD-Like Behavior.

Computational approaches were called for to address the challenges of more objective behavior assessment which would be less reliant on owner reports. This study aims to use computational analysis for investigating a hypothesis that dogs with ADHD-like (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) behavior exhibit characteristic movement patterns directly observable during veterinary consultation. Behavioral consultations of 12 dogs medically treated due to ADHD-like behavior were recorded, as well as of a control group of 12 dogs with no reported behavioral problems.