Canine ResearchUse of beds by laboratory beagles
Introduction
The European Directive 2010/63/EU (2010) demands a “comfortable resting area for all animals.” Resting places need to protect the dog from moisture and cold floors (Joint Working Group on Refinement, 2004). The literature offers a few descriptions and reports regarding the provision of dog beds for research dogs (Althaus, 1989, Eisele, 2001, Feldhaus, 1980, Loveridge, 1998), but systematic behavioral studies are rarely available. Döring et al. (2016) and Hubrecht (1993) showed that laboratory dogs intensively used the resting places that were available to them. However, with choice tests still missing, we do not know what kind of resting area laboratory dogs would prefer (Döring et al., 2016). In this orientation study, we collected initial information on the use of different dog beds. Because padded dog beds are recommended especially for older dogs (Eisele, 2001, Joint Working Group on Refinement, 2004, Loveridge, 1998, Mertens, 2002), we observed the use of dog beds and the effects on the dogs' behavior in elderly laboratory beagles.
Section snippets
Materials and methods
Preliminary choice tests were performed with three dog groups at two locations (A and B). Based on the results of these choice tests, three additional groups of elderly dogs at location B were observed with two types of dog beds.
Preliminary choice tests
The dogs of group 1 used mostly medium-sized beds (mean in choice test “size”: 27% of 24 hours) and beds with fleece blanket (e.g. choice test “bedding: blanket versus rubber mat” 56% of 24 hours) or paper tissue (e.g. choice test “bedding: paper tissue versus rubber mat” 56% of 24 hours). The beds filled with rubber mats or fine wood wool were rarely used (<1% or 4% of 24 hours, respectively). The dogs used the elevated beds slightly less than the beds on the floor and spent a similar amount
Preliminary choice tests
In the preliminary choice tests, the dogs used beds with soft bedding. Most beds filled with rubber mats were only rarely used. Wood wool was removed from the beds and spread across the floor by the dogs, leading to an increased cleaning effort for the caretakers. Furthermore, with the soft filling removed, the beds were hard and likely not particularly attractive so that the dogs lay more on the floor than in the beds. In contrast, fleece blankets proved to be practical as they could be fixed
Conclusion and recommendations
The results of this study indicate that dogs prefer soft lying areas. The frequent use of comfortable beds stresses the importance of such enrichment for laboratory dogs. Offering dog beds did not elicit aggressive or abnormal behaviors. The elevated beds were not beneficial. If elevated beds are offered, additional beds placed on the floor should be available, especially for geriatric beagles. Further studies would be necessary to confirm our results with a larger sample.
Acknowledgments
The authors particularly thank the caretakers of both facilities for their assistance and patience.
Authors' contributions: The idea for the article was conceived by Dorothea Döring and Michael Erhard. The experiments were designed by Dorothea Döring, Ilona Backofen, Jörg Schmidt, and Michael Erhard. The experiments were performed by Ilona Backofen, Dorothea Döring, and Jörg Schmidt. The data were analyzed by Alexander Bauer, Ilona Backofen, and Dorothea Döring. The article was written by
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