Final summary of results from my thesis

[imported_Kat]

Finally I have completed all of my behavioural stats for my thesis and for anyone that may be interested here are the findings:

Firstly a quick reminder of the observation groups. Border Collies including working farm dogs, obedience, agility and pet dogs were observed and scored on a scale of 1-5 for social behaviour in 5 separate tests revolving around social behaviour.

Result summary:

Stats were completed using a canonical discriminant analysis on unistat, which is a very sensitive statistical method and will pick up small consistent variations between categories.

The results showed that working farm dogs scored lower in comparison to the other 3 groups, in that they had a lower level of social behaviour and were less eager to attempt a problem solving test. Pet dogs showed a rather varied array of social behaviours, and made it nearly impossible to predict which group they should fit into, if their behaviour was just assessed primarily. Obedience and agility dogs scored similar and portrayed similar mediocre-high social behaviour, but again few judging by their behaviour thought they were an agility dog, when they were really an obedience dog! That is to say their behaviour reflected behaviour that was more typified by the majority of the misclassified group, in which they thought they belonged to simplify the above statement.

I have many points for my discussion as to these results generated including contact and exposure just to name a few factors, but I shall inform those of you that are interested in due course after my thesis has been accepted at the end of May. Its now full steam ahead to get it all written up! :wink:

If I was given the funding and resources I would extend this research to include another breed that would match the abilities of the Border Collie, and it certainly is something that I will consider seriously in a few years time. I have immensely enjoyed doing this research from the planning of it last june to where I am now nearly a year on and actually writing it up. I am greatly satisfied as are my professors and I very much hope to have it pubished in animal behaviour and Nature journals after it is accepted and marked.

[courtnek]

I am curious Kat, were hunting dogs included int he study? And if so, how did they fare?

:wink:

[imported_Kat]

Hey Court, Border Collies were the only breed used. I had to decide on just the one breed due to time limitations, but as I say I would greatly love to extend the study given time and resources to include others breeds that are diverse in activities.

[courtnek]

well, if you ever get the chance to do hunting dogs, I'd be interested in the turnout. I have two, one purebred, one mix, (although both parts are hunting breeds) and from completely different experiences. The mix I got as a puppy. The purebred was field trialed, raised in a kennel, with little human intervention....quite a diversity...

:wink:

[zheelah]

Hey Kat, I would really love to read your thesis :wink: