Physiological stress coping and anxiety in greyhounds displaying inter-dog aggression

Abstract

Aggression is a relatively common behavioural problem in dogs that has both animal welfare and human safety considerations. Understanding the behavioural and physiological processes contributing to aggression is required for a better understanding of this issue. Previous studies have examined levels of anxiety and stress in the presence of aggression eliciting stimuli, however we aimed to measure stress and anxiety in a context unrelated to aggressive behaviour. We recorded the behaviour of greyhound dogs in an open field and noise stimulus paradigm as a measure of anxiety. During a routine blood donation procedure in the dogs, physiological measures of heart rate variability and cortisol re..