SKULL CONFORMATION AND SELECTION TO COOPERATE WITH MAN IN THE DOMESTIC DOG: ANALYSIS OF ATTENTION TOWARDS THE OWNER IN TWO INSOLUBLE PROBLEM-SOLVING TASKS

Paedomorphosis has enabled the creation of many canine breeds differing for both morphology and certain behavioural traits. Based on the cephalic index, breeds are classified as dolichocephalic, mesocephalic or brachycephalic. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether brachycephalic breeds selected for companionship or for utility behave differently for the attention paid to the owner in two insoluble problem solving tasks. Eleven adult dogs, 5 belon ging to companion breeds (2 Pugs, 2 French Bulldogs, and 1 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels; 3 males and 2 females) and 6 belonging to breeds selected for utility (2 American Pitbull Terriers, 2 American Staffordshire Terriers, 1 Rottweiler, and 1 Boxer; 4 females and 2 males), were involved. The dogs, after a period of training, were subjected to two kinds of insoluble problem solving tasks. The first consisted in trying to reach food located in a container having a closed lid. In the second test the dog had to retrieve the food tied to a rope and placed inside a wire mesh cage. In both tests, the latency of the first look at the owner (in seconds) and the number of glances towards him/her were measured. The statistical analysis, carried out using Mann-Whitney test (p < 0.05), did not show any differences in the first test (latency: U = 13.5, p = 0.93; number of gazes: U = 14.5; p = 0.79) nor in the second one (latency: U = 13.5, p = 0.93; number of glances: U = 11.0; p = 0.54). These preliminary results suggest that the group of brachycephalic dogs did not show differences in the behaviour of attention to the owner in situations that require a collaboration with him/her, despite the different selection carried out within this group of dogs according to the functions to be performed by different breeds.