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Karin Hedberg, Kashmani salukis ( www.kashmani.com
)
ETHOLOGY
ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR
Konrad Lorenz (Austria) ”the father of ethology”.
Lorenz
studied instinctive behaviour in animals, especially in greylag geese
and jackdaws. Working with geese, he rediscovered and
developed
the principle of imprinting. He wrote numerous books, some of which,
such as ”On Aggression” became popular reading. He also wrote
”Man meets dog” (1949), a book I studied with great interest as a young
girl.
Nobel Prize 1973 in Physiology or Medicine (shared
with Nikolaas Tinbergen and Karl von Frisch)
PERSONALITY
IN DOGS
Doctoral dissertation in zoology by Kenth
Svartberg, Stockholm University, Sweden, 2003.
Evaluation of Dog Mentality Assessment (DMA)
E-mail: kenth.svartberg@zoologi.su.se
www.su.se
TEMPERAMENT
”…biologically rooted individual differences
in behaviour tendencies that are presented
early in life and are relatively stable
over time and across situations”
(Svartberg,
Personality in dogs, 2003)
PERSONALITY
”The
study of personality …includes assessment of feelings, thoughts and
beliefs…some of which may be studied in animals by studying behaviour.”
”Personality
traits…dispositional factors that regularly and persistently determine
behaviour in many different types of situations.” (Svartberg, 2003)
PERSONALITY TYPES
In
the ancient Greece, according to Hippocrates (fifth century BC) and
Galen (second century AD), humans could be separated into one of four
basic personality types:
choleric (irritable, angry)
melancholic (depressed, gloomy),
sanguine (optimistic, cheerful), and
phlegmatic (calm, passive);
Pavlov
used this typology to describe four basic personality types of dogs,
based on observations in conditioning experiments…” but ”also in other
situations.”
BREED SPECIFIC
PERSONALITY TESTS
Reserved – Friendly
Nervous – Calm
Phlegmatic – Lively
Shy – Brave
Soft – Hard
Impatient – Patient
Resigned – Dominant
Indifference - Functionality
Scores from 0 – 10 on each ”contrast pair” of characteristics.
(IW Finland) (Outi Piisa-Putta)
DOG MENTALITY
ASSESMENT (DMA)
Standardised
behavioural test developed in the 1980’s and 1990’s by the Swedish
Working Dog’s Club (member of the SKC) as a tool for the breeding of
working dogs.
Today a ‘general behavioural test’ in Sweden, and
a large number of dogs of different breeds and breed groups have
carried out the test, including 18 Salukis and 100 Whippets.
DMA SCORE SYSTEM
The dog’s behavioural reactions are described
according to 33 variables by an authorized observer in a standardised
score sheet.
The
score sheet includes rating scales for the 33 variables from 1 to 5
according to the intensity of the measured reaction where a low score
equals a low intensity reaction, and a high score a high intensity
reaction. Each of the scales for the 33 reactions, which are measured
at specific moments during the test, describes the reaction as
objectively as possible, without inferring subjective opinions.
Subtest
1 : Social contact
Description:
A stranger greets, walks with, and makes a brief physical examination
of the dog.
Variables:
Greeting, cooperation, and handling.
Subtest
2: Play 1
Description:
The dog is invited by the stranger to play with a rag
Variables: Interest in play, grabbing, and tug-of-war.
Subtest
3: Chase
Description: A small prey-like object is rapidly pulled away from the
dog, who is free to run after. This is repeated once.
Variables: Following 1 & 2 and grabbing 1 & 2.
Subtest
4: Passive situation
Description: The handler remains in the same position during 3 minutes
with the dog in a leash.
Variable: Activity.
Subtest
5: Distance play
Description: A stranger invites the dog to play at a distance, after
some initial threat postures.
Variables: Interest, aggression, exploration, interest in play, and
play invitation.
Subtest
6: Sudden appearance
Description: A human-sized dummy is suddenly pulled up in front of the
dog.
Variables: Startle reaction, aggression, exploration, avoidance (x2),
and approach (x2).
Subtest
7: Metallic noise
Description: A chain of metal is pulled over a sheet of corrugated
metal close to the dog.
Variables: Startle reaction, exploration, avoidance (x2), and approach
(x2).
Subtest
8: Ghosts
Description: Two strangers covered in white sheets are slowly
approaching the dog during several minutes.
Variables: Aggression, attention, avoidance, exploration, and contact.
Subtest
9: Play 2
Description: Repetition of the first part of Play 1.
Variables: Interest in play and grabbing.
Subtest
10: Gunshot
Description: Gunshots are fired when dog is active (playing with
handler) and passive.
Variable: Avoidance.
Breed standard (FCI, UK, AKC)
(FCI
+UK) BEHAVIOUR/TEMPERAMENT Reserved with strangers, but not nervous or
aggressive. Dignified, intelligent and independent.
AKC standard does not mention temperament.
SALUKI
TEMPERAMENT
(FCI) General appearence.
The
whole appearance of this breed should give an impression of grace and
symmetry and of great speed and endurance coupled with strength and
activity.
(KC) Gives impression of grace, symmetry and of great speed and
endurance, coupled with strength and activity.
(AKC)
The whole appearance of this breed should give an impression of grace
and symmetry and of great speed and endurance coupled with strength and
activity to enable it to kill gazelle or other
(Eyes) (FCI):…. The expression should be dignified
and gentle with faithful and far-seeing eyes.
(UK) The expression should be dignified and gentle with faithful
far-seeing eyes.
(AKC) The expression should be dignified and gentle with deep,
faithful, far-seeing eyes.
(Ears) (FCI, KC, AKC): ……mobile….
SALUKI
TEMPERAMENT SURVEY
Method:
Questionnaire
Time:
Spring 2008
Respondents:
mainly Swedish Saluki owners
Age
distribution
1 – 14 years
Many young
Gender
47 males
52 females
I
think that the Saluki in general in it's manners ans it's reactions, is:
192 answers
General overview
Saluki
temperament in general
Split down
SALUKI INDOORS
SALUKI OUTDOORS
FAMILY
In it's family
the saluki is:
233
Loving
Playful
Independent
My saluki and
strangers
185
Interested
Greets
CHILDREN
My saluki and
children
234
Used to
Not used to
OTHER DOGS
My Saluki and
other dogs
317
Many dog friends
Unconfident with unknown dogs
Breed preferences
FEARFULNESS
Research analyses on behaviour
of potential guide dogs showed several stimuli-specific
fear-related dimensions (e.g. suddenness, sounds, threats,
moving objects), and one general dimension of fear, related to
avoidance behaviour in a range of situations. In addition, the general
fear dimension was found to correlate with low social confidence in
meetings with other dogs, which indicates the existence of a broad
shyness dimension in the dog. This dimension, however, was not
associated with aggressiveness towards unknown dogs.
(Svartberg
quoting previous researchers)
Obedience
An obedient breed
Outdoors.
Indoors.
COMES
COMES WHEN
BEING CALLED
Do come unless..
Obedience course
25% have
LURE-COURSING
My saluki and
lure-coursing
LC
35 licensed
My saluki and
track-racing
6 licensed
My saluki and
temperament test
5 have attended DMA
2 other tests
My saluki and
leash scent tracking
HUNTING
My saluki and
it's hunting instinct
on and off lead
My saluki and
hunting
183
Sight or scent
SALUKI
TEMPERAMENT
- Calm indoors, lively outdoors, esp. off leash
- Not reserved towards strangers
- Obedient - comes when called
- If used to children – good with children
- Unconfident with unknown dogs
- 100% have hunting instinct
- Nearly 0% have caught/hurt or killed a hunted
animal
DMA BREED
SPECIFIC RESULTS
http://www.genetica.se
Email: pererik.sundgren@genetica.se
DMA RESULTS
The analyses based on data from 47 breeds
suggested five factors, which were related to 27 of the 33 variables:
‘Playfulness’,
‘Curiosity/Fearlessness’,
‘Chaseproneness’,
‘Sociability’ and
‘Aggressiveness’. (Svartberg, 2003)
DMA SALUKI
Only 18 dogs tested over a period of 11 years in
Sweden.
The
most recent issue of the Swedish Saluki Club Magazine has an
illustrated article with figures and facts for these Salukis and their
performance at the tests
In conclusion reactions are generally
low scored, average values varying between 1,06 (distance aggressivity)
and 3,94 (ghosts, fear) closely followed by two tests with 3,56
(Contact - greeting, and Chase).
WHIPPET
SHETLAND SHEEPDOG
GERMAN SHEPHERD
WELSH SPRINGER
SPANIEL
FLAT
COATED RETRIEVER
CONCLUSIONS DMA
is
a good tool for measuring 3 traits in the adult dog’s personality:
playfulness, attitude towards strange people and dogs, and non-social
fear; however, it does not work for measuring interest in hunting
the so called boldness, i.a. how brave the dog is, affects
test results, both in working dog tests and in everyday life
breeding
successful show dogs is coupled with low scores on playfulness, a
reserved attitude towards foreign people and dogs, and high scores on
social fear. This is totally opposite to the typical personality in the
dogs of the breeds that are the most popular.
(Svartberg, 2003)
SALUKI OWNER
COMMENTS
It
is very easy to make a Saluki function but the complicated thing about
the breed is that at the same time it is easy to make it NOT function
The Saluki is a curious, open breed, willing to work but on it’s own
terms
When
I let him loose he is incredibly fast and lively. One can see that he
is made for running. He really enjoys being off lead, everything is
where it should be, the power in his perfect movements, the explosive
speed, the playfulness and especially the feeling of freedom which
shines around him. When a Saluki runs, time stands still. (Translation
by K.H.)
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