Puppies in the problem-solving paradigm: quick males and social females.

ABSTRACT: We report an observational, double-blind study that examined puppies' behaviors while engaged in solving an experimental food retrieval task (food retrieval task instrument: FRTI). The experimental setting included passive social distractors (i.e., the dog's owner and a stranger). The focus was on how the social and physical environment shapes puppies' behaviors according to sex. The dependent variables were the number of tasks solved on an apparatus (Performance Index) and the time required to solve the first task (Speed). Sex and Stress were set as explanatory factors, and Social Interest, FRTI interactions, other behavior, and age as covariates. The main findings were that male puppies solved the first task faster than females. On the other hand, females displayed significantly more soc

SUBMITTER: Pinelli C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10066122 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature