Etologia applicata ed allevamento del cane domestico : effetti di variabili individuali e ambientali sulle problematiche comportamentali

With this study we have evaluated the effects of the artificial selection on the modifications of the predatory instinct in Canis familiaris. We have found some differences among 25 different breeds. The man have in fact selected the dog in order to make it a useful help in different fields choosing for the reproduction those subjects representing the most suitable phenotype and genotype. This has deeply modified the attitude of some subjects, limiting some behaviours and developing others. This could have developed some behaviours about predatory instinct, but also predatory aggression or anxiety related aggression. Because of the more and more problems relating anxious problems, we have statistically analysed data about dogs with generalized anxiety, separation anxiety, aggression, anxiety related aggression, compulsive disorders and phobia since November 1998 to September 2005 (400 subjects) in the Behaviour Clinic of Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Milan, Italy. Because of the multifactorial aethiology of behaviour problems, we have also evaluated some individual characteristics related plasmatic and platelets concentration levels of some neurotransmitters (5HT-DA-NA-5HIAA-LDOPA-DOPAC) between control dogs and the problematic. We have found statistical significant differences between the two groups.