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Exploring the Domestication Syndrome Hypothesis in Dogs: Pigmentation Does Not Predict Cortisol Levels
JoAnna M Platzer1, Lisa M Gunter1, Erica N Feuerbacher1
1School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI
|October 14, 2023
Summary
Dog coat color and pigmentation do not appear to predict physiological stress responses. This study found no significant differences in cortisol levels among shelter dogs based on their coat characteristics, suggesting pigmentation alone is not a stress indicator.
Area of Science:
- Animal behavior
- Veterinary science
- Physiology
Background:
- Previous research suggests links between animal pigmentation, behavior, and stress responses.
- Limited research exists on these connections specifically in domestic dogs.
- Animal shelters present a common stressor for domestic dogs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between coat pigmentation and physiological stress responses in shelter dogs.
- To analyze urinary cortisol:creatinine ratios in relation to coat color, eumelanin, and white spotting.
- To determine if pigmentation influences stress levels in dogs during shelter residency and human interaction interventions.
Main Methods:
- Statistical analysis of urinary cortisol:creatinine ratios from 208 American shelter dogs.
- Visual phenotyping of dogs from photographs to classify coat color/pattern, eumelanin, and white spotting.
- Post hoc analysis examining stress response differences based on pigmentation categories.
Main Results:
- No significant differences were found in cortisol:creatinine ratios based on coat color/pattern.
- Eumelanin pigmentation or white spotting did not significantly correlate with stress levels.
- These findings held true both during shelter residency and the human interaction intervention.
Conclusions:
- Pigmentation alone does not appear to predict the physiological stress responses of shelter dogs.
- Preliminary data suggest coat characteristics are not reliable indicators of stress in this population.
- Further research with larger sample sizes and prospective designs is recommended to confirm these findings.
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