The Evaluation Of Heart Rate Reactions Associated With Behavior Test In The Predict Of Training Success Of Guide Dogs

Objective: To test the sociality,the stability,and the courage of potential guide dogs and to analyze heart rate reactions in the test.To verify the influence of the sociality,the stability,and the courage on guide dog training,to explore the role of heart rate reactions in the early prediction of potential guide dogs.Methods: The behavior test of the social contact test,the passive situation test,and the ghost tests were used in this study.The heart rate reactions of tested dogs were recorded.The potential guide dogs were supported by Chinese Guide Dogs Training Centre in Dalian.The potential guide dogs were arranged to take part in three different behavior tests and the heart reate reactions were recorded in the test.The related 9 behavioral variables of behavior tests were scored by evaluation criterion after behavior tests.After guide dog training,the tested dogs were divided into guide dog and eliminated dog according to the criteria for the assessment guide dog.There are 28 guide dogs and 32 eliminated dog in tested dogs.Results: There are significant differences between guide dogs and eliminated dogs on the “Greeting”(P = 0.02),the “Cooperation”(P = 0.00),and the “Handling”(P = 0.00)variables in the social contact test.The guide dogs scored higher than eliminated dogs in three behavior variables.The “Greeting”,the “Cooperation”,and the “handling” variables in the social contact test are confirmed as effective variable indexes to evaluate the sociality.The sociality showed significant difference between guide dogs and eliminated dogs(P = 0.00),the guide dogs scored higher than eliminated dogs.The heart rate of the social contact test was significant higher than rest heart rate(P = 0.00).The heart rate of eliminated dogs was significant higher than guide dogs’ about the changes between the social contact test and resting heart rate(P= 0.00).The passive test was divided two segments: the owner enters the test room and the owner leaves the test room.The variables of “Activity 1”,“Attachment1” and “Activity 2”,“Attachment2” were detected in two segments.There are significant differences between guide dogs and eliminated dogs on the “Activity 1”(P = 0.01)and “Activity 2”(P = 0.00)variables in the Passive situation test.The guide dogs scored lower than eliminated dogs.There was no difference was found on the “Attachment1”(P = 0.06)and “Attachment2”(P = 0.46)variables.However,to analyze the distribution of the numbers of guide dogs and eliminated dogs in different score grades,the trend of score were analyzed.“Attachment1” variable score at 3 and “Attachment 2” variable score at 4 in guide dog group.There was no significant trend was observed in eliminated dog group.The “Activity 1” and “Activity 2” variables in the Passive situation test are confirmed as effective variable indexes on evaluating the stability.The stability showed significant difference between guide dogs and eliminated dogs(P = 0.00),the eliminated dogs scored higher than that of guide dogs.The heart rate in the Passive situation test was significant higher than the rest heart rate(P = 0.00).The heart rate difference between eliminated dogs and guide dogs was no detected(P = 0.11).The “Attention”(P = 0.00)and the “exploration behavior”(P = 0.00)variables’ score of guide dogs are significant higher than the score in eliminated dogs.The “Attention” and the “exploration behavior” variables in the Ghosts test are verified as effective variable indexes on evaluating the courage.The courage showed significant difference between guide dogs and eliminated dogs(P = 0.00),the guide dogs scored higher than that of eliminated dogs.The heart rate in the ghosts test was significant higher than the rest heart rate(P = 0.00).The heart rate changes difference between eliminated dogs and guide dogs was detected(P = 0.03).Conclusions: The “Greeting”,the “Cooperation”,“handling” variables in the social contact test are confirmed as effective variable indexes to evaluate the sociality;the “Activity 1” and “Activity 2” variables in the Passive situation test are confirmed as effective variable indexes on evaluating the stability;the “Attention” and the“exploration behavior” variables in the ghost test are verified as effective variable indexes on evaluating the courage.The sociality,the stability,and the courage are effective temperament characteristics on predicting the suitable to be trained to become guide dog.The heart rate combined with the behavioral test can predict the suitable of potential guide dog.