CANINE BEHAVIORAL RESPONSES TO VARIOUS OLFACTORY STIMULI
Abstract
Male canine olfactory preferences for various odorants were examined in an open-field test. Eight different behaviors were recorded during the behavioral assays. Telemetric and video-taping equipment were employed to monitor and record the behaviors evoked by the various odor stimuli as well as electrocardiogram responses. The first study revealed that biologically significant odors, specifically those of urine, were more attractive to males than certain pure chemical odorants that are commonly tested in olfactory experiments. The greatest degree of male behavioral response was toward the odors of female urines. Certain behaviors, such as sniffing and licking were most diagnostic of the odorant distinction. In a subsequent study, the effect of concentration variation on the attractiveness of five types of urine was studied. Eight behaviors were sorted into three groups on the basis of their response patterns: Chemoreceptive behaviors were influenced by odorant concentration. Chemoemittive behaviors were influenced by concentration only. Tropistic behaviors were not influenced by odorant concentration. An attempt was made to use High Pressure Liquid Chromatography as a separation technique that would isolate the particular compounds in female urine which carry the olfactory relevant or pheromonal information. These results however, were problematic.
Degree
Ph.D.
Subject Area
Psychobiology
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