Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Ankara Universitesi Veteriner Fakultesi Dergisi, cilt.73, sa.2, ss.167-176, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus, TRDizin)
The welfare of working dogs during training is crucial for their health, learning capacity, and long-term performance. This study investigated the efficacy of the Dog Appeasing Pheromone (DAP) in mitigating acute stress responses in Belgian Malinois during a structured 7-day basic obedience training protocol. Thirty-three dogs were randomly allocated to three groups: Group 1 (control, no training or DAP), Group 2 (training without DAP), and Group 3 (training with DAP). Physiological indicators (heart rate, body temperature, salivary cortisol) and behavioral stress markers (ethogram-coded postures) were recorded daily. Dogs in Group 2 exhibited significantly elevated stress responses across all parameters compared to Groups 1 and 3 (P < 0.001). Group 3, treated with DAP, showed physiological and behavioral measures not statistically different from the control group, indicating effective stress mitigation. Specific stress behaviors—such as ear retraction, lowered head, and semi-low posture—were markedly reduced in DAP-treated dogs. Strong positive correlations were observed between physiological and behavioral indicators (e.g., cortisol and body posture: r=0.503; cortisol and tail position: r=0.744), supporting the reliability of behavioral observations in stress assessment. This is the first study to integrate behavioral and physiological metrics to demonstrate the stress-buffering effect of DAP during active training. Given its non-invasive and non-sedative nature, DAP represents a promising tool for improving welfare in working dogs without compromising performance. Incorporating DAP into training protocols may support ethical handling practices and enhance the well-being and functional success of dogs in demanding service roles.