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Fall 2024
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2024-12
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Coyne_Honors.pdf
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Abstract
Domestication is the process of selective breeding of a species to alter the biobehavioral
profile of that species. A hypothesized set of characteristics is said to be the result of
domestication and is thus referred to as "the domestication syndrome." While the cause of this
hypothesized "syndrome" is not understood, dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) are said to exhibit all
the traits resulting from the domestication syndrome. To test if the number of characteristics
described in the domestication syndrome a dog possesses correlates with time spent in a dog
shelter, data was attempted to be collected from various dog shelters in the Hudson Valley
Region, NY. The lack of response, probably due to overcrowding in shelters and overworked
staff, resulted in little data collected to test the original hypothesis. Rather, the implications of
this research were examined. Life in dog shelters is stressful for the animal, and enrichment may
lessen this stress, thus providing positive behaviors that potential adopters are looking for. The
dogs' comfort in a shelter should be a priority, and enrichment activities can improve the welfare
of these animals. Keywords: Biology, domestication, Canis lupus familiaris, shelter, adoption, breeding, reform, enrichment
Author's Note: Originally, the length and content of the document were going to resemble a
scientific journal, after the lack of data collection was possible, implications of the original study
question were explored, elongating the document and altering the content.
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