Early Evaluation of Fearfulness in Future Guide Dogs for Blind People

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Nearly half of the dogs bred to become guide dogs for blind people fail before the end of their training, the main cause being the presence of fear. Detecting the nature and causes of these fears as early as possible was the main aim of this study. We therefore sought to determine whether the appearance of fear could be explained by insufficient habituation of the puppies. To evaluate fear, we employed an emotional reactivity test (ERT) and a physiological parameter (salivary cortisol). The physiological data supported behavioral data for two of the three parts of the ERT, suggesting that the puppies were able to control their behavioral responses to sound and visual stimuli (SVS). Additionally, the habituation level of the puppies affected both their physiological reactions during the test and their behavioral responses, especially their reactions to SVS. The results suggested that the less accustomed a dog is to a stimulus, the more frightened the dog will be, showing the importance of focusing on early puppy socialization and habituation to improve the numbers of guide dog candidates becoming successful guide dogs. ABSTRACT: Fear is the leading cause of guide dog failure. Detecting the nature and causes of these fears as early as possible is the first step in preventing their occurrence. The process of habituation is a fundamental part of fear prevention. In this study, 11 puppies, all five months of age, underwent an emotional reactivity test (ERT) composed of 12 scored items, classified into three categories: unknown person (UP), sound and visual stimuli (SVS), and body sensitivity (BS). Salivary cortisol was also measured. Foster families were asked to complete a questionnaire concerning puppies’ habituation. The physiological data were correlated with UP (r = 0.71) and BS scores (r = 0.67), but not with SVS scores (r = 0.16), suggesting the ability of these dogs to control themselves when faced with the latter stimulus category. Additionally, the more time a puppy spent alone, the more likely it was to be afraid of SVS (p = 0.05). A correlation, albeit moderate, was detected between cortisol and habituation scores (r = 0.48). These results give us interesting avenues to explore, particularly regarding the importance of focusing on early puppy socialization and habituation to improve the numbers of guide dog candidates becoming successful guide dogs.