A survey of public attitudes towards barking dogs in New Zealand

AIMS: To investigate public attitudes towards barking dogs in New Zealand in order to quantify the extent to which people perceive barking dogs to be a problem, to compare tolerance of barking with that of other common suburban noises, to assess the level of public understanding about the function of barking, to determine risk factors for intolerance of barking and to assess knowledge of possible strategies for the investigation and management of problem barking.

METHODS: A 12-page questionnaire was sent to 2,000 people throughout New Zealand randomly selected from the electoral roll. Risk factors for being bothered by barking were examined using logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS: A total of 1,750 questionnaires were successfully delivered; of these, 727 (42%) were returned. Among respondents, 356/727 (49.0%) indicated that frequent barking during the day would bother them while 545/727 (75.0%) would be bothered by barking at night. Barking and howling were ranked above other suburban noises as a cause of annoyance. Risk factors for being bothered by daytime barking were not being home during the day, not owning a dog, and considering a dog bite to be a serious health risk. Risk factors for being bothered by night-time barking were not being home during the day, marital status, considering dog bites to pose a serious health risk, and having been frightened by a dog. Overall, 510/699 (73%) respondents understood that barking was a form of communication.

Action likely to be taken by 666 respondents hearing frequent barking included notifying and offering to help the owner (119; 17.8%), complaining to the owner (127; 19.1%) or the authorities (121; 18.2%), or doing nothing (299; 48%). Possible responses by 211 dog owners if they had a barking dog included seeking help from dog trainers (59; 28%) or behaviourists (54; 26%), buying an anti-barking device (33; 15%) or getting rid of the dog (20; 10%).

CONCLUSIONS: Barking was considered to be potentially disturbing by respondents to this survey. Attitudes towards barking were most influenced by age, dog ownership, past experience with dogs and attitude towards dog bites. Public understanding of the possible reasons for barking and appropriate methods of managing the behaviour when it becomes a problem could be improved by better education and the provision of information through veterinary clinics and social media.     

Effectiveness of controlled internal drug release device treatment to alleviate reproductive seasonality in anestrus lactating or dry Barki and Rahmani ewes during non‐breeding season

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of hormonal treatments on ovarian activity and reproductive performance in Barki and Rahmani ewes during non‐breeding season. Forty‐eight multiparous ewes, 24 Barki and 24 Rahmani ewes were divided into two groups, 12 lactating and 12 dry ewes for each breed. Controlled internal drug release (CIDR) device was inserted in all ewes for 14 days in conjunction with intramuscular 500 IU equine chronic gonadotrophin (eCG) at day of CIDR removal. Data were analysed using PROC MIXED of SAS for repeated measures. Breed, physiological status and days were used as fixed effects and individual ewes as random effects. Barki ewes recorded higher (p < .05) total number of follicles, number of large follicles, serum estradiol concentration and estradiol: progesterone (E₂:P₄) ratio compared to Rahmani ewes. Lactating ewes recorded higher (p < .05) number of small follicles and lower concentration of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) compared to dry ewes. Number and diameter of large follicles recorded the highest (p < .05) values accompanied with disappearance of corpora lutea at day of mating. Serum progesterone concentration recorded lower (p < .05) value at day of mating and the highest (p < .05) value at day 35 after mating. CIDR‐eCG protocol induced 100% oestrous behaviour in both breeds, but Rahmani ewes recorded longer (p < .05) oestrous duration compared to Barki. Conception failure was higher (p < .05) in Barki compared to Rahmani ewes. In conclusion, CIDR‐eCG protocol was more potent in improving ovarian activity in Barki compared to Rahmani ewes, but this protocol seems to induce hormonal imbalance in Barki ewes that resulted in increasing conception failure compared to Rahmani ewes.     

Effect of Suppression of FSH with a GnRH Antagonist (Acyline) Before and During Follicle Deviation in the Mare

A GnRH antagonist (Acyline) was used to study the role of FSH in early development of a follicular wave in 61 mares. In Experiment 1, a single dose of 3 mg per mare, compared with 0 and 1 mg, suppressed both the FSH and follicle responses to exogenous GnRH. In Experiment 2, high concentrations of FSH were induced by two successive ablations of all follicles ≥ 6 mm on days 10 and 13 (day 0 = ovulation). A single treatment with Acyline resulted in significantly greater suppression of plasma concentrations of FSH than a single treatment with charcoal-extracted follicular fluid (source of inhibin) or oestradiol. Suppression of FSH was not significantly different between the group treated with Acyline alone and a group treated with a combination of Acyline, inhibin and oestradiol. In Experiment 3, all follicles were ablated on day 10 to induce an FSH surge and a new follicular wave. Acyline treatment on day 10 resulted in an immediate decrease in FSH, without a significant effect on day of emergence of a new wave or growth of follicles from 7 to 11 mm on days 11–13. Treatment on day 15, a day before expected follicle deviation and after the peak of the wave-stimulating FSH surge, resulted in an immediate decrease in FSH and cessation of follicle growth. Results indicated that growth of follicles for about 2 days after wave emergence was independent of FSH. In contrast, during the decline in the wave-stimulating FSH surge and before follicle deviation, growth of follicles was dependent on FSH.     

Effect of hCG in the Presence of hCG Antibodies on the Follicle, Hormone Concentrations, and Oocyte in Mares

Follicle blood flow, follicular-fluid and plasma hormone concentrations, and oocyte quality were studied 30 h after an ovulation-inducing hCG treatment when the pre-ovulatory follicle was 32 mm. Mares were grouped as positive (n = 16) and negative (n = 44) for hCG antibodies before the experimental hCG treatment. Percentage of the follicle wall with blood flow signals was less (p < 0.05) in the antibody positive group than in the negative group. The concentrations of follicular-fluid oestradiol and free IGF1, and plasma oestradiol were greater (p < 0.001), and follicular-fluid progesterone (p < 0.001) and plasma LH (p < 0.02) were less in the antibody-positive group than in the negative group. For recovered oocytes at 30 h (n = 37), the antibody-positive group had fewer (p < 0.001) mature (MII) oocytes than the antibody-negative group. Results were attributable to highly effective neutralization of the hCG in the antibody-positive group.     

Follicle Deviation in Ovulatory Follicular Waves with One or Two Dominant Follicles in Mares

The follicle and hormone aspects of diameter deviation and development of one dominant (≥28 mm) follicle (1DF) vs two dominant follicles (2DF) were studied in 32 ovulatory follicular waves in mares. Follicles were ranked each day as F1 (largest) to F3. The beginning of deviation was designated day 0 and preceded the first increase in the differences in diameter between F1 and F2 in the 1DF group and between a combination of F1 and F2 vs F3 in the 2DF group. One dominant follicle and 2DF developed in 21 (66%) and 11 (34%) waves, respectively. Double ovulations occurred in only one of the waves with 2DF. In 8/11 waves with 2DF, a second deviation occurred between F1 and F2 on 2.5 ± 0.4 days after the first deviation. On day 0, 1DF and 2DF waves were similar in number of days after ovulation, number of follicles, difference in diameter between F1 and F2, and plasma concentrations of LH, estradiol and immunoreactive inhibin. The interval from maximum FSH concentration to day 0 was longer (p < 0.05) and FSH concentration was lower (p < 0.05) on days -1 to 4 in the 2DF group. The similarities on day 0 in the characteristics of 1DF and 2DF waves despite the differences in the declining portions of the FSH profile indicated that a specific day of the FSH decline or a specific concentration were not factors in initiating deviation. Unlike reported results in heifers, the results in mares did not indicate a hormonal basis for the development of 2DF or two deviations.     

Resistance of Triticum dicoccoides to infection with Erysiphe graminis tritici

Summary The reactions of 233 Triticum dicoccoides acessions, collected at 10 sites in Israel and elsewhere, to infection with cultures of Erysiphe graminis tritici, were determined. The reactions indicated that the number of sources of resistance to E. graminis tritici which can be obtained from T. dicoccoides plants growing wild in Israel and elsewhere is almost unlimited. One hundred and fourteen or 49% of the accessions were resistant, and 137 or 59% of the accessions were resistant or moderately resistant to infection with four cultures of E. graminis tritici which possess the virulence genes corresponding to most of the identified resistance genes in wheat. Accessions collected at sites with marginal habitats where T. dicoccoides grows poorly and has lower grain weight, were more susceptible than were accessions collected at sites with an optimal habitat for growth of T. dicoccoides. The results agreed with those in a previous study with Hordeum spontaneum, and indicate that to obtain H. spontaneum or T. dicoccoides accessions with the highest level of resistance to the powdery mildew pathogens, plants should be collected at sites in ecological and geographic regions where those two species occupy optimum habitats and are exposed to the powdery mildew pathogens.