SavedAdd your journal

Journals / Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi / 2026 / Volume: 73 Issue: 2

Influence of dog-appeasing pheromone on dogs during training

Etkin Şafak(Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi)0000-0003-3869-3749
Nesrin Sulu(ANKARA UNIVERSITY, ANKARA FACULTY OF VETERINARY MEDICINE)0009-0004-7660-9266
Pages
—
Publication Date
2026-01-21
🏛️Bibliographic metadata and full text access for this article are provided via DergiPark.
DergiPark Record ↗
✨

AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Incorporating DAP into training protocols may support ethical handling practices and enhance the well-being and functional success of dogs in demanding service roles.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:The welfare of working dogs during training is crucial for their health, learning capacity, and long-term performance.
📊
Key Findings & Data: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.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:Incorporating DAP into training protocols may support ethical handling practices and enhance the well-being and functional success of dogs in demanding service roles.
🔬Design:Research Article
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Dog Behavior · Dog Training · Pheromone

Abstract

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.

🔖

Cite This Article

Şafak, E., Sulu, N. (2026). Influence of dog-appeasing pheromone on dogs during training. Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi, Volume: 73 Issue: 2. https://doi.org/10.33988/auvfd.1749724

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (63)

  1. Altmann J (1974): Observational study of behavior: sampling methods. Behav, 49, 227-266.
  2. Beerda B, Schilder MB, Janssen NS, et al (1996): The use of saliva cortisol, urinary cortisol, and catecholamine measurements for a noninvasive assessment of stress responses in dogs. Horm Behav, 30, 272-279.
  3. Beerda B, Schilder MB, van Hooff JA, et al (1998): Behavioural, saliva cortisol and heart rate responses to different types of stimuli in dogs. Appl Anim Behav Sci, 58, 365-381.
  4. Bhadauria P, Bhanja SK (2017): Practicing Behavioural Observations For Assessment Of Welfare In Poultry. 297–310. In: Stress and Welfare: Concept and Strategies for Addressing Current Challenges in Poultry Production. ICAR–Central Avian Research Institute, Izatnagar, India,
  5. Bodnariu A (2008): Indicators of stress and stress assessment in dogs. Lucr Stiint Med Vet, 41, 20-26.
  6. Bozovic D, Racic M, Ivkovic N (2013): Salivary cortisol levels as a biological marker of stress reaction. Med Arch, 67, 374-377.
  7. Böhm I (2009): Vergleich der Stressauswirkungen anhand von Speichelcortisolwerten und der Lerneffekte von drei Ausbildungsmethoden bei Polizeidiensthunden. Hannover, Tierärztliche Hochsch.
  8. Bragg RF, Bennett JS, Cummings A, et al (2015): Evaluation of the effects of hospital visit stress on physiologic variables in dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc, 246, 212-215.
  9. Cannon WB (1915): Bodily Changes in Pain, Hunger, Fear and Rage. Nabu Press. NewYork.
  10. Cobb ML, Otto CM, Fine, AH (2021): The animal welfare science of working dogs: current perspectives on recent advances and future directions. Front Vet Sci, 8, 666898.
  11. Cohen J (2013): Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, New Jersey.
  12. Dawkins MS (2006): A user's guide to animal welfare science. Trends Ecol Evol, 21, 77-82.
  13. Demirbaş YS, Emre B (2015): Stresin köpeklerde davranış üzerine etkileri. MAKÜ Sag Bil Enst Derg, 3, 34-42.
  14. Demirbas YS, Safak E, Emre B, et al (2017): Rehabilitation program for urban free–ranging dogs in a shelter environment can improve behavior and welfare. J Vet Behav, 18, 1-6.
  15. Dreschel NA, Granger DA (2009): Methods of collection for salivary cortisol measurement in dogs. Horm Behav, 55, 163-168.
  16. Feddersen-Petersen D, Ohl F (1995): Ausdrucksverhalten beim Hund, Kosmos. Gustav Fischer Verlag, Jena, Stuttgart, Germany.
  17. Frank D, Beauchamp G, Palestrini C (2010): Systematic review of the use of pheromones for treatment of undesirable behavior in cats and dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc, 236, 1308-1316.
  18. Fraser D, Fraser A, Ritchie J (1975): The term “stress” in a veterinary context. Br Vet J, 131, 653-662.
  19. Friend TH (1991): Behavioral aspects of stress. J Dairy Sci, 74, 292-303.
  20. Gaultier E, Bonnafous L, Bougrat L, et al (2005): Comparison of the efficacy of a synthetic dog‐appeasing pheromone with clomipramine for the treatment of separation‐related disorders in dogs. Vet Rec, 156, 533-538.
  21. Gazit I, Terkel J (2003): Explosives detection by sniffer dogs following strenuous physical activity. Appl Anim Behav Sci, 81, 149-161.
  22. Gillette RL, Angle TC, Sanders JS, et al (2011): An evaluation of the physiological affects of anticipation, activity arousal and recovery in sprinting Greyhounds. Appl Anim Behav Sci, 130, 101-106.
  23. Guyton A, Hall J (2013): Tıbbi Fizyoloji. 13. Baskı. Nobel Tıp Kitabevleri, İstanbul, Türkiye.
  24. Haverbeke A, Diederich C, Depiereux E, et al (2008): Cortisol and behavioral responses of working dogs to environmental challenges. Physiol Behav, 93, 59-67.
  25. Hebb DO (1949): Organization of behavior: A neurophysiological theory. John Wiley & Sons, New York.
  26. Hennessy MB, Davis HN, Williams MT, et al (1997): Plasma cortisol levels of dogs at a county animal shelter. Physiol Behav, 62, 485-490.
  27. Hermiston C, Montrose VT, Taylor S (2018): The effects of dog-appeasing pheromone spray upon canine vocalizations and stress-related behaviors in a rescue shelter. J Vet Behav, 26, 11-16.
  28. Jørgensen L, Christiansen P, Raundahl U, et al (1990): Autonomic response to an experimental psychological stressor in healthy subjects: measurement of sympathetic, parasympathetic, and pituary-adrenal parameters: test-retest reliability. Scand J Clin Lab Invest, 50, 823-829.
  29. Kim YM, Lee JK, Abd El-aty A, et al (2010): Efficacy of dog-appeasing pheromone (DAP) for ameliorating separation-related behavioral signs in hospitalized dogs. Can Vet J, 51, 380.
  30. Kirschbaum C, Hellhammer DH (1989): Salivary cortisol in psychobiological research: an overview. Neuropsychobiology, 22, 150-169.
  31. Kobelt A, Hemsworth P, Barnett J, et al (2003): Sources of sampling variation in saliva cortisol in dogs. Res Vet Sci, 75, 157-161.
  32. Kristensen TN, Ketola T, Kronholm I (2020): Adaptation to environmental stress at different timescales. Ann N Y Acad Sci, 1476, 5-22.
  33. Landsberg G, Beck A, Lopez, A, et al (2015): Dog‐appeasing pheromone collars reduce sound‐induced fear and anxiety in beagle dogs: a placebo‐controlled study. Vet Rec, 177, 260-260.
  34. Lindsay SR (2005): Handbook Of Applied Dog Behavior And Training. Volume Three. Blackwell Publishing Professional, Iowa.
  35. Lynch JJ, Hinch GN, Adams DB (1992): The Behaviour Of Sheep: Biological Principles And Implications For Production. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne.
  36. Malliani A (2000): Principles Of Cardiovascular Neural Regulation In Health And Disease. Vol. 6. Springer Science & Business Media, New York.
  37. Mills DS, Ramos D, Estelles, MG, et al (2006): A triple blind placebo-controlled investigation into the assessment of the effect of Dog Appeasing Pheromone (DAP) on anxiety related behaviour of problem dogs in the veterinary clinic. Appl Anim Behav Sci, 98, 114-126.
  38. Minuzzo, T, Bascherotto JS, Gnoatto FLC, et al. (2024): Cardiovascular effects of dog-appeasing pheromone in the hospital environment. J Vet Behav, 76, 68-72.
  39. Moberg GP (2000): Biological response to stress: implications for animal welfare. 1-21.In: Moberg GP, Mench JA (Eds), The Biology of Animal Stress: Basic Principles and Implications for Animal Welfare. CABI Publishing, Wallingford, UK.
  40. Özen D, Bicakci NM, Salgırlı-Demirbaş Y (2024): Exploring the dynamics of Human-Pet attachment: An In-Depth analysis of socio-demographic factors and relationships. Ankara Univ Vet Fak Derg, 71, 385-393.
  41. Pageat P, Gaultier E (2003): Current research in canine and feline pheromones. Vet Clin Small Anim Pract, 33, 187-211.
  42. Porges SW (1985): Spontaneous Oscillations In Heart Rate: Potential Index Of Stress. 97-111. In: Moberg GP (Ed), Animal Stress. Springer, New York.
  43. Puglisi I, Masucci M, Cozzi A, et al (2022): Effects of a novel gel formulation of Dog Appeasing Pheromone (DAP) on behavioral and physiological stress responses in dogs undergoing clinical examination. Animals, 12, 2472.
  44. Salgirli Y, Schalke E, Boehm I, et al (2012): Comparison of learning effects and stress between 3 different training methods (electronic training collar, pinch collar and quitting signal) in Belgian Malinois Police Dogs. Rev Méd Vét, 163, 530-535.
  45. Schwizgebel D (1982): Zusammenhänge zwischen dem Verhalten des Tierlehrers und dem Verhalten des Deutschen Schäferhundes im Hinblick auf tiergerechte Ausbildung. 138-148. In: Aktuelle Arbeiten Artgem Tierhaltung. KTBL-Schriften-Vertrieb im Landwirtschaftsverlag GmbH, Darmstadt.
  46. Scott J (1957): Critical periods in the development of social-behavior in puppies. Psychosom Med, 19, 499-500.
  47. Selye H (1952): The story of the adaptation syndrome. Acta Inc. Medical Publishers, Montreal.
  48. Sheldon EL, Hart CJ, Mills DS, et al. (2023): The impact of auditory distraction on learning and task performance in working dogs. Appl Anim Behav Sci, 265, 105977.
  49. Sheppard G, Mills D (2003): Evaluation of dog‐appeasing pheromone as a potential treatment for dogs fearful of fireworks. Vet Rec, 152, 432-436.
  50. Sherman BL, Mills DS (2008): Canine anxieties and phobias: an update on separation anxiety and noise aversions. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract, 38, 1081-1106.
  51. Sousa MG, Carareto R, Pereira-Junior VA, et al (2011): Comparison between auricular and standard rectal thermometers for the measurement of body temperature in dogs. Can Vet J, 52, 403.
  52. Taylor S, Webb L, Montrose VT, et al (2020): The behavioral and physiological effects of dog appeasing pheromone on canine behavior during separation from the owner. J Vet Behav, 40, 36-42.
  53. Tirindelli R, Dibattista M, Pifferi S, et al (2009): From pheromones to behavior. Physiol Rev, 89, 921-956.
  54. Tiwari GK (2011): Stress and human performance. Indian J So Res, 7, 40-49.
  55. Tod E, Brander D, Waran N (2005): Efficacy of dog appeasing pheromone in reducing stress and fear related behaviour in shelter dogs. Appl Anim Behav Sci, 93, 295-308.
  56. Tomczak M, Tomczak, E (2014): The need to report effect size estimates revisited. An overview of some recommended measures of effect size. Trends Sport Sci, 1, 19-25.
  57. Tunç AC, Başer DF, Bayendur SH, et al (2025): The effects of the demographic characteristics of pet owners on their animal ownership and care behaviors. Ankara Univ Vet Fak Derg, 72, 297-303.
  58. Vincent I, Michell A (1992): Comparison of cortisol concentrations in saliva and plasma of dogs. Res Vet Sci, 53, 342-345.
  59. Wilson DS, Clark AB, Coleman K, et al (1994): Shyness and boldness in humans and other animals. Trends Ecol Evol, 9, 442-446.
  60. Yaman K (2009): Fizyoloji. 4. Baskı. Ezgi Kitabevi, Konya, Türkiye.
  61. Yerkes RM, Dodson JD (1908): The relation of strength of stimulus to rapidity of habit-formation. J Comp Neurol Psychol, 18, 459-482.
  62. Yılmaz B (1999): Hormonlar Ve Üreme Fizyolojisi. Feryal Matbaacılık, Ankara, Türkiye.
  63. Moberg GP (2000): Biological response to stress: implications for animal welfare. 1-21.In: Moberg GP, Mench JA (Eds), The Biology of Animal Stress: Basic Principles and Implications for Animal Welfare. CABI Publishing, Wallingford, UK.