Canine research at UTokyo
Veterinary surgery, ethology, robotics, archaeology, chronological dating, law and animal assisted intervention, veterinary epidemiology, classic literature, and contemporary literature – specialists in these nine fields introduce their canine-related research activities.
Dogs and ethology
Creating a better co-living environment for people and dogs by eliminating behavioral problems
Ryoko Yamada
Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences
Biting people, continuously barking when left alone – dog owners sometimes have to deal with various “behavioral problems” from their pets that can be troubling. Assistant Professor Ryoko Yamada conducts research into such canine behavioral problems at the Laboratory of Veterinary Ethology, and also treats dogs exhibiting these behaviors at the Veterinary Medical Center of the Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences.
Shiba Inus tend to bite and harm their own tails
Problematic dog behaviors make life difficult for their owners. Such behaviors can include aggression like growling and biting, self-harm by biting and injuring themselves, and separation anxiety that leads to continuous barking or house soiling when left alone. If such behaviors become serious, not only can they affect the dog’s health, but they can also worsen to the point that it becomes impossible for the owner to continue to care for and live with the dog. In some cases, such dogs are abandoned or euthanized. These problematic behaviors thus represent a serious issue not only from the perspective of veterinary medicine, but also in terms of animal welfare.
There are several hundred different breeds of dog, and typical problematic behaviors differ by breed. According to a survey conducted on the problematic behaviors of 2,000 dogs in Japan, four of the more popular breeds, namely, Shiba Inus, toy poodles, miniature dachshunds and chihuahuas, tend to have specific sets of problems. Shiba Inus have a greater tendency than other dogs to harm their own tails and attack family members. Toy poodles bark at sounds. Miniature dachshunds suffer separation anxiety and are scared of strangers. Chihuahuas bark at visitors and attack strangers. It is therefore necessary to prevent and deal with problematic behaviors according to the particular breed. Causal factors of problematic behaviors can be both environmental and genetic, but genetic factors have a greater impact on behaviors that are peculiar to specific breeds. The Laboratory of Veterinary Ethology is analyzing the genetic factors behind problematic dog behaviors, with a special focus on Shiba Inus.
Engaging in both research and medical treatment
The Veterinary Medical Center of the Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences has a Department of Veterinary Behavior, where I work as a veterinarian and treat dogs with behavioral problems while also conducting research at the Laboratory. The biggest reason for owners to bring their dogs to the Department is aggressive behaviors such as growling and biting. Such behaviors account for 60% of the cases seen by the Department. We interview the owners in detail about the circumstances of the behavior, what the dogs do exactly and their posture in the moment, how the owners react, and their living environment. If necessary, we also conduct blood tests as well as X-ray and MRI examinations to specify any physical factors that may be involved. We clarify whether the problematic behaviors are caused due to fear, anxiety, territoriality, predation or other ethological reasons or due to physical disorders such as a painful injury or illness or cerebral nerve disease. We then treat each dog according to the factors identified.
We deal with problematic behaviors through behavior modification, drug therapy and surgical treatment. The behavior modification method is based on animal learning principles, and among the types of treatment, we mainly use this method to change inappropriate behaviors into desirable ones. For drug therapy, we use drugs such as serotonin to adjust neurotransmitters. For hormone-related problematic behaviors, we may also use surgical therapy, including castration and spaying.
One benefit of working at a university is that I can conduct research while also engaging in the treatment of canine behavioral problems. Clarifying the background of behavioral problems can lead to the development of effective treatment methods that will give hope to owners who are troubled by their dog’s behavior. Through eliminating behavioral problems, I hope to contribute to the establishment of better relationships between dogs and people.
Dogs will go straight to it!? “Churu Hiroba”
The balcony space on the second floor of the Veterinary Medical Center where Assistant Professor Yamada treats animals is open to visitors and their pets. Owners can go there to take a break and their pets can have something to eat or drink.
Under the naming rights program implemented by UTokyo, Inaba Petfood Corporation has named the space “Churu Hiroba” (“Churu Square”) for the period from January 2023 to December 2027. In this way, UTokyo’s education and research is supported by donations from various sources.
Veterinary Medical Center Future Fund (VMC Fund)
Many parts of the nearly 30-year-old balcony were corroded or discolored due to aging and water damage. However, thanks to the VMC Fund, the balcony floor has been coated with a green waterproof urethane material and the dog paw washing station has been refurbished. In addition, wooden louvers and benches have been installed to make the balcony a more relaxing space.
