The concept of animal welfare is based on the recognition that animals are sentient beings and as such - they are able to experience both positive and negative emotions.

Animal welfare research has mainly focused on negative emotions such as fear and negative states such as stress. However, well-being is not only the absence of negative affects but also the presence of positive affects and there is a lack of potential measurements to identify and indicate good welfare and positive emotions.

This project aims to investigate if  heart rate parameters can be used when trying to assess positive emotional states in dogs.