Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology (IFM)

Video recordings from 4 of the 12 subtests were used for the behavioural analysis. The Acoustic startle, Visual startle, Gradual visual startle and the Search subtest were chosen because the dogs are less dependent on their puppy raiser in these compared to the other subtests. During most of the time in these subtests the dogs are not kept on a leash and are therefore not restrained.  

Two saliva samples were collected from each dog. The pre-test saliva sample was collected right before the first subtest and the post-test sample was collected right after the last subtest. The saliva collection took less than 2 minutes making sure that the stress of restraint would not be reflected in the cortisol concentrations.