Puppy Behaviour Study

[Jo W]

Hi

I am conducting a research project at the University of Lincoln which investigates the age at which different behaviours develop in puppies age 12 to 24 weeks, with the aim of discovering more about how behaviours change as puppies mature and which behaviours are more common than others.  I  hope that this will help us to further understand how to manage different behaviours.

I am hoping to recruit owners of puppies who are either around 12 weeks at present, or who will be within the next couple of months, to become involved.  This would involve filling in three questionnaires, the first when your puppy is 12 weeks of age and two follow-up qusetionnaires when your puppy is 18 weeks and 24 weeks of age.  Your personal details will be treated confidentially.

If you would like further details about the study, I would be really pleased to hear from you.  I can either be contacted by PM or at puppysurvey@googlemail.com

I look forward to hearing from you!

Regards

Jo

[Jo W]

Anyone.... please     

[Val]

I don't think we have any baby pups on the board at the moment.
I would of thought development depends on owners if you read some of the posts you will be able to see that.
Val

[rooooooooby]

hi,

puppy development would depend hugely on breed, breeder, owner, breed, nutrition, training ... blimey its wide open.  i would imagine the best you'll get is overlapping bandings (similar to child development) for example, from memory speech onset and walking for "an average child" is something like between 9 and 24mths.  however, in reality the "average child" doesnt exist its just a construction.

also, if you tell people you are treating their data CONFIDENTIALLY you will not be able to tell anyone - not even your lecturers under many of the common ethical research guidelines.  it is usual for data to be treated ANONYMOUSLY in projects such as this and that should be OK to get participants.

how are you planning your data analysis because from your brief i cant actually see what you're going to learn except that "some puppies do some things all at different times" which isnt gonna give you alot to write about as you have too many uncontrolled variables and the data doesnt fit any statistical analysis, are you planning semi-structured or open-ended questions? 

lastly, are you sending out all 3 Q's at once because if not owners may miss the behaviours you want to ask about and people are notoriously poor at remembering stuff !  also how are you controlling for social desirability because i would expect this in the form of "my pup is the best/cleverest/etc..."

just my 2p worth as a research freak - good luck tho!

Claire x

[Jo W]

I don't think we have any baby pups on the board at the moment.
I would of thought development depends on owners if you read some of the posts you will be able to see that.
Val

Yes, that's part of the purpose of the study, to compare differences between environment and differences in behaviour. 

Thanks

[kizkiznobite]

uhuh...and...so it re nature /nurture ? nature versus classical conditiong ? nature/nurture versus operant conditioning?  a bit lost in the mire here as to what you want exactly...

[rooooooooby]

yes but you just have millions of uncontrolled variables - it wont reliably tell you anything in quantitative terms.

[Debs5501]

Hi Jo

I have a 14½ week old Puggle - 'Minnie'
We'd be keen to take part in your study.

As a hybrid, she should have traits of both breeds.
However, at this moment in time, the behaviour she is portraying is purely Beagle.
It will be interesting to answer your questions as I will monitor her development even closer

Best regards
Debs

[SuzAndTheDiva]

ohh hope you teaching her a recall!!! 

[Rough]

the behaviour she is portraying is purely Beagle

Goodness, hound temperament with the obstinancy of a Pug!  Good luck to you. 

[Debs5501]

Hi Rough

I know !!!!
What have I let myself in for ??
 
Debs

[SuzAndTheDiva]

lots of hard work fun 

[Rough]

What have I let myself in for ??

Well I hope that you did your research and didn't just get swept along by a cute puppy with a silly name? 

[Debs5501]

Silly name

Is that Minnie or Puggle

No, I certainly did not get swept along.
I knew/ know exactly what I'm getting into.
That remark was made with tongue, firmly wedged - in - cheek !

 

[*Lassie*]

Silly name

Is that Minnie or Puggle

No, I certainly did not get swept along.
I knew/ know exactly what I'm getting into.
That remark was made with tongue, firmly wedged - in - cheek !

 

Puggle is the silly name as it implies that it is a breed of dog rather than a cross breed or mongrel You knew what you were getting in to but didn't know most puppies play bite..