PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
Family dogs exhibit neuropsychological deficits similar to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in humans. Questionnaire methods have mostly been used to assess ADHD-like behaviours in dogs. In addition to our validated questionnaire (Dog ADHD and Functionality Rating Scale-DAFRS; 2024), we developed a simple behavioural test battery covering the ADHD symptom domains (i.e., inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity) in dogs. Our main aim was (i) to provide a final external validation step to the DAFRS by examining its associations with the test variables (N = 59); and (ii) to compare owner- and trainer-rated factor scores\' associations with the test variables (n = 38). We developed four tests covering the ADHD symptom domains: the attention test (inattention), the plush dog test (impulsivity), the leash test, and the sit test (hyperactivity). All four behavioural variables correlated with their respective questionnaire scores, i.e., the strongest for hyperactivity, and the least strong for inattention. Both owner- and trainer-rated scores (n = 38) correlated with the relevant test variables in an expected direction. Dogs\' training status was linked only to the sit test results. Test-retest analyses (n = 34) indicated moderate-to-excellent agreement across all behavioural variables. Our findings support the validity of our novel human-analogue questionnaire for dogs as the behavioural tests strongly correlate with the relevant questionnaire scores, indicating that the two constructs together can effectively assess inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity in dogs.
摘要：
家犬表现出与人类注意力缺陷/多动症（ADHD）症状相似的神经心理缺陷。问卷调查方法主要用于评估狗的ADHD样行为。除了我们经过验证的问卷（狗多动症和功能评定量表-DAFRS；2024），我们开发了一个简单的行为测试电池，涵盖了ADHD症状领域(即，注意力不集中,多动症,和冲动）在狗中。我们的主要目的是（i）通过检查DAFRS与测试变量（N=59）的关联，为DAFRS提供最终的外部验证步骤；（ii）比较所有者和培训师评估的因子得分与测试变量（n=38）的关联。我们开发了涵盖ADHD症状领域的四项测试：注意力测试（注意力不集中），毛绒狗测试（冲动），皮带测试，和坐姿测试（多动症）。所有四个行为变量都与各自的问卷得分相关，即，多动症最强，注意力不集中的力量最小。所有者和培训师评分（n=38）均与预期方向的相关测试变量相关。狗的训练状态仅与坐姿测试结果相关。测试重测分析（n=34）表明，所有行为变量之间具有中等到极好的一致性。我们的发现支持我们的新型人类模拟问卷对狗的有效性，因为行为测试与相关问卷得分密切相关。表明这两种结构一起可以有效地评估注意力不集中，多动症,和狗的冲动。
