In North America, nearly 60,000 dogs were involved in research protocols at USDA-registered research facilities in 2019. Thus, it is important to evaluate environmental factors that mediate dogs’ welfare in such settings, to help enhance their wellbeing and to maximize research validity. In research settings, dogs spend the majority of their time in their home enclosure, so its design can have an important impact on welfare. Accordingly, recommendations have been made to increase the physical complexity of dog enclosures.  

Raised platforms can increase complexity, affording dogs more choices, and allow dogs increased sightlines to other dogs and staff, providing an increased sense of control. They can also offer a solid surface for dogs to rest on. Despite being recommended, the efficacy of raised platforms as an intervention to enhance welfare has not been well examined. Therefore, we are assessing the potential welfare benefits of providing dogs with raised, solid platforms. Specifically, we are asking how often and in what way will dogs use raised platforms, and whether providing a platform changes the dogs’ activity patterns and sleep quality. 

 We are studying dogs’ behavior both through direct observation and via the use of collar-mounted accelerometers. This will tell us how often, and in what way, the dogs use the platforms, and if resting on the platforms enhances their sleep scores. So far, we have found that dogs use the platforms for resting, and that the platforms are large enough to allow dogs to co-sleep on the platforms with their social partners. The dogs’ preference for the platforms is evidenced by the fact that the dogs will preferentially spend time on them, even when the platforms are placed in areas of their enclosures that they typically do not spend time in when the platform is not present.  

This project is not only allowing us to assess raised platforms as an affordable welfare intervention for dogs, but also has the potential to enhance the welfare of the very dogs we are studying. Additionally, a number of students have been involved in the study administration and data analysis, providing training opportunities for early career researchers in studying animal behavior and welfare.