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Study shows wolves are more socially tolerant than dogs
The study found that, when kept in the same conditions, wolves are more prosocial than their domestic counterparts.

Researchers compare the behaviour of dogs and wolves raised in groups

Wolves are more socially tolerant and cooperative with their fellow pack members than dogs, according to new research.

A study published in the journal PLOS ONE concludes that, when kept in the same conditions, wolves are more prosocial to their in-group partners than dogs.

Prosocial behaviour is a type of action that benefits others. It is not a uniquely human behaviour, as studies show that some primates and dogs also have prosocial tendencies.

Some domestication hypotheses suggest that dogs have been selected for their cooperative tendencies, indicating that dogs should be more prosocial than wolves.

Other hypotheses, however, suggest that prosocial behaviour is a trait derived from dogs’ ancestors. Wolves are the closest living relatives of dogs and, because they rely so heavily on cooperation, it has led to the opinion that wolves are more prosocial than dogs.

To investigate this further, researchers from Vetmeduni Vienna compared the prosocial behaviours of six dogs and nine wolves raised in groups by the University’s Wolf Science Centre.

The animals were trained to choose a ‘giving’ symbol, which delivered a food reward to an adjacent receiver enclosure, over a ‘control’ symbol which provided no food reward. The animals could choose between the two options by pressing their nose on a touch screen device.

Researchers found that wolves acted prosocially to in-group partners, providing significantly more food compared to a control where the partner had no access to food.

‘In sum, when kept in the same conditions, wolves are more prosocial than their domestic counterpart, further supporting suggestions that reliance on cooperation is a driving force for prosocial attitudes,’ the researchers conclude.

'The fact that wolves, but not dogs, were prosocial in the same task corroborates other findings that wolves are more tolerant with food sharing, a naturalistic measure of prosociality, than dogs.'

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.