Avaliações fisiológicas e comportamentais, pré e pós-atividades de socialização, de cães militares de policiamento e faro de entorpecentes da Força Aérea Brasileira

Dogs are used by armed forces mainly for detection and policing. The objective was evaluating the effect of inserting environmental enrichment practices, positive reinforcement, and stress reduction activities in working dogs of the Canil de Segurança de Defesa de Canoas (GSD-CO) of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). To rule out the presence of concomitant diseases, echocardiography, abdominal ultrasound, qualitative urine analysis, hemogram, and serum biochemistry were previously performed. Physiological parameters were evaluated: Systolic Blood Pressure, Heart Rate, Respiratory Rate and rectal temperature. There was a statistic significant difference between the initial and final moments in six behavioral variables out of a total of eight: training and obedience (p=0.036), aggression (p=0.004), fear and anxiety (p=0.008), behaviors related to separation (p=0.008) and various (attempts to escape, roll or eat their own or other animals’ excrement) (p=0.003), suggesting that well-being practices, socialization with people and other dogs improve the quality of work and life of military dogs.