Intraspecific Interactions Decrease Stress Affecting Welfare in Shelter Dogs: A Comparison of Four Different Housing Conditions

Shelters are stressful environments for domestic dogs (Canis familiaris). Evaluating dogs’ welfare is crucial to improve their life condition and promote a better management of shelters. We aimed at verifying which variables improved in 10 shelter ((hosted the “Centro cinofilo Caerite” Bracciano (Rome)) by analysing behavioural responses different environmental conditions. Furthermore, faecal samples were taken measure cortisol metabolites (CM), non-invasive method evaluate adrenocortical activity dogs. Dogs observed total 400 h 4 cage conditions: (i) alone cage; ii) an enriched (iii) with conspecifics; (iv) regular interaction humans outside cage. Alone situation showed highest frequencies displacement activities (Friedman test: χ2 = 13.32; p 0.004). In contrast, being conspecifics seems reduce frequency, as well level 8.04; 0.045). Our results suggest that conspecifics’ presence best way stress This research could provide some useful guidelines managing shelters improving condition.