The effect of transport cage size on the welfare of working dogs

Service dogs, such as police dogs, spend a significant portion of their time in the car. As an independent expert, SLU (Department of Animal Environment and Health) was commissioned by the Police and Customs to conduct a scientific study on how service dogs should best be transported in service vehicles, and how transport crates should be designed to ensure the dogs’ physical and mental well-being during transport.

The project included a pre-study which mapped the routines and prerequisites of the agencies, as well as other factors important for the subject. This was followed by an experimental study with the goal to evaluate how the size of transport cages used by the Police and Customs today affect the welfare of the dogs, and which cage size is most appropriate for different dogs in different situations. Since the working dog must have the chance to rest and recuperate in the car, but also be safe during driving, both comfort and safety are important for the welfare of working dogs in cars.

The results from this study were presented in two reports to the Swedish Board of Agriculture, at the Congress of International Society for Applied Ethology in 2017 and a scientific publication.

The results can serve as material in future revisions of public regulations. The project was financed by the Swedish Police and Swedish Customs.

The results can also serve as material in future revisions of public regulations.

Publications

Skånberg, L., Gauffin, O., Norling, Y., Lindsjö, J., & Keeling, L. J. (2018). Cage size affects comfort, safety and the experienced security of working dogs in cars. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 205.