This double-blind study tested if a dog appeasing pheromone (DAP) could reduce aggression and hormonal stress responses in captive African wild dogs.
Managing social dynamics in endangered African wild dogs is critical for conservation. This 2019 PLOS ONE study examined whether dog appeasing pheromone (DAP) could mitigate behavioral stress and aggression during pack separations and reintroductions.
In a controlled, double-blind design, eight zoo-housed packs (23 males total) were either treated with DAP or a placebo after anesthesia. Researchers measured faecal glucocorticoid (fGCM) and androgen metabolites (fAM), alongside observations of dominance-related behaviors.
While DAP did not affect fGCM levels, it prevented the post-intervention rise in fAM observed in the placebo group. Behaviorally, DAP-treated packs showed fewer contact-dominance and active-submission behaviors, but more non-contact dominance interactions—suggesting reduced stress-related aggression.
The findings suggest DAP could serve as a practical welfare tool during interventions like pack formation, reintroduction, or medical handling in captive African wild dog populations.
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213071
