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Item Does increased task difficulty reveal individual differences in executive function in the domestic dog?(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 2018) Olsen, Mariana Rachel; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Keith A. HutchisonPet dogs are carnivores that inhabit a largely human-dominated context, in which certain normal canid behaviors (e.g., resource-guarding, barking, mounting) are considered undesirable and even dangerous. Safety and welfare implications of human-dog interaction have recently led researchers to take an interest in canine executive function. Two tasks have become particularly popular in this area of study: the cylinder task and the A-not-B task. Because canine cognition tasks are not typically subjected to the same scrutiny as those used in human research, it is unclear whether these tasks indeed measure what researchers expect them to. Even though they ostensibly measure canine inhibitory control, task performance seldom correlates between the two, and researchers have suggested that they might be too easy to reflect effortful processes. Further complicating the matter are lack of reliability estimates and frequent use of under-powered samples. In this study, I evaluated the reliability and construct validity of the cylinder task and A-not-B task. Across two experiments, I tested modified forms of the cylinder task to make it more difficult and thus more reflective of individual differences in executive function. In Experiment 1, subjects completed the cylinder task under normal conditions and following self-control exertion. In Experiment 2, subjects performed the cylinder task either with or without practice retrieving a treat from an opaque apparatus. Subjects in both experiments performed the A-not-B task with removal of ostensive human cuing. Performance on behavioral tasks was compared to owner-reported measures of impulsivity, inattention, behavioral regulation, responsiveness, and aggression. In Experiment 1, performance was negatively affected by self-control exertion, but only to the degree that dogs exhibited self-control. This suggests that the cylinder task reflects an effortful, limited-capacity process. In Experiment 2, subjects performed worse when practice was omitted, suggesting that cylinder task performance partially reflects the ability to transfer the strategy learned during practice to the test trials. Across both studies, performance during the cylinder task and A-not-B task was uncorrelated. Further, the cylinder task showed high reliability whereas the A-not-B did not. Implications of these results and suggestions for future directions are discussed.Item Swim or fly(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Arts & Architecture, 2001) Welty, TheresaPropelling myself through water, or wind, I must consider the resistance against me. 'Swim or Fly' has evolved from my continued fascination with the movement of other animals. I have combined an animal known for its land speed with appendages from a sea creature. I chose the greyhound and the humpback whale because of their efficiency in design for movement. The greyhound is simultaneously a docile and humble animal, but in contrast, it is also associated with speed, grace, and agility. The humpback whale also shares a reputation for being gentle and non-threatening however, its size in relation to our own is very intimidating. The humpback whale fins, being very wing-like, also imply air travel. The dorsal fins, in union with the greyhounds' bodies, creates a fanciful situation in which the dogs must meet with a unique and unlikely circumstance. It appears that they have the option to either swim or fly.Item The representation of dogs as family in contemporary American documentary film(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Arts & Architecture, 2010) Grace, Jennifer Elizabeth; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Ronald Tobias.The American family dog is a social construct that blurs the ontological boundaries of nature/culture dualism and which contemporary American documentary filmmakers represent by employing alternate tropes of 'dog as human' and 'dog as animal.' In filmic and practical use, these tropes are in flux and are confusing. The position of the dog as a paradox of nature and culture and member of the contemporary inter-species family makes the decision to euthanize it ethically challenging. Non-fiction dog programming is more popular than ever and most shows employ the 'dog as human' trope. But few address at what point that trope breaks down and how to find the line between 'dog as human' and 'dog as animal' when making ethical decisions for dogs. I will prove this by describing movies like Why We Love Cats and Dogs (Ellen Goosenberg Kent 2009) that rely on removed experts to explain the how humans are similar to dogs and those like Shelter Dogs (Cynthia Wade 2003) that follow devastating moments of loss with cheery depictions of renewal. My thesis film Soul Dog instead dives into the deep emotional conflict that many of us face in a society where dogs have become surrogate for family. Using personal subjective storytelling techniques like that in Sherman's March (McElwee 1986) and quirky vox pop interviews similar to those in Gates of Heaven, (Morris 1978) I focus on the personal stories and popular wisdom that influence our actions.