Hunting+and+Gathering+Science+Project+JQ

**Justin Quintero**

**9261223** Period 1 Title: Fidos Favorite Food! ** Problem Statement ** The effect of food preference on a domesticated dog. Which type of food will dogs prefer; raw ground beef, wet dog food (Beneful), or Wet/Dry mixed dog food? ** Variables ** **Dependent:**

Types of dogs. In this experiment I am testing a small breed Yorshire Terrier, a medium breed Miniature Dobberman Pinscher and a large breed Rottweiler.
**Independent:** The types of Food being tested. In this project the types of food are raw ground meat, Wet dog food (Beneful) and a wet/Dry dog food mix.

** Controlled: **temperature of the food, time when it is served, amount of food, order of the bowls. ** Background ** The genus Canis includes 6 species of present canis: the side-striped jackal, golden jackal, black-backed jackal, grey wolf, Ethiopian wolf, and the coyote. The latin ‘canis’ means dog. In the wild, dogs innately hunt for food and they are mainly carnivores. Their diet can consist of sheep, poultry, livestock, foul, turkey, mice, fish, rabbit, and squirrels among other birds and animals. In my experiment I will test the effect of food on domesticated dogs. Since domesticated dogs do not have to hunt and gather food, they solely rely on the care of their owner. Will the dogs prefer food inatily found in nature raw dod food, wet domiscated dog food or a wet/ dry mix of dog food.

 During this experiment I will test which type of food (raw ground beef, wet dog food or dry/ wet mix dog food) dogs prefer. There will be three different types of food set up with the exact amount of food in each bowl and 3 different dogs will be tested. A small dog (Yorkshire Terrier named Dexter, A medium dog Miniature Doberman Pinscher named Sandy and a large dog a Rottweiler named Bo. Each dog will be tested once a day for 5 days. Their 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice will be documented for a period of 5 days. The dependent variable (raw ground meat, wet dog food, wet dry mix) will be placed in a different order each time..

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">In this project, I will manipulate the different kind of food in each bowl. I will document each dogs 1st, 2nd and 3rd choices. Whichever food has been chosen first will be the victor. The dogs will be tested for a period of 5 days during their dinner time which is approximately 6:00 p.m. everday. Therefore, I predict that the dogs will choose the wet dog food. I beleive that the independet variable (The Dogs) will choose the wet dog food (Beneful) because dogs have been domesticated and are used to eating this type of food. In order to determine which type of meat a dog prefers, their 1st, 2nd and 3rd choices will be documented and tallied.

The things that could affect this project are the following: Temperature of the food, the times at which the food is served may vary, their appetite of the dogs at the time the food is being served.
<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">The Yorkshire Terrier- The Yorkie was created by working men of north England, who developed the breed for catching the terrible rats and mice that infested clothing mills and mine shafts. These hunting dogs could penetrate into badger and fox burrows. The breed is not very old, but its origins are not entirely certain. However, it seems likely that Scotsmen seeking work in the woolen mills of Yorkshire brought with them various types of terrier. These were then crossed with local types, such as the long- haired Leeds Terrier. At first, the Yorkie was a much bigger animal than the one we see today, but by selectively breeding the smallest individuals, the dog was gradually miniaturized over the years. They were made into a fashion dog. Women carried these little dogs in their bags and under their arms. The Yorkshire Terrier was first recognized by the AKC in 1885.

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">The Miniature Pinscher- <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">The Miniature Pinscher is a German breed. The Miniature Pinscher was developed from the Daschund, Italian Greyhound, and the short haired German Pinscher. The breed looks like a mini Doberman most likely because both the Miniature Pinscher and the the Doberman both were developed from the German Pinscher. The breed was used as a barnyard ratter controlling the rodent population in the stables. **The Miniature Pinscher is often called the "King Of The Toys."** Some of the Miniature Pinscher's talents are competitive obedience, watchdog, and agility. The Rottweiler- The Rottweiler is a descended from the Italian Mastiff, which accompanied the herds that the Romans brought with them when they invaded Europe. During the Middle Ages, it was used as a herder, as a guard, messenger dog, draught dog, and for police work. It was bred in the German town of Rottweiler in Wurttemberg. Practically extinct in the 1800's, the breed population began a comeback in the early twentieth century due to the efforts of enthusiastic breeders centered in Stuttgart. In Germany on January 13th 1907, the DRK (Deutscher Rottweiler-Klub (German Rottweiler Club) was established. Shortly after on April 27, 1907, the SDRK - Süddeutscher Rottweiler-Klub (South German Rottweiler Club) was formed, which later became the IRK (International Rottweiler Club). The Rottweiler standard was then set. The breed was first recognized by the AKC in 1931. Some of the Rottweiler's talents include: tracking, herding, watchdog, guarding, search and rescue, guide dogs for the blind, police work, carting, competitive obedience, and schutzhund. ** Sources **  []  []  []  []  []

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">** Hypothesis **

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">If you present the dependent variable (dogs) with the independent variable raw beef, wet dog food or wet/dry mix dog food then the dogs will choose the wet dog food.

<span style="color: #800000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Materials: <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">3 dogs <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">1 leash <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">3 food bowls (same size, shape, color) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">16 ounces of wet dog food (Brand) Beneful (Type) Beef Stew <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">16 ounces of ground beef <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">16 ounces of dry food (Costco Brand Lamb/Rice) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">1- table spoon measuring spoon.


 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Procedures **

1. Mark 3 metal bowls A, B, and C 2. Measure 2 tablespoons of food (To be done for each type (raw beef, wet dog food, wet/dry dog food) 3. Place 2 tablespoons of raw beef in bowl A 4. Place 2 tablespoons of wet dog food in Bowl B 5. Place 2 tablespoons wet/dry dog food in bowl in Bowl C 6. Obtain a dog to test 7. Place a leash on the dog. 8. Let the dog sniff each bowl of food. 9. Release the dog and watch it eat! 10. Mark the results in the data book. 11. Clean bowls so the next dog can eat. 12. Repeat steps . 13. The next day, repeat the entire process for each dog. 14. Switch the order of bowls in front of the dogs with each trial. 15. Trial 1: A, B, C, Trial 2: B, A, C Trial 3: C, B, A 16. Perform the experiment 5 separate times.

Results Yorshire Terrier (Y) Mini Dobbermn Pinscher (MDP) Rottweiler (R)

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">The results of this project concluded that RAW GROUND MEAT was the prefered choice. One test day 1 <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">all dogs chose raw meat as their 1st choice. On day 2, Dexter (YS) and Bo (R) chose raw meat and Sandy (MDP) chose wet dog food. On day 3, Dexter (YT) and Sandy (MDP) chose raw ground meat and Bo (R) chose wet dog food. On day 4, Dexter (YT) and Sandy (MDP) chose Raw Ground Meat and Bo (R) chose wet food, On day 5, Dexter chose raw gound meat, Sandy (MDP) chose wet dog food and Bo (R) chose the wet/dry mix. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Data- <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Dexter The Yorshire Terrier chose raw ground beef 5 out of 5 times. Sandy the Minature Doberman Pinscher chose raw ground meat 3 times, wet dog food 2 times and chose the wet/dry mix 0 times Bo the Rottweiler chose raw ground beef 2 times, wet dog food 2 times and wet/dry mix 1 time.

Conclusion
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">The results failed to support the hypothesis thatIf you present the dependent variable (dogs) with the independent variable raw beef, wet dog food or wet/dry mix dog food then the dogs will choose the wet dog food. In my hypotheses, I stated that the dogs would have chosen wet dog food (Beneful). I believed this because the dogs tested are domesticated animals and they are used to eating dog food. The wet dog food Beneful was cooked and savory. It also had a strong smell of savory meat. The raw ground meat was plain and uncooked. This is why I believed that they would have chosen the wet dog food Beneful. **


 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">The possible reason that the dogs mostly chose raw ground meat is because no matter how domesticated a dog is, they seem to fall back on their natural instinct of eating raw meats. In the wild, wild dogs must hunt and gather their own food. Once they catch an animal they eat it raw. This could be one possible reason. **


 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">The limitations in this project could have occurred during the measurement of food. I tried my best to use an equal amount of food in each bowl by measuring it with a tablespoon measuring spoon. Also, I tried my best to test during the same time of the day. Also, the temperature of the food was non consistent. The raw meat had to be kept in the refrigerator in order to not spoil therefore the raw meat was a bit cold. The wet dog food Beneful was kept at room temperature. Therefore, the temperature of foods that the dogs preferred could be a limitation. **

<span style="color: #000080; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Application

I learned a great deal in doing this experiment. I learned that even though dogs have been domesticated as pets they seem to revert to their natural instincts. Even though the dogs tested have a regular diet of domesticated dog food, they still chose the raw meat just as their wild counterparts. Based on the findings of this experiment, I would suggest a new experimental project to be to find out if dogs that have been domesticated prefer to be solitary pets or do they prefer to be in pack. This experiment can be done by finding 3 households that have only 1 dog. Take them to a dog park and see what happens. Do the dogs remain solitary as they do within their households or do they try to locate other dogs to become a pack with?