https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/o:3874 Decreased risk-proneness with increasing age in equally raised and kept wolves and dogs Jean-Joseph, Hillary Hillary Jean-Joseph 0009-0002-1944-3816 University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Kortekaas, Kim Kim Kortekaas Range, Friederike Friederike Range 0000-0003-3127-5536 University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Kotrschal, Kurt Kurt Kotrschal Public Library of Science journal article open access eng A basic mechanism of domestication is the selection for fearlessness and acceptance of humans as social partners, which may affect risk-taking behavior and the ability to use humans as social support, both at the behavioural and physiological levels. We combined behavioural observations with heart rate parameters (i.e., HR and heart rate variability, HRV) in equally raised and housed wolves and dogs to assess the responses to food offered in the vicinity of a potential stressor (an unknown spinning object) with and without social support from a familiar human. Based on previous studies on neophobia in wolves and dogs, we expected dogs to be less scared of the object, approach more quickly, show less ambivalent behaviour, lower HR, and higher HRV, than wolves, especially at the presence of a human partner. However, we found that mainly age and the presence of a familiar human affected the behaviour of our subjects: older wolves and dogs were generally bolder and faster to approach the food and the familiar human's presence increased the likelihood of taking it. HR rate parameters were affected by age and the stage of the test. Wolves and dogs showed particularly high HRs at the beginning and end of the test sessions. We conclude that in our paradigm, wolves' and dogs' risk-proneness varied with age, rather than species. Additionally, the presence of a familiar human increased the motivation of both, dogs and wolves to take the food. Dogs Animals Wolves Physiology Humans Behavior, Animal Physiology Male Female Rate Physiology Heart Risk-Taking Age Factors Fear Physiology Fear Psychology Aging Physiology Aging Psychology http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/api/object/o:3874/download 10.1371/journal.pone.0313916 https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/o:605 application/pdf PLoS One issn:1932-6203 VoR PLoS One 20 1 1.91 MB 2025