Although there are studies on the effects of essential oils on dogs, none have investigated the importance of odour concentration to these effects. Eight healthy dogs that had never been used in experiments of olfactory stimulation were exposed randomly to three odour conditions; no-odour control conditions (70ml water), 33μl oil+70ml water or 50μl oil+70ml water (respectively, 1/3 and 1/2 concentrations of human aroma diffuser 0.1ml oil+70ml water) for 30min on 3 consecutive days, with seven days between each condition. Posture (four categories) and behaviour (10 categories) were video-recorded continuously for a total of 50min, consisting of 10min before odour exposure, 30min during odour exposure, and 10min after the end of odour exposure. ANOVA with P corrected for multiple testing followed by post hoc Tukey tests for the evaluation of significant effects. This showed that when comparing the posture of dogs before versus after exposure to 1/3 oil concentration the total time spent in lateral recumbency was significantly decreased by oil exposure, and the spent standing was significantly increased. With 1/2 oil concentration, the total time spent in lateral recumbency was significantly decreased by oil exposure, and that spent in sternal lying or curling up was increase. Panting was significantly lower in the 1/2 concentration compared to control condition. These results suggest that the dogs' behaviour is affected by the concentration of sessential oil, and that 1/2 oil concentraion might have a greater relaxation effect than 1/3 or none.

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This study was carried out to compare behaviours of the Japanese Brown and Japanese Black cows in the pastures during the summer. Seven Japanese Brown and nine Japanese Black cows grazed on the pasture with woods for shade were observed at the Aso region in Japan. We compared maintain behaviour and entering the woods for shade between two breeds. Observations were performed using a 5-min-interval scan sampling method. The proportions of time spent on ruminating with lying in the afternoon (13:00-17:00h) was significantly greater (P=0.026) in the Brown cows (20±17.9%) than in the Black cows (4.1±7.0%). However, locomotion during the afternoon was significantly less (P=0.011) in the Brown cows (4.0±5.2%) than in the Black cows (13.7±6.6%). The entering the shade woods was rarely observed in the Brown cows. The proportions of time spent on this behaviour during the day (07:00-12:00h and 13:00-17:00h) was significantly less (P=0.015) in the Brown cows (2.1±4.0%) than in the Black cows (27.4±22.0%). Our results indicate that the Japanese Black cows and Brown cows have different behavioral characteristics. Specially Japanese black cows entered the shade woods more than Japanese brown cows in day time.

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To obtain basic data on the population size and diurnal travel distance of free-roaming stray cats (Felis silvestris catus) in urban residential areas, a field investigation using a route censusing was conducted in Yokohama, Japan. A daytime walking censusing in each area (eight districts including four residential and four other areas) was carried out three times a day in March, July and November in 2010 through 2013. When the observers found a cat on the route, they marked the spot on a map. The mean density of cat population estimated in four residential areas (8.7±3.9 cats/10,000m^2) was significantly (P<0.05) larger than that in other four category areas (3.6±2.2 cats/10,000m^2). Whereas the diurnal travel distance of intact males tended (P=0.06) to be longer (62.9±44.2m) than that of castrated males (34.0±24.7m), it did not differ between intact females (30.0±20.0m) and sterilized females (33.1±17.4m).

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