Helena E Hale
University of Bristol, Animal Behaviour and Welfare, Department Member
- University of Exeter, Psychology, Department MemberLancaster University, Department of Psychology, Graduate Studentadd
- Animal Welfare, Animal Ecology, Human Evolution, Evolutionary Ecology, Animal Behaviour, Ethology, Animal Cognition, Comparative psychology, Dog Behavior, Dog Cognition, and 9 moreEvolutionary Biology, Clinical Animal Behaviour, Human-Dog Relations, Human-Animal Relations, Psychology, Dog Behaviour Research, Animal Behaviour and Welfare, Hunter-Gatherer Archaeology, and Human Behavioral Ecologyedit
- Since graduating with my MSc in Animal Behaviour from the University of Exeter, I have worked on research projects that focus on canine behaviour and welfare. These include measuring the effects of transportation on the behavioural and physiological wellbeing of dogs, and a preliminary investigation into the efficacy of a nutraceutical supplement on the behavioural responses of dogs towards triggers of pre-existing fear or anxiety. I have also developed educational materials designed to assist dog owners in recognising and appropri... moreSince graduating with my MSc in Animal Behaviour from the University of Exeter, I have worked on research projects that focus on canine behaviour and welfare. These include measuring the effects of transportation on the behavioural and physiological wellbeing of dogs, and a preliminary investigation into the efficacy of a nutraceutical supplement on the behavioural responses of dogs towards triggers of pre-existing fear or anxiety. I have also developed educational materials designed to assist dog owners in recognising and appropriately treating behaviour problems motivated by fear and anxiety for the nutraceutical company, Lintbells.
I am currently completing a PhD assessing responses of fearful or anxious dogs on a clinical trial, taking a mixed methods approach to investigating welfare. I aim to use behavioural, cognitive and physiological measures.
My research interests include:
- Measures of assessing positive animal welfare
- Animal personality
- Animal cognition
- Applied ethology
- The development and treatment of fearful behaviour in dogs
- Clinical animal behaviour
Teaching:
I have taught on topics relating to canine and feline behaviour for the Animal Behaviour and Welfare degree, Veterinary Nursing Science degree, and the Companion Animal Welfare and Behaviour Rehabilitation HE course, all at Bristol University Veterinary School
Clinical animal behaviour:
I am a pre-certified clinical animal behaviourist, working towards full certification as a CCAB (certified by ASAB). While passionate about all human-animal interactions, I specialise in the relationships between pet dogs and their owners.edit
Few veterinary professionals use formal quality of life (QOL) assessment tools despite their recommendation from veterinary governing bodies to enable holistic welfare assessments and target welfare improvement strategies. Perceived... more
Few veterinary professionals use formal quality of life (QOL) assessment tools despite their recommendation from veterinary governing bodies to enable holistic welfare assessments and target welfare improvement strategies. Perceived barriers include resistance from owners, and this study aimed to elucidate understanding of dog owner engagement with conversations and tools relating to QOL. An online survey that investigated owner experience, comfort, and opinions about vet-client discussions on topics connected to canine health and well-being, including QOL, was completed by 410 owners. Almost all owners (95.8%) were reportedly comfortable discussing QOL, yet only 32% reported their vets had addressed it. A high proportion of owners (70.8%) expressed interest in assessment tools, but only 4.4% had experienced one, none of which were QOL tools per se. Semi-structured interviews of a sub-set of four owners provided a more in-depth examination of their experience of a health and well-be...
