The Use of Triaxial Accelerometers and Machine Learning Algorithms for Behavioural Identification in Domestic Dogs (): A Validation Study.

Journal: Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
PMID:

Abstract

Assessing the behaviour and physical attributes of domesticated dogs is critical for predicting the suitability of animals for companionship or specific roles such as hunting, military or service. Common methods of behavioural assessment can be time consuming, labour-intensive, and subject to bias, making large-scale and rapid implementation challenging. Objective, practical and time effective behaviour measures may be facilitated by remote and automated devices such as accelerometers. This study, therefore, aimed to validate the ActiGraph accelerometer as a tool for behavioural classification. This study used a machine learning method that identified nine dog behaviours with an overall accuracy of 74% (range for each behaviour was 54 to 93%). In addition, overall body dynamic acceleration was found to be correlated with the amount of time spent exhibiting active behaviours (barking, locomotion, scratching, sniffing, and standing; R = 0.91, < 0.001). Machine learning was an effective method to build a model to classify behaviours such as barking, defecating, drinking, eating, locomotion, resting-asleep, resting-alert, sniffing, and standing with high overall accuracy whilst maintaining a large behavioural repertoire.

Authors

  • Cushla Redmond
    School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand.
  • Michelle Smit
    School of Agriculture and Environmental, Massey University, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand.
  • Ina Draganova
    School of Agriculture and Environmental, Massey University, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand.
  • Rene Corner-Thomas
    School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand.
  • David Thomas
    School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand.
  • Christopher Andrews
    School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand.