Dynamics of salivary cortisol and oxytocin during standardized field training in search-and-rescue (SAR) dogs

Abstract

Search and rescue (SAR) dogs perform physically and cognitively demanding tasks under complex field conditions. The aim of this study was to characterize temporal changes in salivary cortisol and oxytocin concentrations during standardized simulated SAR field training and to explore their associations with selected dog- and training-related factors. Twenty-one working dogs participated in three standardized simulated field-training exercises. Saliva samples were collected at six sampling points covering the pre-workload, workload, and early recovery phases. Temporal changes were evaluated using generalized linear mixed-effects models accounting for repeated measurements within dogs, while associations with dog- and training-related factors were examined as secondary or exploratory analyses. Salivary cortisol showed a significant overall effect of sampling phase, with a statistically significant difference from the pre-workload sampling point observed only at the later workload sampling point, whereas the other pairwise comparisons, including the final recovery sampling point, were not statistically significant after adjustment for multiple comparisons. Salivary oxytocin also showed a significant overall sampling-phase effect, but no individual pairwise comparison remained statistically significant after adjustment. Oxytocin concentrations showed a non-monotonic descriptive pattern and were numerically lower than the pre-workload concentration at the final sampling point. These findings should be interpreted as preliminary information on endocrine responses associated with standardized simulated SAR field training rather than as direct evidence of positive or adverse welfare states or incomplete physiological recovery. Further studies integrating endocrine, behavioral, autonomic, performance-related, physical, and other welfare-related measures are needed to clarify the functional significance of these responses.