Perfil do criador e da criação de cães da raça Australian Cattle Dog visando instalações e bem-estar animal

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to interview Australian Cattle Dog’s breeders from all over Brazil, and to try to trace their profile, aiming at handling and well-being practices within the creations. A questionnaire was delivered to each creator through some social media (Facebook and WhatsApp), some via e-mail, telephone and others delivered in person. The answers were collected, analyzed and divided into some categories, which are: Creator profile, facilities and breeding, reproduction and well-being and environmental enrichment. It is concluded that the profile of the breeders of the breed Australian Cattle Dog that were interviewed, these are people, for the most part, with at least one full superior course and possessing more than 40 years of age, followed by people aged 20 and 30 years, suggesting that the future of the breed can be guided by people with more open minds, flexible to both genetic improvements and animal welfare. The questionnaire was efficient to observe heterogeneity among breeders. Decisions within both reproductive and structural creations are motivated primarily by personal criteria rather than by some model or normative. Lack of closer monitoring by responsible agencies, enforcement and breeding control policies may be the main factors for such a result.