Article

Classification of behavior problems in dogs: Distributions of age, breed, sex and reproductive status

December 1987
Applied Animal Behaviour Science 19(1-2):169-178

Authors:

Mercer University

Wright, J.C. and Nesselrote, M.S., 1987. Classification of behavior problems in dogs: distributions of age, breed, sex and reproductive status. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci., 19: 169-178. One hundred and seventy behavior problems were observed in 105 dogs referred for behavior- problem management by practicing veterinarians. Ninety percent of the observed behavior prob- lems were classified within three major categories: aggression; stimullis reactivity; separation- related. Aggression and stimulus reactivity problems were further sub-divided by their predomi- nant behavioral components, i.e. excessive approach or avoidance in relation to the target stimuli. The mean age for dogs presented for problem behavior was 3.4 years, which did not differ as a function of diagnostic category (P> 0.05) .The distributions of different types of aggression seen in dogs and the most frequent pair-wise combinations of different types of aggression in the sample were described. Significantly more intact males and neutered females were referred for aggressive and stimulus reactivity behavior problems (P < 0.001) , but dogs with sepAration-related problems did not differ (P> 0.05) .The value of identifying the predominant components of behavior prob- lems for clarifying the direction of behavior change was discussed.

Genetic distance from wolves affects family dogs’ reactions towards howls

Article

Full-text available

Feb 2023

Domestication dramatically changes behaviour, including communication, as seen in the case of dogs (Canis familiaris) and wolves (Canis lupus). We tested the hypothesis that domestication may affect an ancient, shared communication form of canids, the howling which seems to have higher individual variation in dogs: the perception and usage of howls may be affected by the genetic relatedness of the breeds to their last common ancestor with wolves (‘root distance’) and by other individual features like age, sex, and reproductive status. We exposed 68 purebred dogs to wolf howl playbacks and recorded their responses. We identified an interaction between root distance and age on the dogs’ vocal and behavioural responses: older dogs from more ancient breeds responded longer with howls and showed more stress behaviours. Our results suggest that domestication impacts vocal behaviour significantly: disintegrating howling, a central, species-specific communication form of canids and gradually eradicating it from dogs’ repertoire.

Influence of Gonadectomy on Canine Behavior

Article

Full-text available

Feb 2021

Due to the lack of unequivocal scientific evidence, gonadectomy’s effects on dogs’ behavior are still debated. Since veterinarians differ in their opinion, there may be considerable diversity in the advice received by owners. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of gonadectomy on dog behavior across time. Ninety-six dog owners (48 control dogs and 48 experimental dogs) were interviewed twice (T0 and T1, nine months later) to obtain information about their dog’s behavior. No change was found in the eating behavior or weight of dogs of both groups. Compared to T0, at T1, experimental dogs were reported to show less mounting behavior, pull on the leash, and roaming behaviors. Marking behavior did not vary across time for both groups of dogs. A tendency to reduce owner-directed aggression was observed at T1 for experimental male dogs, while no change was observed for male controls. The literature reports conflicting information about the effect of gonadectomy on behavior, suggesting that further studies about this topic should be undertaken.

Avis de l'Anses sur le risque de morsure de chien. Octobre 2020. Advice of the French National Food Safety on the risk of dog bite and relevance of breed specific law. October 2020.

Technical Report

Feb 2021

Advice of the French Food Safety Agency on the risk of dog bites and the relevance of breed specific laws made by a subgroup of the Animal Health and Welfare Committee. An evaluation of risk process : identification of the hazard, evaluation of risk i.e emission X expostion and consequences. Advice given on demand of Department of Agriculture related to Laws of 1999, 2007 and 2008 concerning dangerous dogs. Relevance of categorization of dog breeds is discussed as well as the methods of behavioural evaluation.

Behavioral and Perceptual Differences between Sexes in Dogs: An Overview

Article

Full-text available

Aug 2018

In this paper, we review the scientific reports of sex-related differences in dogs as compared to the outcomes described for wild animals. Our aim was to explore whether the differences in male and female dogs were affected by the domestication process, in which artificial selection is the main driver. For this purpose, we used information regarding personality traits, cognitive processes, and perception, for which there is a wide theoretical framework in behavioral ecology. Aggressiveness and boldness, described as a behavioral syndrome, were reported as being higher in males than females. Females also seemed more inclined to interspecific social interactions with humans in tasks that require cooperative skills, whereas males appeared more inclined to social play, thus implying different levels of social engagement between the sexes, depending on the context. Studies on cognitive processes underlined a greater flexibility in resorting to a particular navigation strategy in males. Most lateralization studies seem to support the view that males are preferentially left-handed and females are preferentially right-handed. Reports on visual focusing coherently rank females as superior in focusing on single social and physical stimuli. Only male dogs are able to discriminate kin; however, the timing of the olfactory recording in sexes is related to the stimulus relevance. Dogs are largely in line with life-history theories, which indicate that sex differences in dogs are mainly rooted in their biological and evolutionary heritage, remaining unchanged despite artificial selection. In contrast, the higher intraspecific sociability in wild male animals was not replicated in dogs.

Factors associated with dog behavior problems referred to a behavior clinic

Article

Dec 2017
J VET BEHAV

Undesirable behaviors are common in the domestic dog population. This study aimed to identify similarities and differences in characteristics underlying 2 major groups of behavioral problems, and their treatment outcome. The study focused on 335 dogs that visited a Behavioral Clinic in northern Italy between 2013 and 2016. These cases were categorized into 2 broad groups based on the diagnosis: an “aggressive” group (behavioral pathologies involving aggression) and an “anxious” group (behavioral pathologies not primarily involving aggression). Each dog underwent a behavior consultation made by a veterinary specialist who used a basic history questionnaire focused on all aspects of dog's behavior, management, and health issue. Several variables were selected from the questionnaires collected. We found a statistical association of the behavioral problem with factors such as size, sex, age, time of onset, dogs' resting place, family composition, and mounting behaviors involving people (P ≤ 0.05). Small- and medium-sized dogs were mainly “anxious” instead of “aggressive”; male dogs were mostly “aggressive” and female dogs (neutered and intact) were mainly “anxious”; dogs adopted from pet shops were all anxious. On average, “aggressive” dogs exhibited the problem 4 months after adoption. “Anxious” dogs exhibited the problem within 1 week of adoption. The resting place and diagnosis were statistically related (P ≤ 0.05): the 20% of dogs that slept on owners' bed were mainly “anxious” dogs (78% of these). Sixty-five percent of “anxious” dogs and 33% of “aggressive” dogs showed mounting behaviors toward people. Most (72.3%) (N = 242/335) of the dogs improved after behavior treatment. “Aggressive” dogs (96%, N = 232/242) improved more than “anxious” ones (4%; N = 10/242) (P ≤ 0.05). Moreover, owners of dogs with anxiety problems were significantly more prone to surrender the dog to a shelter or other people (P ≤ 0.05). Our work supports some previous findings and suggests some new information regarding factors associated with broad scale aggression and anxiety in domestic dogs. Anxiety problems appear more difficult and demanding for dog owners. A referral population is not likely representative of the entire population of dogs. To understand patterns of behavioral problems, we need more complete population data and we need data from dogs across their lifetime.

Characterization of the Variables Related to Reports of Death Due to Canine Bites in Scientific Articles during the Years 2013–2017: A Systematic Review

Article

Full-text available

Sep 2021

Canine bites are an important public health problem, with consequences such as physical injuries, psychological trauma, transmission of zoonoses, infections and they can even cause death. To avoid deaths caused by this type of bite, multiple factors related to this issue must be considered. The objective of this review was to search and analyze the indexed scientific literature on canine bites resulting in death, published during the period 2013–2017. A search was carried out in various databases of indexed literature, in Spanish and English. After selecting and excluding items using PRISMA, they were classified according to SIGN guidelines to filter out the level of evidence and potential biases. Thirty-three scientific articles were retrieved and analyzed. In most of these, victims between 50 and 64 years of age (28.6%, 8/28) were registered. Additionally, in most of the articles, only one animal participated (80%, 16/20). The highest number of events occurred in public spaces (58.5%, 7/12). In conclusion, most of the scientific articles that report incidents of dog bites resulting in death, provide details about the victims, their injuries and the treatment received; however, few articles provide background information on the context of the attack and the biting animal.

Association between puppy classes and adult behaviour of the dog.

Chapter

Aug 2017

These proceedings contain oral and poster presentations from various experts on animal behaviour and animal welfare in veterinary medicine presented at the conference.

The Influence of Breed, Sex, Origin and Housing Conditions on Undesirable Behaviors in Ancient Dog Breeds

Article

Full-text available

May 2021

Abnormal repetitive behaviors often pose problems for dog owners. Such behaviors are considered undesirable if they pose a nuisance or a danger to humans. Ancient dog breeds are intelligent, sociable, active, boisterous and need regular outdoor exercise, but are also independent and reluctant to follow commands. This study aimed to identify factors (breed, sex, origin, housing conditions) and situations that contribute to undesirable behaviors, such as aggression towards humans and other dogs/animals, separation anxiety, excessive vocalization, and oral and locomotion behaviors in Akita, Alaskan Malamute, Basenji, Samoyed and Siberian husky. Undesirable behaviors in dogs were analyzed based on the results of 897 questionnaires. Breed influenced aggressive behavior towards other dogs/animals, aggression towards humans, undesirable oral and locomotion behaviors, and excessive vocalization. Aggressive behaviors were more prevalent in females than in males. Housing conditions were linked with aggression towards other dogs/animals, aggression at mealtime, and excessive vocalization. Undesirable behaviors were most frequently reported in Akitas, Siberian huskies and Samoyeds, and they were more prevalent in males than in females and dogs living indoors with or without access to a backyard. Aggressive behaviors towards other dogs and animals, excessive vocalization and undesirable motor activities posed the greatest problems in ancient dog breeds.

Owner perception of problem behaviours in dogs aged 6 and 9-months

Article

Full-text available

Oct 2020
APPL ANIM BEHAV SCI

Problem behaviours may lead to compromised welfare, risk of relinquishment and euthanasia for dogs, as well as distress and safety issues for owners. This study used data provided by 1111 UK and Republic of Ireland participants in the ‘Generation Pup’ longitudinal study of canine health and behaviour. The aims were to; i) identify the proportion and type of problem behaviours reported by owners when their dogs were 6 and 9-months; ii) identify risk factors for behaviours owners reported as a ‘problem’ when their dog was 9-months old; iii) identify risk factors for behaviours reported to occur but not recorded as a ‘problem’ by owners when dogs were 9-months old; and iv) identify whether and how owners sought help for undesired behaviours. In the 6 and 9-months questionnaires, 31 % and 35 % (respectively) of owners reported their dog to be showing behaviour(s) that they found a problem. Owners most often sought help for these behaviours from dog trainers (72 % at 6-months and 68 % at 9-months), and online sources excluding those associated with welfare organisations (which were listed separately) (34 % at 6-months and 27 % at 9-months). The most commonly reported problem behaviours at both ages were pulling on the lead, jumping up at people and poor recall. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that female owners, owners who were unemployed/homemakers/pensioners/retired, owners who did not attend (nor planned to attend) puppy classes, and owners who reported they used a mixture of positive reinforcement and positive punishment or positive punishment only training methods at 9-months had increased odds of reporting a problem behaviour in their dogs at that age. Further investigation determined risk factors for owners reporting one or more of the three most commonly reported problem behaviours (pulling on the lead, jumping up at people and poor recall) in their dog’s 9-months questionnaire compared with those owners who separately recorded the occurrence of these behaviours, but did not report any to be problematic. Owners who were employed/self-employed/students, owners who reported that they used positive reinforcement only, owners that had not attended puppy class, and owners of small dogs had increased odds of not reporting a behaviour to be problematic despite evidence of the behaviour having been observed by the owner. These results indicate that not all potentially concerning canine behaviours were perceived by the owners to be problematic, and has identified groups of owners more likely to require support with behaviour issues in their dogs.

Article

Sep 2019
APPL ANIM BEHAV SCI

The domestication of dogs resulted in several fundamental behavioural changes as compared to their closest wild living relative, the wolf. While these characteristics are considered to be fairly robust across dogs, dog breeds themselves manifest apparently strong behavioural differences. Thus far the functional roots of breed-specific behaviours are still less understood and supported by empirical research. We hypothesized that historical selection for the level of working interaction intimacy with their handlers, may have resulted in the fundamental differences between the main working dog types and their behavioural reactions when separated from their owner. In our study, dogs from breeds that were originally selected for either cooperative or independent work tasks, were tested in a short outdoor separation test. We included dogs with and without owner-reported separation-related disorder (SRD) to both groups. We found that SRD-status and the breed type were in significant association with various stress related behaviours during separation from the owner. Dogs from cooperative working breeds with SRD barked more frequently, meanwhile barking was less prevalent in independent breeds and also in cooperative breeds without owner-reported SRD symptoms. General movement (showing the dogs’ intention to follow or find the disappearing, then absent owner) was uniformly strongest in cooperative dogs with SRD. Whining appeared most frequently in dogs with SRD, regardless to the breed type. These are the first results that support a functional evolutionary framework behind the association of particular dog breeds with the extent of their stressful reactions to separation from their owner.

Association between puppy classes and adulthood behavior of the dog

Article

May 2019
J VET BEHAV

This study was designed to assess the effect of puppies and juvenile dogs' attendance at puppy classes on the behavior of the dogs at their adult age. For this purpose, 80 dogs (32 of which had attended puppy classes and the other 48 had not) were evaluated using the Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire that was filled out by owners 1 year after the completion of the puppy training. Dogs that attended classes were categorized as puppies (≤3 months) (n = 15) or juveniles (>3 months) (n = 17). Ordinal regression models were used to estimate the influence of puppy classes on the different behavioral traits assessed by the Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire. The results indicated that both puppies and juveniles that have attended classes had more favorable scores for family-dog aggression, trainability, nonsocial fear, and touch sensitivity. The study showed that attending puppy class may be important for social exposure with other puppies and people which could have an association with the dog's long-term behavior.

Becoming a dog: Early experience and the development of behavior

Chapter

Dec 2016

Should I whine or should I bark? Qualitative and quantitative differences between the vocalizations of dogs with and without separation-related symptoms

Article

Aug 2017
APPL ANIM BEHAV SCI

Separation-related disorder (SRD) is one of the most common behavioral problems of companion dogs, causing inconvenience and stress for dog owners and others living close by, as well as being considered as a major contributor to poor animal welfare. Although excessive vocalization is considered as one of the typical symptoms of SRD, until now there were no attempts to analyze and compare the vocal output of affected and non-affected dogs in a systematic, empirical test. In a three-stage outdoor separation experiment we investigated the vocal response of 25 family dogs with, and 20 family dogs without, owner-reported SRD symptoms to the (1) departure; (2) absence; and (3) return of the owner. After the analysis of the occurrence and onset latency of barks and whines, we found that contrary to the commonly held view of excessive barking being one of the trademarks of SRD, dogs with owner-reported SRD symptoms can be reliably characterized by the early onset and high occurrence of whines during the departure and 2 min long absence of the owner, while barks were affected mainly by the age of the dogs. Breed and neuter status may modify the vocal reaction to separation, we found that more purebred dogs barked sooner, while breed and neutering status affected the whines only during the departure of the owner, showing that more mixed breeds and intact dogs whined in this phase. This is the first study that targeted directly the vocal response of family dogs to separation from the owner, and according to the results, whines and barks reflect potentially different motivational/inner states of dogs during a short isolation episode. Although the effect of other factors, such as sex, neuter status and breed cannot be ignored, the owner reported SRD status of dogs showed a high coincidence with the early onset of whining, which in turn proved to be a good indicator of high stress levels of dogs in this situation.

A literature review on the welfare implications of gonadectomy of dogs

Article

Full-text available

May 2017
JAVMA-J AM VET MED A

Kendall Houlihan

Behavioral disorders of dogs and cats

Chapter

Nov 2023

Abrar Ul Haq Wani

Animals react differently to the same stimuli. Individual behavioral variations may result from a variety of circumstances. Among these influences include hereditary traits, prenatal dam modification, animal behavior at different periods of development, especially during the neonatal and socializing phases, maturational events, and the efficient functioning of the animal’s organ systems (Kaiser and Sachser, 2005; Weinstock, 2008; Camps et al., 2019). When discussing the proper organ function in animals, it is affected by an array of medical complications that can cause behavioral problems directly or indirectly in our pet animals, and these complications include those that alter or eliminate external perception (e.g., blindness), information perception (e.g., a brain tumor), stress reactions owing to pain, and those that drastically alter internal processes due to hormonal or neurological issues (Camps et al., 2019; Haq et al., 2022). In general, behavioral disorders in animals are defined as abnormally unpleasant behavior observed by the animal owner that can be harmful to people or other animals and that can either directly or indirectly impair the patient’s well-being. Other ailments in companion animals, such as aggression, abnormal behaviors associated with pain, and behavioral issues associated with the vomeronasal organ and heart failure, must also be taken into consideration during a clinical diagnosis (Camps et al., 2019). For the treatment and management of behavioral disorders in companion animals, veterinarians combine pharmacological interventions, such as the use of tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, phenothiazines, benzodiazepines, and occasionally pheromone-based therapies, with behavioral modification therapies or techniques (Camps et al., 2019; Haq et al., 2022). A list of drugs that may help companion animals having behavioral issues is mentioned in (Table 1). Numerous contributing factors are thought to have an impact on the utilization of psychopharmaceutical treatment for aberrant behaviors. They include ideas held by veterinary teams and dog owners about what constitutes “normal” and acceptable canine behavior in addition to worries about cost, safety, and ease of administration. There is little published research on the use of pharmaceutical treatment to address unwanted behaviors in companion animals receiving routine veterinary care, despite the general consensus that greater knowledge on veterinary behavioral psychopharmacology is needed.

Assessment of owner-directed aggressive behavioural tendencies of dogs in situations of possession and manipulation

Article

Full-text available

Sep 2017

Excessive aggression is a common behaviour problem in dogs that can have various destructive effects on the affected people and the implicated dog. Aggressive behaviour directed towards the owner or other family members is one of the most frequently occurring aggressive phenotypes. Here, we examine the reliability of a short questionnaire assessing aggressive behaviours by two, contextually different behavioural tests: ‘take away bone’ and ‘roll over’. Based on dogs’ behaviour in the tests, we sorted dogs (N=93) in two groups for each test, namely a less and a more disobedient/resistant group. The two principal components obtained in our questionnaire- ‘obedient’ and ‘aggressive towards owner’-showed significant differences between the behaviour groups. While dogs in the less disobedient/resistant groups had significantly higher ‘obedient’ and significantly lower ‘aggressive towards owner’ scores, dogs in the more disobedient/resistant groups had significantly higher ‘aggressive towards owner’ and significantly lower ‘obedient’ scores. Dogs’ age, sex and neuter/spay status expressed their effect through interactions. Males, young dogs and intact dogs were less ‘obedient’ than older ones, while resistant spayed/neutered dogs were more aggressive towards the owner. The questionnaire used is a safe, easy to deploy and time-efficient tool to reliably assess certain owner-directed aggressive tendencies of family dogs.

The human-animal bond and at-home behaviours of adopted Indian free-ranging dogs

Article

Jul 2023
APPL ANIM BEHAV SCI

Free-ranging dogs (FRDs) represent the largest population of dogs around the world. Their lives are not under direct human supervision and these dogs can be found in and around all possible forms of human habitation. Increased urbanization, poor population management measures and open garbage dumps have compounded their population over the years, leading to increased dog-human conflict, especially in the Global South. Pet keeping has been on the rise in India but most dogs are commercially acquired and are typically foreign breeds. Adoption of FRDs may be a potential solution for both population management and better welfare. While many studies have been conducted on dog behavior across the Global North, studies pertaining to adoptability, dog-human bonds, and welfare of FRDs have been largely missing. We investigated the in-house behaviour and human-animal bonds among adopted FRDs in India using a mixed method approach. Participants were recruited using social media using a snowball method. Data were collected on demographics and lifestyle of both the owners and their dogs, along with owner responses on the Canine Behaviour and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ, Survey I) and the Monash Dog Owner Relationship Scale (MDORS, Survey II). Questions on reasons for adoption, not sterilizing their dogs and behaviour consultation were kept as open responses. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted on the C-BARQ items to investigate differences in factor structure from previously established studies in Europe and United States. Influence of demographic and lifestyle parameters on factor scores were investigated using logistic regression. We received valid responses from 1484 respondents for Survey I and 427 responses for Survey II from participants, who had filled the surveys for the same adopted FRD. A 13-factor structure emerged from the EFA- Stranger directed aggression, Owner directed aggression, Dog directed aggression, Fear, Nonsocial fear, Touch sensitivity, Separation related problems, Attachment, Excitability, Energy, Chasing, Elimination and Stereotypy. Comparison of scores across sex and neuter status of the dogs revealed differences. Various demographic factors influenced the behaviour of the adopted dogs. Owners reported a very high Emotional Closeness, low Perceived costs and average dog-owner interaction. The dog-owner relationship was mostly influenced by lifestyle and demographic factors rather than the dog’s behaviour. Overall, our results indicate that FRDs can adapt to a domestic life and make good pets. This study is a first attempt to bridge the ethnocultural gap on dog-keeping from India and lays the foundation for multiple avenues for future studies on the welfare of FRDs in the Global South.

Identification of urinary sex pheromones in female Rajapalayam breed dog and their influence on stud male reproductive behaviour

Article

Full-text available

Apr 2023

Tasipimidine, a novel orally administered alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonist, alleviates canine acute anxiety associated with owner departure—A pilot study

Article

Full-text available

Nov 2022
J VET BEHAV

Separation anxiety in dogs is a problematic behavior characterized by anxiety that occurs exclusively in the owner's absence or virtual absence, resulting in owner complaints of destructiveness, excessive vocalization, and elimination in the home. The consequences of separation anxiety may include that the owners surrender their dog to a shelter, or even have the dog euthanized. Adrenergic alpha-2 agonists have been shown to be effective in alleviating acute canine fear-based behavior problems at sub-sedative doses. In this study, the objective was to assess the efficacy of tasipimidine, a novel orally administered adrenergic alpha-2 agonist, in alleviating acute anxiety associated with owner departure in dogs. Twelve clinically healthy privately-owned dogs with a history of separation anxiety were enrolled in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover clinical field study consisting of three 4-day treatment periods in randomized order each followed by a 3-day washout. In each treatment period a different treatment was administered. The three treatments were: placebo, tasipidimine 10ug/kg and tasipidimine 30 ug/kg, all prepared as an oral solution using the same base. At each of the 4-day treatment period study treatment was administered once daily one hour before owner´s departure. Effects of treatment on signs of separation anxiety were assessed by the owner using video recordings. Owner departure related acute anxiety severity score, dog's alertness, usability of the product and adverse events were recorded. Overall, the results showed a statistically significant treatment effect favoring tasipimidine (p = 0.001). When the doses were separately compared to placebo, the dog owners rated the effect of the study treatment more often positively after administering tasipimidine 30 µg/kg compared to placebo (OR 5.40; 95% CI 1.15–25.2; p = 0.032). A statistically significant reduction with the 30 µg/kg dose was seen in destructive/rearranging behavior (p = 0.006) and vocalization (p = 0.036). Most of the dogs were scored to be fully responsive at all time points (66.7%) and able to stand up and walk normally (91.7%), and none of the dogs was scored to be unresponsive or unable to walk. No serious adverse events were reported. The majority of the owners found the product very easy (75.0%) or easy (15.7%) to use. This was a small, cross-over study with one target to select the clinically most suitable dose. Tasipimidine should be further studied in a larger parallel group study to further evaluate its effect as a treatment option for dogs suffering from separation anxiety.

Critical Problems for Research in Animal Sheltering, a Conceptual Analysis

Article

Full-text available

Apr 2022

Animal shelter research has seen significant increases in participation over the past several decades from academic organizations, private organizations, public entities, and even corporations that aims to improve shelter programs, processes, operations, and outcomes for the various stakeholders/participants involved in a shelter system (animals, humans, the community, wildlife, and the environment). These efforts are scattered through a huge variety of different research areas that are challenging to define and scope for organizations seeking to start new lines of research inquiry. This work aims to enumerate some of the most critical outstanding problems for research in animal sheltering in a conceptual framework that is intended to help direct research conversations toward the research topics of highest impact (with the highest quality outcomes possible). To this end, we define seven (7) key areas for research: animal behavior, adoptions and special needs populations, medical conditions, disease transmission, community, ecology, and wellness (one health), operations, and public-private-academic-corporate collaboration. Within each of these areas, we review specific problems and highlight examples of successes in each area in the past several decades. We close with a discussion of some of the topics that were not detailed in this manuscript but, nonetheless, deserve some mention. Through this enumeration, we hope to spur conversation around innovative methodologies, technologies, and concepts in both research and practice in animal sheltering.

Review on Selected Aggression Causes and the Role of Neurocognitive Science in the Diagnosis

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2022

Aggression as a behavior is not always desirable, often ends in abandonment and/or euthanasia. However, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of unwanted aggression in domestic dogs. Aggression is not a fully understood phenomenon. In recent years, many studies have focused on the influence of diet and physiology (including the endocrine system) on the emergence of behavioral disorders. In particular, the emphasis was put on nutritional additives such as fatty acids, amino acids, and probiotics. In addition, the possibility of using neurocognition in the observation of abnormal behavior in dogs has also been discussed, which may allow for a more detailed determination of the basis of aggressive behavior in dogs. In this review, the concepts related to aggression and its potential causes have been gathered. In addition, the possible influence of diet and hormones on aggression in dogs has been discussed, as well as the application of neurocognition in the possibility of its diagnosis

Veterinary drug therapies used for undesirable behaviours in UK dogs under primary veterinary care

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2022
PLOS ONE

Undesirable behaviours (UBs) in dogs are common and important issues with serious potential welfare consequences for both the dogs and their owners. This study aimed to investigate the usage of drug therapy for UBs in dogs and assess demographic risk factors for drug-prescribed UBs within the dog population under primary-care veterinary care in the UK in 2013. Dogs receiving drug therapy for UB were identified through the retrospective analysis of anonymised electronic patient records in VetCompass™. Risk factor analysis used multivariable logistic regression modelling. The study population comprised 103,597 dogs under veterinary care in the UK during 2013. There were 413 drug-prescribed UBs recorded among 404 dogs. The prevalence of dogs with at least one UB event treated with a drug in 2013 was 0.4%. Multivariable modelling identified 3 breeds with increased odds of drug-prescribed UB compared with crossbred dogs: Toy Poodle (OR 2.75), Tibetan Terrier (OR 2.68) and Shih-tzu (OR 1.95). Increasing age was associated with increased odds of drug-prescribed UB, with dogs ≥ 12 years showing 3.1 times the odds compared with dogs < 3 years. Neutered males (OR 1.82) and entire males (OR 1.50) had increased odds compared with entire females. The relatively low prevalence of dogs with at least one UB event that was treated with a drug in 2013 could suggest that opportunities for useful psychopharmaceutical intervention in UBs may be being missed in first opinion veterinary practice. While bodyweight was not a significant factor, the 3 individual breeds at higher odds of an UB treated with a behaviour modifying drug all have a relatively low average bodyweight. The current results also support previous research of a male predisposition to UBs and it is possible that this higher risk resulted in the increased likelihood of being prescribed a behaviour modifying drug, regardless of neuter status.

Methodological and institutional considerations for the use of 360-degree video and pet animals in human subject research: An experimental case study from the United States

Article

Sep 2020
BEHAV RES METHODS

Head-mounted virtual-reality headsets and virtual-reality content have experienced large technological advances and rapid proliferation over the last years. These immersive technologies bear great potential for the facilitation of the study of human decision-making and behavior in safe, perceptually realistic virtual environments. Best practices and guidelines for the effective and efficient use of 360-degree video in experimental research is also evolving. In this paper, we summarize our research group's experiences with a sizable experimental case study on virtual-reality technology, 360-degree video, pet animals, and human participants. Specifically, we discuss the institutional, methodological, and technological challenges encountered during the implementation of our 18-month-long research project on human emotional response to short-duration 360-degree videos of human-pet interactions. Our objective in this paper is to contribute to the growing body of research on 360-degree video and to lower barriers related to the conceptualization and practice of research at the intersection of virtual-reality experiences, 360-degree video, live animals, and human behavior. Practical suggestions for human-subject researchers interested in utilizing virtual-reality technology, 360-degree videos, and pet animals as a part of their research are discussed.

Perceived Aggressive Tendencies of, and Functional Attitudes Towards, Selected Breeds of Dogs

Article

Jul 2022

The aim of this study was to examine the current state of perceptions towards select breeds of dogs with a focus on perceived aggressiveness. While some studies investigating breed perceptions of aggressiveness have presented dogs in various poses, possibly adding to unintentional perception bias towards aggressiveness, this study showed standardized representations of 27 dog breeds. A hierarchical cluster analysis of data collected from a large sample suggests two distinct categories of dogs that were perceived as either higher or lower in aggressiveness. Additionally, this study asked participants about their intended behavior toward those breeds, thus providing data on people’s functional attitudes towards breeds perceived as more or less aggressive. The data show that people are less willing to interact with those breeds of dogs that are perceived to be higher in aggressiveness and intend to engage in more favorable interactions towards those breeds perceived as less aggressive.

Problematic behaviors in companion dogs: A survey of their prevalence and associated factors

Article

Jun 2020
J VET BEHAV

Canine problematic behaviors are one of the most prevalent reasons given for referrals to small animal hospitals worldwide. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence and possible variables related to 13 common problematic behaviors in 401 companion dogs referred to the Veterinary Hospital of Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Iran. The results showed that 345 dogs (86%) had at least one problematic behavior. The main problematic behaviors reported for 345 dogs were excessive activity (38.7%), fearfulness (27.9%), destructiveness (27.2%), aggression toward unfamiliar people (23.7%) and roaming (22.4%). Small sized dogs were found to have higher fearfulness (P<0.001) and mounting and humping (P=0.005) than large sized ones. Fearfulness (P=0.008), withdrawal (P<0.001), aggression toward: unfamiliar people (P=0.003), dogs (P<0.001), and familiar people (P=0.01), respectively, and mounting and humping (P<0.001) were higher in the adult dogs than the puppies. Moreover, the female dogs were found to have higher fearfulness (P<0.001) and withdrawal (P=0.005) than the males. House soiling was significantly higher in dogs born in summer (P=0.005) and winter (P=0.008) than spring. Higher destructiveness (P=0.02) and house soiling (P<0.001) were found in dogs with a duration of ownership less than 6 months than those with more than 6 months. In the same vein, the outdoors dogs were found to have higher excessive activity (P<0.001) and aggression toward unfamiliar people (P=0.001) and dogs (P=0.005), whereas the higher fearfulness (P<0.001), withdrawal (P=0.02) and mounting and humping (P<0.001) were found in indoor dogs. Single dogs were found to have higher fearfulness (P=0.001) and mouthing and humping (P=0.004) than dogs from multi-dog homes. It is noteworthy that the higher mounting and humping was found more commonly in dogs owned by owners with academic degrees than those whose owners did not have any academic degrees (P=0.001). The findings proved the high prevalence of problematic behaviors in the studied companion dogs in the southwest of Iran. Veterinarians are expected to determine if there are any medical factors contributing to any behavior change in dogs, and decide whether their behavior change is typical, atypical, or pathological. However, dog owners should also be trained by veterinarians to know how to deal with problematic behaviors in dogs.

Demography and commonly recorded clinical conditions of Chihuahuas under primary veterinary care in the UK in 2016

Article

Full-text available

Feb 2020
BMC Vet Res

Background: The Chihuahua, the world's smallest dog breed, is a popular breed in the UK today. The VetCompass™ Programme collates de-identified clinical records from primary-care veterinary practices in the UK for epidemiological research. This study aimed to characterise the demography, age at death and common disorders of Chihuahuas under primary veterinary care during 2016 in the UK. Results: Chihuahuas comprised 11,647/336,865 (3.46%) dogs under veterinary care during 2016. The annual proportional birth rate for Chihuahuas rose from 1.01% in 2005 to 5.35% in 2016. Median adult bodyweight was 3.4 kg (interquartile range [IQR]: 2.7-4.3, range 0.8-9.8).). Median age was 2.8 years (interquartile range [IQR] 1.6-4.9). Median age at death from this young expanding population was 8.2 years (IQR 3.5-12.1). Females (10.2 years) outlived males (6.9 years) (Mann-Whitney U test: P = 0.005). The most common grouped causes of death were heart disease (18.8%, 95% CI: 10.9-29.0), lower respiratory tract disorder (16.3%, 95% CI: 8.9-26.2) and traumatic injury (13.8%, 95% CI: 7.1-23.3). The most common specific disorders were periodontal disease (13.5%, 95% CI: 12.6-14.4), obesity (5.9%, 95% CI: 5.3-6.5), retained deciduous dentition (5.7%, 95% CI: 5.1-6.4), anal sac impaction (4.9%, 95% CI: 4.4-5.5) and aggression (4.2%, 95% CI: 3.7-4.8). Among the 28 most common fine-level disorders, males had statistically (P < 0.005) higher probability than females for 5 disorders (aggression, heart murmur, otitis externa, conjunctivitis and upper respiratory tract infection). There were no disorders with statistically (P < 0.005) higher prevalence in females. Conclusions: This study documented rising ownership and a currently youthful population of Chihuahuas in the UK. These results suggest that the Chihuahua is currently undergoing a popularity boom but veterinarians need to be watchful for welfare issues related to impulse purchase of Chihuahua puppies by owners with limited experience of dog care. Periodontal disease, obesity, retained deciduous dentition, anal sac impaction and aggression were identified as common health issues within the breed. The unique veterinary care needs of this popular miniature breed suggest that veterinarians should consider the value of advanced training in anesthesia and dentistry in small-sized dogs.

Comparison of the Social Behaviour of Intact and Neutered Female Domestic Dogs (Canis Lupus Familiaris): Questionnaires and Case Studies

Article

Full-text available

Jun 2019

Developing Diagnostic Frameworks in Veterinary Behavioral Medicine: Disambiguating Separation Related Problems in Dogs

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2020

Diagnoses are widely used in both human and veterinary medicine to describe the nature of a condition; by contrast, syndromes are collections of signs that consistently occur together to form a characteristic presentation. Treatment of syndromes, due to either their lack of a clear biological cause or multiple causes, necessarily remains non-specific. However, the discovery of interventions may help refine the definition of a syndrome into a diagnosis. Within the field of veterinary behavioral medicine, separation related problems (SRPs) provide a good example of a syndrome. We describe here a comprehensive process to develop a diagnostic framework (including quality control assessments), for disambiguating the signs of SRPs as an example of a heterogeneous behavioral syndrome in non-human animals requiring greater diagnostic and treatment precision. To do this we developed an online questionnaire (243 items) that covered the full spectrum of theoretical bases to the syndrome and undertook a large-scale survey of the presenting signs of dogs with one or more of the signs of SRPs (n = 2,757). Principal components analysis (n1 = 345), replicated in a second sample (n2 = 417; total n = 762), was used to define the structure of variation in behavioral presentation, while hierarchical agglomerative cluster analysis cross checked with the partitioned around medoids method was used to determine sub-populations. A total of 54 signs were of value in defining a latent structure consisting of seven principal components (termed “exit frustration,” “social panic,” “elimination,” “redirected frustration,” “reactive communication,” “immediate frustration,” “noise sensitivity”), which divided the population in four clusters (termed “exit frustration,” “redirected reactive,” “reactive inhibited” and “boredom” related SRPs) with 11 sub-clusters (3, 3, 3, and 2, respectively). We used a bottom-up data-driven approach with numerous quality checks for the definition of robust clusters to provide a robust methodology for nosological studies in veterinary behavioral medicine, that can extend our understanding of the nature of problems beyond SRPs. This provides a solid foundation for future work examining aetiological, and differential treatment outcomes, that will allow both more effective treatment and prevention programmes, based on a fully appreciation of the nature of the problem of concern.

Dominance in dogs as rated by owners corresponds to ethologically valid markers of dominance

Article

Full-text available

May 2019

Dominance is well defined in ethology, debated in psychology, and is often unclear among the dog owning public and in the press. However, to date, no study has examined how owners perceive dominance in dogs, and what different behaviours and personality types are used to describe dominant and subordinate individuals. A questionnaire study was launched to investigate the external validity of owner-derived estimates of dominance in dog dyads sharing the same household (N = 1,151). According to the owners, dogs rated as dominant (87%) have priority access to resources (resting place, food, and rewards), undertake certain tasks (defend and lead the group, bark more), display dominance (win fights, lick the other's mouth less, and mark over the other's urine), share certain personality traits (smarter, more aggressive and impulsive), and are older than their partner dog (all p < 0.0001). An age-related hypothesis has been suggested to explain dominance in dogs; but we found that dog age did not explain the occurrence of dominance related behaviours over the owners' estimate of dominance status. Results suggest that owner-derived reports of dominance ranks of dogs living in multi-dog households correspond to ethologically valid behavioural markers of dominance. Size and physical condition were unrelated to the perceived dominance. Surprisingly, in mixed-sex dyads, females were more frequently rated as dominant than males, which might correspond to a higher proportion of neutered females in this subgroup. For future studies that wish to allocate dominance status using owner report, we offer a novel survey.

Fear vs. frustration - Possible factors behind canine separation related behaviour

Article

Sep 2018
BEHAV PROCESS

The signs of separation related problems (SRP) may vary according to the inner state that triggers them - for example we found earlier that dogs with owner-reported SRP were characterized with a predominance of whining during a short isolation from the owner, meanwhile barking occurred independently of the owner-reported SRP status. Based on the theory that the owner represents a resource for the dog we hypothesise that there is an association between the permissive and inconsistent behaviour of the owner and the reduced frustration threshold in the dog, which consequently will show specific signs of SRP. In our study, personality traits of the owner and the dog were measured with a questionnaire, while the separation behaviour was observed with an outdoor test. We found that dogs that rather barked than whined in the separation test had more likely a lenient owner. Dogs with owner-reported SRP whined less frequently than non-SRP dogs if they had lenient owners. The connection between the owner's permissiveness and the type of emitted vocalisation supports the theory that the owner's attitude towards the dog can be associated with the dogs' frustration-related SRP signs as they tend to respond with similar behaviours that occur in other frustrating situations.

Improving Puppy Behavior using a new Standardized Socialization Program

Article

Full-text available

Aug 2017
APPL ANIM BEHAV SCI

Studies identifying the underlying determinants of adult dog behavior and highlighting successful methods of early intervention are essential to reduce and ultimately prevent problem behaviors developing. The aim of this research was to create and assess the impact of a new nest socialization program. The new program was designed to: 1) provide a highly effective socialization experience, 2) be quick and easy to complete and 3) utilize low cost materials. The program was created by combining existing nest stimulation theories with young puppy developmental stages. As such the introduction and intensity of each socialization stimulus was tailored to mirror puppy physiological and behavioral development from birth to six weeks of age. The new socialization program was evaluated using six litters raised under standardized conditions. The impact of the program was measured using a practical puppy behavioral assessment at six weeks of age and an eight-month dog handler behavioral questionnaire.Results showed a significant positive effect of the new socialization program on puppy behavioral development, which persisted throughout the first year of life. Puppies that received the program had more favorable scores in a six-week practical assessment (P ≪ 0.01) and an eight-month dog handler questionnaire for separation-related behavior (P ≪ 0.01), distraction (P ≪ 0.01), general anxiety (P = 0.02) and body sensitivity (P = 0.03). This is the first socialization program tailored to the developmental stage of puppies from birth to six weeks of age to demonstrate measurable, long-term effects on individual dog behavioral traits. Results will be of interest to working and assistance dog organizations, animal shelters and pet dog breeders.

Canine emotions as seen through human social cognition

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2017

Miiamaaria V Kujala

It is not possible to demonstrate that dogs (Canis familiaris) feel emotions, but the same is true for all other species, including our own. The issue must therefore be approached indirectly, using premises similar to those used with humans. Recent methodological advances in canine research reveal what dogs experience and what they derive from the emotions perceptible in others. Dogs attend to social cues, they respond appropriately to the valence of human and dog facial expressions and vocalizations of emotion, and their limbic reward regions respond to the odor of their caretakers. They behave differently according to the emotional situation, show emotionally driven expectations, have affective disorders, and exhibit some subcomponents of empathy. The canine brain includes a relatively large prefrontal cortex, and like primates, dogs have a brain area specialized for face perception. Dogs have many degrees of emotion, but the full extent of dog emotions remains unknown. Humans are a socially minded species; we readily impute mind and emotion to others, even to vegetables or rocks. Hence the experimental results need to be analyzed carefully, so the emotional lives of dogs are accurately estimated.

Risk factors for human-directed aggression in a referral level clinical population

Article

Jun 2017

Risk factors for human-directed aggression were investigated using retrospective analysis of data from a referral-level clinical behaviour population in the UK. A sample of 200 cases involving human-directed canine aggression and 200 control cases involving no instance of human-directed aggression were selected at random from a population of 746 cases. The final model suggested that clinical cases with human-directed aggression were significantly younger than those presenting with other undesired behaviours (P=0.008) and that male dogs were 1.4 times more likely to be aggressive towards human beings than female dogs (P=0.019). Dogs were 1.7 times more likely to be aggressive towards people if they had attended more than five puppy classes than if they had never attended puppy class (P=0.015) and that dogs were 2.8 times more likely to be aggressive towards human beings if there was another dog between 0 months and 24 months of age in the home (P=0.004). These factors only account for 7 per cent to 10 per cent of the variance between the human-directed aggression population and the control population, but factors such as attendance at puppy classes and numbers of dogs in the household suggest the need for longitudinal studies to investigate temporal relationships.

Gonadectomy effects on the risk of immune disorders in the dog: A retrospective study

Article

Full-text available

Dec 2016
BMC Vet Res

Background Gonadectomy is one of the most common procedures performed on dogs in the United States. Neutering has been shown to reduce the risk for some diseases although recent reports suggest increased prevalence for structural disorders and some neoplasias. The relation between neuter status and autoimmune diseases has not been explored. This study evaluated the prevalence and risk of atopic dermatitis (ATOP), autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA), canine myasthenia gravis (CMG), colitis (COL), hypoadrenocorticism (ADD), hypothyroidism (HYPO), immune-mediated polyarthritis (IMPA), immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (ITP), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), lupus erythematosus (LUP), and pemphigus complex (PEMC), for intact females, intact males, neutered females, and neutered males. Pyometra (PYO) was evaluated as a control condition. ResultsPatient records (90,090) from the William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at the University of California, Davis from 1995 to 2010 were analyzed in order to determine the risk of immune-mediated disease relative to neuter status in dogs. Neutered dogs had a significantly greater risk of ATOP, AIHA, ADD, HYPO, ITP, and IBD than intact dogs with neutered females being at greater risk than neutered males for all but AIHA and ADD. Neutered females, but not males, had a significantly greater risk of LUP than intact females. Pyometra was a greater risk for intact females. Conclusions The data underscore the importance of sex steroids on immune function emphasizing a role of these hormones on tissue self-recognition. Neutering is critically important for population control, reduction of reproductive disorders, and offers convenience for owners. Despite these advantages, the analyses of the present study suggest that neutering is associated with increased risk for certain autoimmune disorders and underscore the need for owners to consult with their veterinary practitioner prior to neutering to evaluate possible benefits and risks associated with such a procedure.

Owners’ Perceptions of Their Animal’s Behavioural Response to the Loss of an Animal Companion

Article

Full-text available

Nov 2016

The loss of a companion animal is recognised as being associated with experiences of grief by the owner, but it is unclear how other animals in the household may be affected by such a loss. Our aim was to investigate companion animals' behavioural responses to the loss of a companion through owner-report. A questionnaire was distributed via, and advertised within, publications produced by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) across Australia and New Zealand, and through a selection of veterinary clinics within New Zealand. A total of 279 viable surveys were returned pertaining to 159 dogs and 152 cats. The two most common classes of behavioural changes reported for both dogs and cats were affectionate behaviours (74% of dogs and 78% of cats) and territorial behaviours (60% of dogs and 63% of cats). Both dogs and cats were reported to demand more attention from their owners and/or display affiliative behaviour, as well as spend time seeking out the deceased's favourite spot. Dogs were reported to reduce the volume (35%) and speed (31%) of food consumption and increase the amount of time spent sleeping (34%). Cats were reported to increase the frequency (43%) and volume (32%) of vocalisations following the death of a companion. The median duration of reported behavioural changes in both species was less than 6 months. There was consensus that the behaviour of companion animals changed in response to the loss of an animal companion. These behavioural changes suggest the loss had an impact on the remaining animal.

Relationships between demographic characteristics of shelter dogs and performance on tests of a behavioral evaluation and between performance and adoption success

Article

Jun 2023
J VET BEHAV

Demographic characteristics of shelter dogs predict performance on tests of a behavioral evaluation and overall performance predicts adoption success

Article

Nov 2022
J VET BEHAV

Dog behavior has been studied using diverse methods, including owner-completed questionnaires, records from veterinary clinics that evaluate behavioral problems, and test batteries such as those used by some animal shelters. Measures of prevalence for multiple behavioral issues and analyses of whether dog demographic characteristics predict problematic behaviors are commonly reported in studies using questionnaires and clinical records; however, these measures are infrequently reported for all tests and subtests in studies using data from shelter behavioral evaluations. In this study, we determined prevalence of both concerning and dangerous behaviors on 14 tests and subtests of a canine behavioral evaluation by analyzing data collected by the behavioral staff at a NY shelter. Canine evaluations were conducted a few days after intake (n = 1104 dogs tested between 2014-2019). Our study sample represents all dogs admitted to the shelter except those quickly reclaimed by owners and those euthanized at the request of their owners; rarer exceptions included very undersocialized dogs and dogs assessed at intake as unsafe to make available for adoption. We also examined whether dog demographic characteristics (age, sex, reproductive status, and body size) predicted behaviors on tests and subtests and whether total number of tests/subtests with concerning or dangerous behaviors predicted likelihood of being returned to the shelter postadoption. Of all dogs tested, prevalence measures of dangerous behaviors were always less than 5%. Prevalence of concerning behaviors during the evaluations were usually higher, with the highest being 36% for one of the Sociability subtests, indicating that about one third of dogs tested ignored rather than interacted with the evaluator. Our measures of prevalence for food guarding (15.5%), stranger-directed aggression (6.5%), and dog-directed aggression (16.7%) were generally similar to those reported for dogs in other shelters and in homes. Of the demographic characteristics examined, age class most consistently predicted assessment of concerning or dangerous behaviors on several tests and subtests, with these behaviors typically being most common in seniors, followed by adults, and then juveniles. Finally, we found that for each additional test or subtest on which a dog showed concerning or dangerous behaviors, the odds of being returned to the shelter increased by a factor of 1.22. Our findings may aid shelters in identifying dogs, such as older individuals and those assessed as showing problematic behaviors on several tests and subtests of an evaluation, that would benefit from behavioral plans and special adoption efforts to help them enter and remain in adoptive homes.

Study of Behavioural Traits in Can de Palleiro (Galician Shepherd Dog)

Article

Full-text available

Nov 2021

The Can de Palleiro (CP) is an autochthonous canine breed from Galicia (NW Spain). Interestingly, no previous research has been published about the behaviour of this breed. Thus, the aim of the present study was to obtain a deeper understanding of CP behavioural and temperamental traits and detect any potentially problematic behaviour by using the Canine Behavioural Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) and the Socially Acceptable Behaviour (SAB) test. Behavioural information was obtained from 377 dogs—177 CPs and 200 general population (GP) dogs—using the C-BARQ. Additionally, 32 dogs were enrolled to perform the SAB test (19 CPs and 13 GP dogs) in order to directly evaluate their temperament. Our results indicated that CP dogs had a lower tendency to show aggressiveness towards their owners (0.18 times lower, p = 0.033) and less fear of other dogs (by 0.43 times, p = 0.001), as well as higher trainability levels (2.56 times higher, p < 0.001) when compared to GP dogs. CP dogs also had increased odds of showing chasing behaviour (3.81 times higher, p < 0.001). Conversely, CPs had reduced odds of non-social fear, separation-related problems and excitability (by 0.42, 0.35 and 0.48 times, respectively; p < 0.001, p < 0.001 and p = 0.002). The current research represents a starting point for the study of the behaviour of CPs, which appear to be a working breed, with guarding and, especially, herding characteristics.

Canine separation anxiety: how first referral practices can help

Article

Sep 2021

There are currently approximately 10.1 million pet dogs in the UK, equating to about 26% of the UK adult population owning a dog. Early research indicates that dogs have played an essential role in helping their owners to cope throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This article explores the potential impact of lockdown on the canine experience and the risk of developing separation-related behavioural problems, as well as how first referral veterinary practices can support their clients through this.

Pet dogs home alone: A video-based study

Article

Sep 2021
APPL ANIM BEHAV SCI

Many dogs are left alone at home by their owners for several hours on a daily basis. This practice is known to be a possible source of complication in dog keeping. Behaviourists and veterinarians are frequently consulted due to excessive vocalisations, destructive behaviour and house-soiling of dogs left alone by their owners. These observations are thought to be symptoms of a disorder which most authors refer to as separation anxiety or separation related behaviour. Little is known about dogs, which showed mostly inconspicuous behaviour during separation, and possible effects of the presence of conspecifics in multi-dog households, which may help coping with separation. Therefore, we videotaped 32 dogs in single-dog and 45 dogs in multi-dog households left home alone as part of their usual routine. We performed a continuous sampling of location, posture, vocalization, and various other behaviours. Calculating and comparing percentages of observation time we tested possible effects of familiar conspecifics, and investigated the effects of sex and neuter status, variables that are discussed to have an influence on the onset of separation anxiety. In general, our dogs showed low physical activity as well as a low vocal activity, independent from the time being alone. Male dogs in multi-dog households showed a significantly higher vocal activity. A further sex related difference was that male dogs were more prone to stay at the exit-door. This bias may be due to sex-specific motivations but seems to get stronger with increasing duration of separation. Dogs in multi-dog households showed a significant higher activity (single dog: 15.3 ± 14.3, multi-dog: 27.5 ± 26.1 mean ± SD). The major difference in activity was found in the first hour of being alone and interactions with other pets played only a marginal role even in multi-dog households (0.24 ± 0.6). Whining was not reduced by the presence of familiar conspecifics. Further research is needed to see if familiar conspecifics facilitate coping with separation from humans in this context. Our data suggest rather the opposite.

Separation-Related Problems in Dogs

Article

Nov 2020

Wybrane zagadnienia produkcji zwierzęcej t.1

Book

Nov 2020

Evaluation of associations between owner presence and indicators of fear in dogs during routine veterinary examinations

Article

Nov 2020
JAVMA-J AM VET MED A

Objective: To evaluate the influence of owner presence on behavioral and physiologic indicators of fear in dogs during routine physical examinations. Animals: 32 client-owned dogs. Procedures: Dogs underwent a standardized, video-recorded examination consisting of 6 phases (examination of the head, lymph node palpation, body palpation, axillary temperature measurement, heart rate assessment, and respiratory rate assessment) with or without their owner present in a randomized, controlled study. Behaviors reported to be indicative of fear, including reduced posture, avoidance, escape, lip licking, body shaking, yawning, and vocalizing, were assessed during each phase, and physiologic measurements were assessed during relevant phases by the investigator. Owner presence and sex and age of dogs were investigated for associations with behavioral signs of fear; behavioral and physiologic measurements were compared between groups (owner present vs owner absent). Results: Dogs in the owner-present group had a lower rate of vocalizations, lower mean axillary temperature, and higher rate of yawning than dogs in the owner-absent group. Female dogs in the owner-absent group had a higher heart rate than females and males in the owner-present group and males in the owner-absent group, and the rate of lip licking decreased as age increased in the owner-present group. The presence of reduced body posture and rates of lip licking, avoidance behavior, and escape behavior were associated with examination phase. Conclusions and clinical relevance: Results suggested that, when practical, owners should be encouraged to remain with their dog during routine veterinary examinations. However, effects of owner presence during procedures require further investigation. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 2020;257:1031-1040).

Noise reactivity in standard poodles and Irish soft-coated wheaten terriers

Article

Feb 2020
J VET BEHAV

The purpose of this study was to estimate the frequency of noise reactivity in two dog breeds, standard poodles and Irish soft-coated wheaten terriers, and investigate how fear of noises is influenced by sex and age, and fear in other situations. Owners were initially contacted by telephone, and later answered a follow up web-based survey. In this study, both breeds have a high frequency of noise reactivity to both loud noises and fireworks, the soft-coated wheaten terrier more so than the standard poodle. There was a positive correlation between noise reactivity and age. The frequency of fear-related behaviors displayed when exposed to fireworks/loud noises is higher in the most fearful individuals. An association is found between fear in everyday situations and noise reactivity. Dogs in households with other dogs have a lower frequency of fear of fireworks. The validity of the survey, interviewer effect and differences between the different dog owners’ assessment are considered. The study finds excellent test-retest reliability, showing that web-based surveys may be a reliable and cost-efficient tool to study noise reactivity and identify dogs to collect DNA samples for genetic studies.

Clinical Veterinarians’ Perceptions about Sexes and Breeds of Dogs Involved in Aggressiveness in Montevideo, Uruguay

Article

Oct 2018

Aggression is the most common dog behavioral problem, with important implications for public health. The aim of this study was to determine the perception of veterinarian clinicians of Montevideo regarding canine aggression, the sex effect, and the main breeds involved. One hundred veterinary clinics of Montevideo city were randomly selected to complete a survey about aggressiveness in dogs. Most veterinarians opined that males are more involved than females in canine aggression and that the Pit bull, the German Shepherd, and Uruguayan Cimarron breeds were the most involved in both types of aggression considered (between canines and towards people), while the Cocker Spaniel breed was involved in aggression towards humans and the Rottweiler breed in aggression between dogs. This work highlights that both veterinarians and other experts within the community identify the Uruguayan Cimarron as being aggressive, which indicates that the behavior of this breed may be of particular concern.

Mortality resulting from undesirable behaviours in dogs aged under three years attending primary-care veterinary practices in England

Article

Jul 2018

Undesirable behaviours (UBs) are common in dogs and can jeopardise animal and human health, leading to dog abandonment and euthanasia. Dogs exhibiting UBs may have compromised welfare from underlying emotional motivations for the behaviour (eg anxiety) or from the methods used by owners to resolve the problem (eg aversive techniques). The objective of this study was to estimate proportional mortality due to UBs and risk factors for death due to UBs, including death from road traffic accidents, in dogs under three years of age attending primary-care veterinary practices in England from 2009-2014. Cases were identified by searching de-identified electronic patient records from primary-care veterinary practices participating in the VetCompass Programme. The findings highlight that dogs under three years of age are at a proportionately high risk of death due to UBs (33.7%) compared with other specific causes of death (eg gastrointestinal issues: 14.5%). Male dogs had 1.40× the odds of death from UB compared with females. The proportional mortality from UB for male dogs where information on the cause of death was available was 0.41. Neutered dogs had 1.94× the odds of death due to a UB compared with entire dogs. Aggression was the most prevalent UB overall. Veterinarians had recommended referral in 10.3% of cases where dogs died due to exhibiting a UB and had dispensed nutraceutical, pheromone or pharmacological treatment to 3.0% of the UB cases that died. This study shows that undesirable behaviours require better preventive measures and treatment, through further research and education of veterinarians, other professionals within the dog industry and owners.

Ethology, ecology and epidemiology of canine aggression

Chapter

Full-text available

Dec 2016

Randall Lockwood

An epidemiological analysis of dog behavior problems presented to an Australian behavior clinic, with associated risk factors

Article

Jul 2016
J VET BEHAV

Records of dogs presented to a behavior clinic servicing the eastern seaboard of Australia in and around Brisbane and the Gold Coast were analysed for principal behavior problems and the related factors, from information recorded at the time that the owner approached the clinic for assistance. Data relating to 7,858 dogs presenting with 11,521 behavior problems between 2001 and 2013 were analysed. Twenty-two principal behavior problems were identified, of which the most common, in declining order, were aggression towards people, barking and anxious behavior. Male dogs were at greater risk of several behavior problems, compared to female dogs. Low socioeconomic status of owners and a short period spent at home each week were also associated with a greater risk of several behavior problems. The prevalence of breeds and breed groups presented to the clinic were compared with dog registrations at the local city council, and there were more working dogs, hounds and utility dogs and fewer terriers, toy dogs and non-sporting dogs in the clinic population. Uncommon breeds were over-represented in the clinic population compared to local registrations. The risk of developing behavior problems is discussed in the light of evidence about the dogs and their owners.

A behavioural test of aggression for adult dogs

Article

Jan 2005

Agressie bij de hond (Canis Familiaris); Problemen verbonden met de genetische evaluatie

Article

Full-text available

Dec 2001
VLAAMS DIERGEN TIJDS

The effects of differential rearing on exploratory behavior in puppies

Article

Full-text available

Mar 1983
Appl Anim Ethol

John Wright

Twenty-five puppies, 7 males and 11 females from 3 litters of German Shepherds and 5 males and 2 females from 1 litter of Beagles, were assigned to either a hand-reared or litter-reared condition. Pups were individually tested for 10 min at 5.5 and 8.5 weeks of age in an arena with novel objects and wall patterns. Stimulus objects were different for each test session, and included the following: a mirror, metronome, balloon, clock, an empty rat cage, soiled rat litter, and a mouse in a cage. A principal components factor analysis done on scores of 5 measures of exploratory behavior showed 1 primary factor (exploratory behavior) operating at 5.5 weeks and 2 factors existing at 8.5 weeks. One of the latter factors was identified as locomotor activity, whereas the other factor involved reactions to novel objects, and was identified as stimulus reactivity. There were no differences in exploratory behavior due to sex, rearing, or their interaction at 5.5 weeks, or in locomotor activity at 8.5 weeks of age. Only stimulus reactivity was significantly affected by rearing at 8.5 weeks (P < 0.05); the hand-reared pups investigated and spent more time in the presence of the novel objects than the litter-reared subjects. An application of the findings is discussed.

Aggressive behavior of dogs kept as companion animals: Classification and influence of sex, reproductive status and breed

Article

Full-text available

Mar 1983
Appl Anim Ethol

Peter L. Borchelt

Data were obtained from a total of 245 cases of aggressive-behavior problems in dogs kept as companion animals. Aggression involved barking, growling and biting behavior. For each case, a home visit of one to several hours yielded a description of the sequences of aggressive behavior and the stimulus conditions in which they occurred. Eight major types of aggression were observed: aggression related to fear; dominance; possessiveness; protectiveness; predation; punishment; pain; and intra-specific aggression.The incidence of each type of aggression is presented. More aggression problems occurred in males than females, with dominance and inter-male aggression showing the greatest likelihood of occurrence in males. Fear-elicited aggression and predatory aggression were the least influenced by the sex of the dog. Tabulation of associations among these problems revealed that dominance and possessive aggression frequently occurred together, fear-elicited and intra-specific aggression frequently occurred alone, and many of the aggression problems were associated with non-aggressive problems related to fear (phobias) and anxiety. The data indicated that aggressive-behavior problems are widespread across many breeds and suggest some breed × problem interactions. Fewer instances of dominance aggression occurred in mixed than in pure breeds. A classification system, proposed to represent the functional sub-systems of aggression in the pet dog, is presented.

Multivariate analysis of exploratory behavior in gerbils

Article

Sep 2013
Bull Psychonomic Soc

Previous studies have reported that general activity can be distinguished from stimulus reactivity and is under separate genetic control in Mus musculus. The present study was designed to measure these processes in gerbils. During a 15-min test period, measures were recorded for 70 male and female gerbils at 60 and 120 days of age. The test relied more on the gerbil’ s tactile exploration of the stimulus and less on exploration by visual acuity from afar. A principal components factor analysis revealed two primary factors operating in the gerbils’ exploratory behavior. One factor was attributed to general locomotor activity; the other was attributed to the complexity of the stimulus (stimulus reactivity). Implications on the use of this procedure for this species in future research are discussed.

Multivariate and behavior genetic analysis of avoidance of complex visual stimuli and activity in recombinant inbred strains of mice

Article

Jun 1977

Sixty-six mice of 11 genetic stocks (the Bailey recombinant inbred strains CXBD, CXBE, CXBG, CXBH, CXBI, CXBJ, CXBK; their progenitor strains, BALB/cBy and C57BL/6By; and the reciprocal hybrids, B6CF and CB6F) were tested in a two-compartment apparatus and in a shuttlebox, with five measures taken relating to activity and to approaches to novel and complex stimuli. A factor analysis of these measures revealed two factors, the first involving behavior relating to novel stimuli and the second relating to locomotor activity. In a second experiment, 132 mice of the same strains were tested on four of the measures used previously. On the two measures which had high loadings on the first factor and very low loadings on the second, it was possible to determine a strain distribution pattern (SDP), with the same SDP being found for both measures. When confirmed by testing mice from two congenic histocompatibility strains H(w54) and H(w80), we were able to determine that avoidance of novel/complex stimuli (neophobia) is controlled by a gene or genes at chromosomal segmentsH-24 c andH-1 b . It was also found that a polygenic model is consistent with behavior measured by the second (activity) factor.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Dominance Aggression in Dogs

Article

Dec 1982
VET CLIN N AM-SMALL

Diagnosis and Treatment of Separation-Related Behavior Problems in Dogs

Article

Dec 1982
VET CLIN N AM-SMALL

Classification of Animal Behavior Problems

Article

Dec 1982
VET CLIN N AM-SMALL

Canine and Feline Behavioral Therapy. Lea and Febiger

Jan 1985

B L Hart
L A Hart

Hart, B.L. and Hart, L.A., 1985. Canine and Feline Behavioral Therapy. Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia, PA.

Fears in companion dogs: Characteristics and treatment

Jan 1979

Hothersall

Hothersall, D. and Tuber, D.S., 1979. Fears in companion dogs: Characteristics and treatment.

Animal behavior therapy: The diagnosis and treatment of pet behavior problems

Jan 1979
3

Borchelt

Borchelt, P.L. and Tortora, D.F., 1979. Animal behavior therapy: The diagnosis and treatment of pet behavior problems. A.A.H.A., 46th Annu. Proc., pp. 3-11.

Clinical behavior problems: aggression

Jan 1977

Houpt

Houpt, K.A., 1977. Clinical behavior problems: aggression. In: R. W. Kirk (Editor), Current Veterinary Therapy, VI. Saunders, Philadelphia. PA.

Are canine behavior problem& related to owners .'spoiling" their dogs or to obedience training? Paper presented at the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior meeting

Jul 1986

V L Voith
J C Wright
P J Danneman

Voith, V.L., Wright, J.C. and Danneman, P.J.. 1986. Are canine behavior problem& related to owners.'spoiling" their dogs or to obedience training? Paper presented at the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior meeting, July, Atlanta, GA.

The Complete Dog Book

Jan 1980
768

American Kennel Club

American Kennel Club, 1980. The Complete Dog Book. New York, 768 pp.

Are canine behavior problems related to owners “spoiling” their dogs or to obedience training

Jan 1986

Voith

Classification of behavior problems in dogs: Distributions of age, breed, sex and reproductive status

Abstract

No full-text available

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