Comparison of factors limiting acquisition versus retention of companion dogs

Abstract

s of the 7th International Veterinary Behaviour Meeting, Edinburgh, Scotland, 28-31 October 2009 CORRELATES OF A SUCCESSFUL HUMAN: DOG BOND C.L. Corridan*, D.S. Mills, K. Pfeffer Animal Behavior, Cognition & Welfare Group, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UK. LN2 2LG Department of Psychology, University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool, Lincoln, LN6 7TS *Corresponding author: clairecorridan@yahoo.co.uk Current dog owners were recruited through the dog press, media and animal welfare organizations and asked to complete an online survey which enabled data collection for: dog and dog owner demographics, owner satisfaction ratings for their dog, information on a range of dog activity items (time commitment, frequency, predictability and control), and the prevalence of canine behavioral problems. The population was divided into dog owners reporting high and low satisfaction with their dog (using the median point as the dividing point between categories) and owners of dogs with and without any reported behavioral problems. Demographic and dog activity item responses given by more highly satisfied owners of dogs without behavioral problems, defined for the purposes of this paper as a ‘successful human: dog bond,’ were compared against the remainder of the sample population. Univariate analysis (Chi-squared test) revealed that 2/10 demographic factors and 18/ 66 dog activity item factors differed significantly at p , 0.0001 between these two dog owner groups. These 20 factors were then entered into a binary logistic regression model which revealed 4 strongly predictive factors for a successful human: dog bond. These were: dog owner age group, control of play by the dog owner rather than the dog, time spent engaging in exercise where the dog is restrained by a lead or harness, and exposure to potentially frightening experiences for the dog 1-3 times each week, without induction of any fearful or phobic behaviors in the dog. The implications of these findings should be considered in the advice given to new or potential dog owners from both ee front matter 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. rescue and private sources in order to help establish appropriate routines and expectations.