Excessive mouthing in puppies as a predictor of aggressiveness in adult dogs

Abstract

s 93 covering 2.991 km and home to about 1.4 million people in 2010. Contact was first made by email; phone calls were made to those who had not responded after 2 months. Forty-eight (74%) of the cities and villages and 22 of the police districts (76%) submitted copies of their regulations. Dogs’ access to at least one public spacedsuch as sport centres, public buildings, play grounds, beaches, and public parksdis forbidden in 14% of the cities/villages and 26% of the police districts. Some of these cities/villages also forbid certain breeds of dogs; pit bulls or pit bull mixes are always included in regulations that forbid certain breeds. Twenty four percent of the cities/villages and 37% of the police districts specify public areas (viz., public spaces, some parks, cemeteries, and forests) where dogs have access only when on a leash. Thirteen (27%) of the cities/villages and 14 (64%) of the police districts sanction loud barking. In 31% of the cities/ villages and in 50% of the police districts, owners are required to control their dogs in public places. In only 3 (14%) of the police regulations owners are forbidden from involving dogs in dogfights. Only 21% of all cities/villages and 23% of all police districts back infractions with either prison terms or fines (V1–25). In general, the regulations vary between adjacent municipal region and even with the overlaying police district(s), making it difficult to know which regulations to follow. Little coordination was found in enforcing or understanding conflicting regulations. Given the difficulty associated with knowing and enforcing these conflicting dog safety ordinances, we recommend a concerted effort to draft national regulations informed by objective, scientifically-based knowledge.