Abstract
Human and canine parameters can affect the development of canine behavior problems, although their influence on the dog's response to veterinary behavioral treatment remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the possible associations between canine behavior following clinical intervention and canine demographic characteristics, owner personality and owner-dog attachment. The study included 131 dog-owner dyads who attended a veterinary behavioral service. Owners completed the C-BARQ at baseline, 3-months and 6-months, and the 10 Item Personality Inventory and Lexington Attachment to Pet Scale at baseline. Data were analyzed for the effect of clinical intervention on C-BARQ subscale scores using mixed effect models. Binary logistic regression models were used to analyze the association between behavior change and canine and owner parameters. Within 6-months of veterinary consultation, trainability increased (coefficient 0.03, p = 0.01) and chasing (coefficient −0.04, p = 0.02), separation-related behavior (coefficient −0.04, p = 0.01) and energy level (coefficient −0.04, p = 0.05) decreased. Treatment outcomes were associated with both canine and owner variables. Canine behavior at baseline was the most consistent predictor of behavior change with less desirable baseline behavior associated with greater odds of decreased problem behavior at three- and 6-months post-consultation across most C-BARQ subscales. Canine age and weight; owner conscientiousness, extraversion and openness; and owner-dog attachment were also associated with treatment outcomes for some behavioral categories. These findings could be used by veterinarians to formulate more accurate prognoses and provide owners with targeted advice to reduce the influence of background factors on the dog's response to clinical behavioral intervention.
Highlights
Dogs are the most common companion animal in the United States with a canine population of approximately 77 million [1]
This study aimed to investigate the associations between canine behavior change following clinical intervention and canine demographic characteristics, owner personality and owner-dog attachment
Within 10 days of attending the veterinary consultation, owners were provided with the Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale (LAPS) and the 10-Item Personality Inventory (TIPI)
Summary
Dogs are the most common companion animal in the United States with a canine population of approximately 77 million [1]. Male dogs have been found to exhibit higher levels of aggression and separation-related behavior compared with female dogs who tend to exhibit greater fearfulness [13, 22]. Considering owner characteristics, Podberscek and Serpell [18] found owners of aggressive dogs were more likely to be emotionally unstable, shy, tense and undisciplined. Confirming these findings, Gobbo and Zupan [20] found higher levels of neuroticism among the owners of aggressive dogs [20]. Owner-dog attachment has been associated with canine behavior, with Konok, Kosztolányi et al [15] reporting increased separation-related behavior among dogs of owners with insecure-avoidant attachment styles. A positive correlation has been documented between separationrelated behavior, trainability and the strength of owner-dog attachment [17]
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