Behavior Problems In Dogs Research Articles

Manual of Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care Medicine . . . . BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Endocrinology (3rd edition) . . . . Treatment of Behavior Problems in Dogs and Cats (2nd edition) . . . . Pocket Guide to Canine Pruritus . . . . Pocket Guide to Otitis Externa in the Dog and Cat .

"Manual of Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care Medicine . . . . BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Endocrinology (3rd edition) . . . . Treatment of Behavior Problems in Dogs and Cats (2nd edition) . . . . Pocket Guide to Canine Pruritus . . . . Pocket Guide to Otitis Externa in the Dog and Cat . . . . Pocket Guide to Renal Disease in the Dog and Cat . . . . Handbook of Small Animal Toxicology and Poisonings (2nd edition) . . . . Veterinary Pathophysiology . . . . Introduction to Veterinary Epidemiology . . . . Handbook on Import Risk Analysis for Animals and Animal Products . . . . Zoonoses: Infectious Diseases Transmissible from Animals to Humans (3rd edition) . . . . Preharvest and Postharvest Food Safety: Contemporary Issues and Future Directions . . . . Swine Disease Manual (3rd edition) . . . . Manual of Equine Dentistry . . . . Pathways to Pregnancy and Parturition (2nd edition) . . . . Diseases of Small Domestic Rodents (2nd edition) . . . . Veterinary Nursing of Exotic Pets" published on 01 Mar 2005 by American Veterinary Medical Association.

Animal behaviour learning environment: software to facilitate learning in canine and feline behavior therapy.

Interactive software has been developed on CD-ROM to facilitate learning of problem formulation, diagnostic methodology, and therapeutic options in dog and cat behavior problems. Students working in small groups are presented with a signalment, a case history, and brief description of the problem behavior as perceived by the client. Students then navigate through the case history by asking the client questions from an icon-driven question pad. Animated video responses to the questions are provided. Students are then required to rate the significance of the questions and answers with respect to the development of the unwelcome behavior. Links to online self-assessments and to resource materials about causation and treatment options are provided to assist students in their decision-making process. The activity concludes with a software-generated e-mail submission that includes the recorded history, diagnosis, and recommended treatment for assessment purposes.

A survey of dog ownership in suburban Australia—conditions and behaviour problems

There has been an increasing emphasis in Australia on confining dogs to owner’s properties (household backyards) as a solution to problems of dog aggression. Therefore, there is a need to determine the social and physical conditions that make up the dog’s backyard environment and how these factors may affect dog behaviour and welfare. The aim of this study was to provide an overview of the conditions provided to dogs in suburban Melbourne (Australia) and any behavioural problems associated with these conditions. A survey of 203 dog owners across suburban Melbourne was conducted. The questionnaire consisted of questions relating to demographics, the dogs’ routine and confinement and what behaviours the owners observed in their dogs. The relationship between some of the environmental factors and the occurrence of problem behaviour was then examined. The main behaviour problems reported by owners were overexcitement (63%) and jumping up on people (56%). Some of the factors that were correlated with the occurrence of problem behaviours included how well the dog obeyed commands ( P<0.01), whether the owner had owned a dog before ( P<0.01) and how much time was spent with the dog ( P<0.01). Dogs that had obedience training were more likely to obey commands than those that that did not ( P<0.01) and large dogs were more likely to receive training than small dogs ( P<0.01). These findings provide an interesting insight into some of the factors that may be related to the occurrence of behaviour problems in dogs.

Personality traits in the domestic dog ( Canis familiaris)

The domestic dog ( Canis familiaris) has been subjected to a huge range of selection pressures during domestication that has resulted in a considerable diversity in morphology and behaviour. This, together with the many uses the dog is put to in our society, makes the dog an interesting model for studies of animal personality. However, only a few attempts have been done to study individual differences in dogs. In this study, behavioural data from 15,329 dogs of 164 different breeds were used to investigate the existence of personality traits in dogs. The data were collected at a personality test that tested the dogs’ reactions to strangers, “fleeing” prey-like objects, and several potential fear- and aggression-eliciting stimuli. Factor analyses revealed the existence of five narrow traits: “Playfulness”, “Curiosity/Fearlessness”, “Chase-proneness”, “Sociability” and “Aggressiveness”. Higher-order factor analyses showed that all factors except “Aggressiveness” were related to each other, creating a broad factor that influences behaviour in a range of situations. Both narrow and broad factors were found in a dataset including data from a large number of breeds, as well as within eight of Fédération Cynologique Internationale’s (FCI’s) 10 breed groups. This indicates that the personality dimensions found in the study are general for the dog as a species. The finding of a major behavioural dimension in different groups of dog breeds, together with comparable results previously found for wolves ( Canis lupus), suggests that the dimension is evolutionarily stable and has survived the varied selection pressures encountered during domestication. The broad factor is comparable to the shyness–boldness axis previously found in both humans and animals, and to human “supertraits” (a combination of Extraversion and Neuroticism). The results of this study can be used to describe and compare individual dogs, as well as breeds. This, in turn, can be used in applications like selection of service dogs and breeding animals, as well as predicting behaviour problems in pet dogs.

Companion Dog Temperament Traits

Owners rated their companion dogs (Canis faamiliarus) on the frequency of occurrence of 127 descriptions of behavior. We conducted an exploratory principal components analysis of these behaviors for 2,018 participants that produced 22 interpretable factors (or traits). Four related to aggression indicate that aggression is not a unitary concept. Three factors relate to play and 3 describe vocal behavior. Regression analyses examined the relation of sex and obedience training (OT) to factor scores. Some unexpected relations between OT and factor scores were identified. Frequency distributions for factor scores were positively skewed for undesirable traits and negatively skewed for more desirable traits. Some common beliefs about companion dog behavior problems, such as the relation between playing tug-of-war games and aggression, are challenged. The identified factors provide some insight into the structure of temperament in companion dogs and represent traits that can be measured for individual dogs, although further refinement is needed.

296 Comparative functionality of pets, friends, and spouses as moderators of cardiovascular reactivity

We present here the first evidence of correlation between canine anxiety-related behavioural problems and heart rate variability (HRV). HRV is known to be related to a range of mental disorders in humans; however this has not been explored in dogs. Behavioural problems in dogs can result in suffering, property destruction and human injury. Dog behaviour problems were assessed by owner questionnaire and the extreme high and low scoring dogs were recruited into either affected (n = 10) or unaffected (n = 20) groups. HRV was assessed in dogs at their homes, while being held in lateral recumbency for 5 min using manual restraint. Salivary cortisol samples were taken before and after HRV testing. Dogs were assessed as either being reactive to the procedure (barking, growling, struggling or shaking) or unreactive. There was no effect of reactivity or behaviour problems on salivary cortisol levels at baseline or in response to the treatment. There was a significant effect of reactivity on HR (F1,26 = 5.54; P = 0.026), and no effect of behaviour problems (F1,26 = 1.07; P = 0.311). There was no effect of reactivity on any of the HRV measures. The presence of behaviour problems had a significant effect on a range of measures of HRV, with unaffected dogs having higher standard deviation of RR intervals (F1,26 = 6.39; P = 0.018), higher high frequency spectrum (F1,26 = 5.23; P = 0.031) and higher low frequency spectrum (F1,26 = 9.25; P = 0.005) power. There was no effect of behaviour problems on very low frequency spectrum power (F1,26 = 1.40; P = 0.248). Together these results provide evidence for a fundamental physiological difference between dogs affected or unaffected with behaviour problems. This study provides evidence for further investigation into the role of HRV in the pathophysiology of canine anxiety-related behaviour problems.

Plasma Cortisol Levels of Dogs at a County Animal Shelter

Hennessy, M. B., H. N. Davis, M. T. Williams, C. Mellott and C. W. Douglas. Plasma cortisol levels of dogs in a county animal shelter. Physiol Behav 62(3) 485–490, 1997.—Plasma cortisol levels were examined to assess the stress of dogs in a county animal shelter. Groups of dogs confined in the shelter for their 1st, 2nd, or 3rd day had higher cortisol levels than did a group maintained in the shelter for more than 9 days. Dogs in the shelter for an intermediate period (Day 4–9) had intermediate levels of cortisol. The cortisol concentrations of dogs during their first day in the shelter were greater than either those of the same dogs on Day 4/5 in the shelter or those of a group of pet dogs sampled in their own homes. There was no overall effect of 20 min of social interaction with a human (e.g., petting) on the plasma cortisol levels of dogs in the shelter on Day 1–3. However, the gender of the petter did affect cortisol levels. Those dogs interacting with a female had lower cortisol concentrations at the end of the session than did dogs interacting with a male. The results suggest that confinement in a public animal shelter produces a prolonged activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Further, it appears that some subtle aspect of interaction with a human may be capable of moderating this response. Possible implications for the welfare of confined dogs, and for the development of behavior problems in dogs obtained from shelters, are discussed.

Sexual Behavior Problems in Dogs and Cats

Sexual behavior problems do occur as a primary diagnosis, but excessive sexual behavior is a common secondary problem. Mounting occurs in almost half of dogs with behavior problems and 20% of cats with behavior problems.

Owner attitudes and dog behaviour problems

In the treatment of dog behaviour problems, assessment of the owner's attitude is usually an essential part of the diagnostic process. Questionnaire studies of groups of owners reveal wide variation in both degree and kind of owner attachment. Individual-centred methods such as the Kelly Repertory Grid demonstrate the complexity of such attachments. It is suggested that the psychoanalytic concept of projection can often best explain their irrational aspects: experimental evidence is adduced and clinical examples discussed. With regard to particular types of behaviour problems, there is evidence of an association between dominance aggression in the dog and the anthropomorphic involvement of the owner; also between over-excitement and displacement activities in the dog and anxiety in the owner. Owner anxiety is not associated with a higher incidence of phobias in the dog; a dog's phobia, however, does tend to cause greater distress to a more anxious owner.

Reported behaviour problems in pet dogs in Denmark: age distribution and influence of breed and gender

In the period 1987–1991 the consultant service established by the Danish Animal Welfare Society and the Danish Civil Dog Training Association reported 3975 problems in relation to pet dogs in Denmark. With nine categories of problem behaviour a total of 2719 problems were recorded in 2238 dogs. The data were analysed for the influence of breed, gender and age on the risk of developing behaviour problems. The analysis was designed as a case-control study using two control groups: (1) dogs registered by Danish Kennel Club in a 5-year period and (2) dogs treated at The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Copenhagen, Denmark in a 4-month period. Thirteen breeds or breed groups including mixed breeds were compared with a reference group consisting of Labrador Retrievers. Compared with the reference group, Alsatians seemed to have higher risks of aggression towards other dogs, aggression towards strangers and general anxiety. For Cocker Spaniels higher risks of aggression towards the owner, aggression towards strangers and indoor urination/defecation were found. Collies seemed to have higher risks of aggression towards strangers, indoor urination/defecation and general anxiety. Furthermore, a higher risk of general anxiety was found in Poodles and Fox Terriers. Generally, Dachshunds, a group consisting of all terriers excluding Fox Terriers and mixed breeds, seemed to have a low risk of behaviour problems. Compared with females, males seemed to have a lower risk of general anxiety and a higher risk of problems related to lack of training and all kinds of aggression. About 80% of the behaviour problems were reported within the first 3 years of life. Only 5.5% of the dogs were suggested to be or were in fact euthanized.

Effect of dietary protein content on behavior in dogs

Objective— To determine the effect that feeding diets containing a low (17%), medium (25%), or high (32%) protein content would have on behavior in dogs. Design— Prospective, controlled study. Animals— 12 dogs with dominance aggression, 12 dogs with hyperactivity, 12 dogs with territorial aggression, and 14 control dogs without behavioral problems. Procedure— Dogs were fed each of the diets for a 2-week period, and owners were instructed to score their dogs' behavior on a daily basis. Results— Behavior of the dogs with dominance aggression, dogs with hyperactivity, and control dogs was unchanged by the dietary manipulations. Territorial aggression was significantly reduced when dogs were fed the low- or medium-protein diet, compared with territorial aggression when fed the high-protein diet. Post hoc analysis indicated that this effect was attributable to a marked reduction in aggression in a subset of the group (n = 7) in which territorial aggression was a result of fear. Clinical Implications— Results of this study suggest that a reduction in dietary protein content is not generally useful in the treatment of behavior problems in dogs, but may be appropriate in dogs with territorial aggression that is a result of fear. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 1996;208:376-379)

Somatic problems as a risk factor for behavior problems in dogs

Somatic problems as a risk factor for behavior problems in dogs

Behaviour Problems in Dogs

Behaviour Problems in Dogs

Flower usage by bumble-bees: a basis for forage plant management: M. Fussell & S. A. Corbet, Journal of Applied Ecology, 29(2), 1992, pp 451–465

Hennessy, M. B., H. N. Davis, M. T. Williams, C. Mellott and C. W. Douglas. Plasma cortisol levels of dogs in a county animal shelter. Physiol Behav 62(3) 485–490, 1997.—Plasma cortisol levels were examined to assess the stress of dogs in a county animal shelter. Groups of dogs confined in the shelter for their 1st, 2nd, or 3rd day had higher cortisol levels than did a group maintained in the shelter for more than 9 days. Dogs in the shelter for an intermediate period (Day 4–9) had intermediate levels of cortisol. The cortisol concentrations of dogs during their first day in the shelter were greater than either those of the same dogs on Day 4/5 in the shelter or those of a group of pet dogs sampled in their own homes. There was no overall effect of 20 min of social interaction with a human (e.g., petting) on the plasma cortisol levels of dogs in the shelter on Day 1–3. However, the gender of the petter did affect cortisol levels. Those dogs interacting with a female had lower cortisol concentrations at the end of the session than did dogs interacting with a male. The results suggest that confinement in a public animal shelter produces a prolonged activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Further, it appears that some subtle aspect of interaction with a human may be capable of moderating this response. Possible implications for the welfare of confined dogs, and for the development of behavior problems in dogs obtained from shelters, are discussed.

Psychotropic Drugs and Behavioral Therapy

Psychotropic drugs often are helpful in the treatment of selected behavior problems in dogs and cats. Drug therapy is rarely curative by itself and in most cases is only indicated as ancillary therapy in a behavior modification program. Very few of the psychoactive drugs are approved for use in companion animals, and owners should be made aware that their use is considered experimental. Before prescribing any of the psychotropic drugs, veterinarians should be thoroughly familiar with dosages, side effects, and contraindications. Some of the more common behavior problems in which drug therapy may be useful are reviewed.

How do you score on behaviour problems in dogs?

How do you score on behaviour problems in dogs?

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

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 problems were classified within three major categories: aggression; stimulus reactivity; separation-related. Aggression and stimulus reactivity problems were further sub-divided by their predominant 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 problems for clarifying the direction of behavior change was discussed.

Owner attitudes and dog behaviour problems

In the treatment of dog behaviour problems, assessment of the owner's attitude is usually an essential part of the diagnostic process. Questionnaire studies of groups of owners reveal wide variation in both degree and kind of owner attachment. Individual-centred methods such as the Kelly Repertory Grid demonstrate the complexity of such attachments. It is suggested that the psychoanalytic concept of projection can often best explain their irrational aspects: experimental evidence is adduced and clinical examples discussed. With regard to particular types of behaviour problems, there is evidence of an association between dominance aggression in the dog and the anthropomorphic involvement of the owner; also between over-excitement and displacement activities in the dog and anxiety in the owner. Owner anxiety is not associated with a higher incidence of phobias in the dog; a dog's phobia, however, does tend to cause greater distress to a more anxious owner.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Separation-Related Behavior Problems in Dogs

Diagnosis and Treatment of Separation-Related Behavior Problems in Dogs

Diagnosis and Treatment of Elimination Behavior Problems in Dogs

Diagnosis and Treatment of Elimination Behavior Problems in Dogs