REPORTED BEHAVIOR 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 Dani sh Animal Welfare Society and the Danish Civil Dog Training Associatio n reported 3975 problems in relation to pet dogs in Denmark. With nine categories of problem behaviour a total of 2719 problems were recorde d in 2238 dogs. The data were analysed for the influence of breed, gen der and age on the risk of developing behaviour problems. The analysis was designed as a case-control study using two control groups: (1) do gs registered by Danish Kennel Club in a 5-year period and (2) dogs tr eated at The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Copenhagen, Denmark in a 4-month period. Thirteen breeds or breed groups includin g mixed breeds were compared with a reference group consisting of Labr ador Retrievers. Compared with the reference group, Alsatians seemed t o have higher risks of aggression towards other dogs, aggression towar ds strangers and general anxiety. For Cocker Spaniels higher risks of aggression towards the owner, agression towards strangers and indoor u rination/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 P oodles 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 t o have a lower risk of general anxiety and a higher risk of problems r elated to lack of training and all kinds of aggression. About 80% of t he 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.