CHARACTERIZATION AND TREATMENT OF 20 CANINE DOMINANCE AGGRESSION CASES

This study was undertaken to characterize 20 cases of dominance aggres sion seen at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine and to inv estigate the efficacy of our non-confrontational behavior modification program for 8 weeks. The 20 cases included 18 pure breed and 2 mixed breed dogs. Thirteen of the dogs were male. The dogs' ages ranged from 7 to 84 months (mean 32.1 +/- 22.64 SE). There was no correlation bet ween the severity of dominance aggression and the signalment of the do gs. At the conclusion of the eight week follow up period, 14 dogs (70% ) were reported to have responded to the treatment to some degree. Six dogs did not demonstrate any noticeable reduction in aggressive behav ior or became more aggressive. The results of the study is powerful ev idence of the efficacy of the non-confrontational behavior modificatio n program.