This study examined the prevalence of behaviour problems exhibited by dogs
within 4 weeks of acquisition from a rescue shelter in Northern Ireland. On
e thousand five hundred and forty-seven people who had purchased a dog from
a rescue shelter in Northern Ireland were sent a postal questionnaire desi
gned to collect information on the behaviours exhibited by their dog within
the first month of acquisition. Five hundred and fifty-six people responde
d to the survey, representing a response rate of 37%. The majority of respo
ndents (68.3%) reported that their dog exhibited a behaviour problem, the m
ost common being fearfulness. Most of those respondents (89.7%) who returne
d their dog to the shelter did so because the animal exhibited behaviour th
at they considered undesirable. Male dogs showed more unacceptable behaviou
rs than females, specifically inter-male aggression, sexual problems and st
raying tendencies. More stray dogs displayed undesirable behaviour than unw
anteds, specifically straying tendencies. Puppies were less likely to exhib
it unacceptable behaviours than juveniles or adults, particularly fearfulne
ss, sexual problems and straying tendencies. More juvenile dogs showed exce
ssive activity and excessive barking than puppies or adults. More adult dog
s displayed aggression towards other dogs than juveniles or puppies. Findin
gs indicate that dogs purchased from rescue shelters do exhibit behaviour p
roblems that may lead to their return. The number of dogs admitted or retur
ned to rescue shelters with behaviour problems may be reduced by raising pu
blic awareness regarding the value of behaviour therapy and introducing beh
aviour therapy schemes to rescue shelters. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. A
ll rights reserved.