Prevalence of behaviour problems reported by owners of dogs purchased froman animal rescue shelter

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.