In order to determine risk factors for biting behaviour by dogs in a househ
old setting, a detailed telephone survey of dog owners was undertaken using
individuals selected from a cross-sectional population of veterinary clien
tele in the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Ed
ward Island. Interviews were successfully completed with 515 of 640 individ
uals selected from a study population of 3226 dogs by a formal random proce
ss. For the purpose of risk factor analysis, 227 biting and 126 non-biting
dogs were selected according to strict criteria to evaluate the association
of potential risk factors with biting behaviour. Biting behaviour was care
fully defined in the telephone interview to avoid including activity associ
ated with playful mouthing by the dog. All dogs were at least 6 months of a
-e. Both the mean weight and age of biting dogs were significantly lower (P
< 0.05) than that of non-biting dogs. Significant risk factors for an outc
ome of biting were: the dog being female (particularly if small), the prese
nce of one or more teenage children in the home, a history of a pruritic or
malodorous skin disorder which had received veterinary treatment, aggressi
on over food in the first 2 months of ownership, the dog having slept on so
meone's bed in the first 2 months of ownership, and the dog having been giv
en a significantly higher ranking for excitability based on its behaviour i
n the first 2 months of ownership. Small dogs were also determined to be at
a higher risk of having bitten than large dogs when exposed to certain lif
estyle and health factors, suggesting a relationship between body size and
reactivity, or possibly greater owner tolerance of aggression in smaller do
gs. Biting dogs were more likely to have exhibited fear of children, men, a
nd strangers. The risk factors identified provide a useful focus for the ve
terinarian in general practice when counselling owners in the prevention of
canine aggression. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.