Risk factors for separation-related distress and feed-related aggression in dogs: Additional findings from a survey of Australian dog owners

The potential risk factors associated with the canine behavioural problems, separation-related distress (SRD) and feed-related aggression (FRA) were evaluated by a questionnaire, distributed through Dog's Life magazine. Data on 690 Australian dogs in 485 self-selected respondent households showed that dogs acquired from friends or family had a higher probability of exhibiting low SRD scores than dogs acquired from pet shops (P = 0.003). Male dogs had a higher probability of exhibiting high SRD scores (P = 0.039) as did intact dogs (P = 0.011). Dogs that generally engaged in game-playing with their owners had a higher probability of exhibiting low SRD scores (P = 0.023). However, dogs that played games within the first 30 min of their owner arriving home had a higher probability of exhibiting high SRD scores (P = 0.020) than dogs that did not. The probability of SRD also increased with the number of human adult females in the house (P = 0.014). The following factors showed a positive association with a higher probability of FRA: mixed breeds (P = 0.019), increasing dog age at acquisition (P = 0.048), increasing number of females in the household (P = 0.003), increasing number of dogs in the household (P = 0.000) and feeding a dog treats during the owner's dinner (P = 0.019). Crown Copyright (c) 2007 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.