Fear-Motivated Aggression in Dogs: Patient Characteristics, Diagnosis and Therapy
Publication Type: |
Journal Article |
Year of Publication: |
1997 |
Authors: |
Galac, S.; Knol, B.W. |
Publication/Journal: |
Animal Welfare |
Keywords: |
animal welfare, diagnosis, dog, fear-motivated aggression, therapy |
Abstract:
The aim of the study was to characterize dogs in which fear-motivated aggression was
diagnosed, to describe the therapy used, and to evaluate the effectiveness of this therapy
using a retrospective descriptive study. During the research period 284 dogs were referred
for problem behaviour. Pear-motivated aggression was diagnosed in 73 (26%) dogs: intact
males (35), castrated males (15), intact females (11) and castrated females (12). The mean
age of the animals was 3.4 years ± 2.2 (SD). Mixed-breed dogs were most frequent,
followed by Golden Retn”evers, Rottweilers and Bernese Mountain Dogs. The majority of the
dogs expressed growling, snapping, biting, ears down, tail down and low posture. The
aggression occurred mainly inside the house, towards adults or children, and especially when
the dog was approached and/or touched. Diagnosis was based on data about the behavioural
expressions of the animals, and about owner-dog interactions, obtained from both the owner
and our own observation. Treatment consisted of 1) avoiding eliciting stimull~ 2) optimizing
owner-dog communication, 3) adaptation of the owner’s punishing threats to the dog’s
response to punishment, and 4) for a certain period fitting the dog with a choker chain
connected to a leash during the day. The behaviour of the dogs improved (55; 75%),
remained unchanged (13; 18%), or deteriorated (5; 7%). In conclusion: fear-motivated
aggression in dogs is likely to be more frequent than generally is assumed. Growling or
biting in a low posture towards both adults and children, especially when the animals were
approached or touched inside the house, were the main characteristics on which the
diagnosis fear-motivated aggression was based. Therapy, mainly based on optimizing
communication between owner and dog, proved significantly effective.