The APBC
Annual Review of Cases 1998
The authors of this report Emma Magnus BSc
(Hons) MSc, David Appleby dipCABC and Gwen
Bailey BSc (Hons) would like to thank the members of the APBC who
submitted their data.
The APBC would like to thank Intervet
UK Limited for their continuing support and interest in the APBC’s
Annual Review of Cases.
Index
Breakdown of cases submitted
| |
Dogs
|
Cats
|
| |
Males
|
Females
|
Males
|
Females
|
| Number seen |
777 |
474 |
50 |
36 |
% seen
|
62
|
38
|
57
|
43
|
% Neutered
|
55
|
64
|
98
|
100
|
| Number of problems |
1230 |
707 |
60 |
36 |
% of problems
|
64
|
36
|
52
|
48
|
Average number of problems per dog - 1.55 (1.58 per male and 1.49 per
female)
Index
MOST COMMON BREEDS REFERRED
| Male dog breeds |
|
Female dog breeds |
|
| Crossbreeds |
Crossbreeds |
| German Shepherd Dogs |
German Shepherd Dogs |
| Border Collie |
Border Collie |
| Springer Spaniel |
Labrador |
| Labrador |
Springer Spaniel / Boxer |
| Jack Russell Terrier / West Highland White/ |
Golden Retriever |
| Golden Retriever |
|
| Cocker Spaniel |
Jack Russell Terrier |
| Staffordshire Bull Terrier |
West Highland White |
| Schnauzer (all types) |
Staffordshire Bull Terrier / Springer Spaniel |
| Dachshund (all types) |
Yorkshire Terrier |
| Cat breeds |
|
|
| Domestic Short Hair |
|
| Burmese |
|
| Siamese |
|
| Persian |
|
Index
CANINE CASES
| Key to Graph |
| |
| AP |
Aggression towards people. Possible causes include fear or status. |
| AD |
Aggression towards dogs. Possible causes include fear or rank. |
| SP |
Separation Problems - occur when separated from the owners. |
| AS |
Attention seeking behaviours. e.g. barking whilst on telephone. |
| F |
Fearful and phobic behaviour to auditory or visual stimuli |
| RB |
Repetitive behaviours. e.g. tail chasing. |
| Ch |
Inappropriate chase behaviour. e.g. towards vehicles or joggers. |
| HT |
House training problems. |
| T |
Training problems e.g. poor recall. |
| O |
Others. e.g. Escapology, Coprophagy and mounting. |
| Car |
Problems during travel. |
Index
Socialisation and Environmental
Conditioning
The early experience of all animals has a profound influence on
their later development. Adequate socialisation and environmental
conditioning should be introduced as soon as possible, and maintained
throughout the first year of life. |
| |
| Socialisation is the process of introducing a variety of people and
animals. Environmental conditioning (also called Habituation)
is the process of introducing unusual environmental stimuli such as
traffic, household noises and bad weather. |
| |
| In previous years we have considered the importance of adequate socialisation
in terms of its effect on behaviour problems. In 1995 we found that
fear aggression towards other dogs and strangers, separation problems
caused by fear, and phobic behaviours were more likely to occur in
dogs that had not been adequately stimulated during their first year
of life. We found that these problems were more likely to occur in
dogs that had been reared in a kennel or kennel-type environment from
birth. |
| |
| This year we decided to look at the most common behaviour problems
and percentage of dogs referred with these problems that, in the counsellors
opinion had been well socialised during the first year of life. |
| |
Problem
|
Percentage
|
| Status Aggression towards owners |
59.6
|
| Attention Seeking Behaviours |
55.8
|
| Separation anxiety |
52
|
| Fears and phobias |
47.5
|
| Separation problems due to fear |
42.9
|
| Fear aggression towards people |
39.7
|
| Fear aggression towards other dogs |
36.2
|
As may have been predicted, behavioural problems associated with confidence
feature more highly in well-socialised animals whereas problems due to
fear and anxiety feature less strongly.
Index
NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITHIN
THE HOME (CANINE CASES)
Profile of owners
|
% of cases
|
| One male and one female |
44.4
|
| One owner (male or female) |
19.2
|
| One male and one female and children under
18 years |
18.6
|
| One male and one female and one child under
18 years |
15.3
|
| Others |
11.7
|
| Mixture of males and females over 18
years |
8.5
|
| Two same sex owners (males or females) |
5.7
|
| |
| The most common owners of the dogs referred for this Review are one
male and one female within the home. The second most common profile
was one male or female owner. The third profile was a family comprising
of a male and female and children under 18 years of age. |
| |
| Considering the situation of one male and one female, we found that
the most likely behaviour problem to be referred was fear aggression
towards dogs and fear aggression towards people encountered outside
the home. Of these cases we found that approximately one quarter of
them had had a canine companion during the first year of life. These
dogs were also more likely to be the only dogs in the home at the time
of referral. |
| |
| Dogs within the second profile of one male or female owner were most
likely to display status aggression if they were with a male and fear
aggression towards other dogs if they were with a female. In both cases
approximately 60% had been castrated and the counsellor considered
55% as having been adequately socialised. These dogs were most likely
to be the only dogs in the home and approximately 30% had had a canine
companion during the first year of life. |
| |
| With the family unit of one male, one female and children under 18
years of age, status related aggression was found to be the most common
problem referred. Of these dogs, 76% were the only dog in the home,
only 15% had a companion during their first year of life and 65% were
considered as being well socialised. |
Index
OTHER DOGS WITHIN THE HOME
| In last year's Annual Review of Cases we looked at the referral of
behaviour problems with regards to the number of dogs within the home.
This year we have expanded on this to consider whether or not the dog
also had a canine companion during the first year of life. |
| |
| Of the 1251 canine problems considered for this report 387 (30%)
were known to have had a canine companion during their first year of
life. Of these dogs, 201 (52%) were living with one other dog when
they were referred to a behaviour counsellor. This would probably be
expected due to the continuing existence of the dog that was the companion
during the first year of life or owner preference. |
| |
| Of the 864 remaining dogs (70%) who did not have a canine companion
during the first year of life or were not known to have had a canine
companion during this time, 680 (79%) were living as the only dog within
the home when they were referred. |
| |
| The two problems of most interest to this section are fear aggression
towards other dogs and aggression between dogs in the same home. The
dogs that displayed fear aggression towards other dogs were found to
be less likely to have been socialised or to have had a canine companion
during their first year of life than the others that were referred
for aggression towards another dog in the home. |
| |
| In the first graph, the most important factor apparent in fear aggression
towards other canines is the pet behaviour counsellor's assessment
of socialisation. The presence of another dog during the first year
of life does not appear to be as important although these two can be
linked. |
| |
Fear Aggression towards canines - only
canine in home
|
 |
| |
| In the second graph, it appears that it is more likely that a dog
that has lived with another dog will be aggressive to another dog it
has lived with especially if it can be considered as having been well
socialised. |
| |
Aggression between canines in the same
home - two canines in home
|
 |
| |
| Adequate socialisation with other canines needs to extend beyond
one dog encountered within the home. Young dogs need to encounter several
dogs of differing breeds to be able to adapt varying sizes and colours
adequately. |
| |
| Living with another dog within the first year of life is not a good
enough substitute for adequate socialisation. |
| |
AGE WHEN REFERRED
AND BEHAVIOUR PROBLEM
RECORDED CANINE
AGE
|
MOST LIKELY BEHAVIOUR
PROBLEM
(in order of occurrence)
|
0 - 6 m
|
Attention seeking behaviours
Fear aggression to people encountered out of home
Play-biting |
6m - 1 year
|
Fear aggression to people encountered
out of home
Attention seeking behaviours
Status related aggression |
1 - 2 years
|
Status related aggression
Fear aggression to people encountered out of home
Fear aggression towards other dogs |
2 - 3 years
|
Fear aggression towards other
dogs
Fear aggression to people encountered out of home
Territorial Aggression |
3 - 6 years
|
Fear aggression towards other
dogs
Fear aggression to people encountered out of home
Aggression between same sex dogs in family |
6 - 8 years
|
Separation Problem (over-attachment
on owner)
Status related aggression
Fear aggression towards other dogs |
Over 8 years
|
Separation Problem (over-attachment
on owner)
Aggression between same sex dogs in family
Fear aggression towards people encountered out of home |
Index
REFERRAL
OF SEPARATION PROBLEMS DUE
TO OVER-ATTACHMENT
| 1998 saw the launch of two psychotropic drugs designed to provide
support for the treatment of behaviour problems. One particular drug
received a high level of media interest due to its use in cases of
separation anxiety. Separation anxiety is a separation problem caused
by the dog's over-attachment upon its owner and its subsequent inability
to cope when left alone. |
| |
| The graph below displays the differences between the referral of
cases during 1997 as compared with 1998. In each year approximately
8% of the total number of problems considered were those associated
with separation anxiety. |
| |
 |
| |
| Both 1997 and 1998 follow a similar pattern of referral in that there
is a dip in cases after February, a rise as summer approaches and another
decrease during the holiday months. |
| |
Index
SUMMARY OF CANINE CASES
- The most common behavioural problem referred during 1998 is aggression
towards people.
- Problems caused by fear - such as fear aggression, specific
separation problems and phobias - tend to be linked with what
was, in the counsellor's opinion, a lack of socialisation during
the first year of life.
- The most common owner profile was one male and one female.
Second was one owner, male or female. Third was a family unit
of one male, one female and children under 18 years of age.
- Living with another dog during the first year of life does
not replace the need for adequate socialisation with dogs of
varying sizes and status.
- Dogs referred to a pet behaviour counsellor before they were
1 year old were more likely to have problematic attention-seeking
behaviours than at any other age.
- Fear aggression towards people was the most commonly referred
problem in dogs of all age groups except between 6 and 8 years
of age.
- A separation problem (due to over-attachment on owner) is more
likely to be referred in dogs over 6 years of age
|
Index
Feline Cases
 |
| Key to Graph |
| IM |
Indoor Marking. Includes spraying, middening or scratching |
| AC |
Aggression towards cats. Possible causes include territory or
social. |
| HT |
House training problems |
| AP |
Aggression towards people. Possible causes include fear. |
| O |
Others. e.g. avoidance behaviour |
| AS |
Attention seeking behaviours |
| F |
Fearful and phobic behaviour to auditory and visual stimuli |
| P |
Pica |
| BP |
Bonding problems. e.g. over attachment. |
|
Index
NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITHIN
THE HOME (FELINE CASES)
Profile of owners
|
Number of cases
|
| One male and one female |
50
|
| One owner (male or female) |
12
|
| Two same sex owners (males or females) |
7
|
| Mixture of males and females over 18
years |
6
|
| Others |
5
|
| One male and one female and children under
18 years |
4
|
| One male and one female and one child under
18 years |
2
|
| |
| The most common owners of the cats referred for this Review are similar
to the results for dog owners. The most common profile is one male
and one female, the second most common is one male or female owner
and the third, which differs from the dogs, is two same sex owners. |
| |
| Considering the profile of one male and one female, we found that
the most likely behaviour problem that the cat was referred with was
spraying. These cats were neutered in 84% of cases. They were most
likely to be one of two within the home and 44% had a feline companion
during the first year of life. |
| |
| Cats within the second most common profile of one male or female
owner were most likely to display aggression towards the other cat
in the home if the owner was male and territorial aggression or spraying
if the owner was female. Cats belonging to single men that were referred
with a behaviour problem was always neutered, had a companion at the
time of referral and had a companion during the first year of life.
The cats belonging to the single women were again, always neutered
but were the only cat in the home and none had a feline companion during
the first year of life. These numbers are too low to draw any relevant
conclusions from. |
| |
| Within the third unit of two same sex owners, 85% of the cases referred
were two males. Of these cases the most common problem was spraying
urine within the home. All these cats had been neutered, there were
two cats in the home at the time of referral and 85% had a companion
during the first year of life. |
| Index |
OTHER CATS IN HOME
| |
| Of the 86 feline problems referred for this report, 47 (55%) were
known to have had a canine companion during their first year of life.
Of these cats, 43 (91%) were living with at least one other cat at
the time of referral. |
| |
| Of the 39 remaining cats (45%) who did not have a feline companion
during the first year of life or were not known to have had a feline
companion, 25 (64%) were living with at least one other cat at the
time of referral. |
| |
| The problem of most interest to this section is social aggression
between cats in the home. |
| |
Social aggression towards other cats in
the home
|
 |
| Index |
AGE WHEN
REFERRED AND BEHAVIOUR PROBLEM
RECORDED
AGE
|
MOST LIKELY BEHAVIOUR
PROBLEM
(in order of occurrence)
|
0 - 1 year
|
Exaggerated play (e.g. using aggression)
Predatory behaviour
Petting / biting syndrome |
1 - 2 years
|
Spraying
House training problems
Territorial aggression towards other cats |
2 - 3 years
|
Spraying
Social aggression within the home
House training problems |
3 - 6 years
|
Spraying
Social aggression within the home
House training problems |
6 - 8 years
|
Spraying
Social aggression within the home
House training problems |
Over 8 years
|
Social aggression within the home
House training problems |
Index
SUMMARY OF FELINE CASES
| |
- The most common behaviour problem referred was indoor marking.
The most likely form of indoor marking was spraying.
- Cats referred for behaviour treatment that belonged to one
male or female owner were always neutered.
- Cats referred for behaviour treatment during their first year
of life were likely to be showing problematic behaviours associated
with learned aggression, predatory behaviour and petting / biting
syndrome.
- Spraying was the most common behaviour problem to be referred
in cats who were between 1 and 8 years when referred.
|
| |
|
