How to prevent behavior problems in puppies
Author(s):
Updated:
APR 15, 2022
Languages:
Read
Many owners will choose their puppy for all the wrong reasons, but Jon Bowen identifies some key factors that can help a young puppy develop into a great member of the family.
Jon Bowen
BVetMed, MRCVS, Dip. AS (CABC)
Dr. Bowen graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 1992 and spent several yearsin first opinion small animal practice. He then pursued an interest in animal behaviorafter completing a postgraduate diploma in behavior at Southampton University, and currently runs the behavioral medicine referral service at London’s Royal Veterinary College, where he also teaches. He has authored several book chapters on behavioral topics and is a regular speaker at both national and international veterinary conferences.
Key points
- Problem behaviors in dogs are a significant and ongoing reason for euthanasia.
- Veterinarians should proactively work with breeders to achieve good selection and rearing practices and to encourage early vaccination.
- A dog’s temperament and personality are the product of the interaction between genetics and early events, so it is vital to make these experiences as positive as possible.
- Veterinarians should guide puppy owners towards the best sources of information, and help them understand how to nurture their new pet to enable good behavior as an adult.
Introduction
Despite advances in veterinary care and nutrition that have improved health outcomes for companion dogs over recent years, problem behavior remains a stubbornly consistent and major cause of death in this species. According to findings from a major study, undesirable behavior was the most common cause of death in dogs of under three years of age 1. Almost 34% of deaths in this age group were attributed to problem behavior, with the odds of death being 1.4 times greater for male than female dogs. That data was collected from 2009 to 2014 in primary-care UK veterinary practices, but more recent data collated in Australia between 2013 and 2018 and analyzed using the same methodology produced similar figures, with a death rate due to unwanted behavior of 29.7% for dogs under the age of three years 2. In both populations, aggression was the most common behavioral cause of death (Figure 1).
Figure 1. A study in Australia over a five-year period showed that unwanted behavior accounted for 30% of dogs euthanized before 3 years of age, and that aggression was the most common behavioral problem leading to euthanasia.
Credit: Shutterstock
The high prevalence of euthanasia is the visible tip of a much larger iceberg of issues around problematic dog behavior. These statistics are undeniably disturbing, but euthanasia is only one possible endpoint for dogs with behavior problems, and it usually only applies to the most seriously affected. Owners may also choose to rehome or treat affected dogs, or adapt their lifestyle to accommodate behavioral problems, but all these options represent an emotional, financial or time burden on pet-owning families. [...]
About
How to reference this publication (Harvard system)?
(2022) “How to prevent behavior problems in puppies”, A Good Start in Life - Veterinary Focus - Vol. 32(1), Apr. 2022. Available at: https://www.ivis.org/library/veterinary-focus/a-good-start-life-veterinary-focus-vol-321-apr-2022/how-to-prevent-behavior-problems-puppies (Accessed: 05 October 2024).
Author(s)
Copyright Statement
© All text and images in this publication are copyright protected and cannot be reproduced or copied in any way.Subscribe
Access to the content of the Veterinary Focus website is reserved for animal health professionals. If you do not yet have a user account with Royal Canin you can create a free account by selecting the New User form. Subscription to the journal is free and issues in your preferred language can be obtained at the Veterinary Focus website.
Comments (0)
Ask the author
0 comments