Behavioral problems in companion dogs can negatively impact their and their guardian’s welfare, along with the relationship they have with each other. Past research on this topic varies and is mostly limited to convenience sampling rather than representative sampling, which is more reliable. Having a better understanding of all behavioral problems in dogs will help in their prevention and treatment. 

In this study, researchers in Denmark examined perceived behavior problems in companion dogs by surveying their guardians. They aimed to find which problems were more prevalent and discover any risk factors that could be attributed to them. The authors found their study to be only the second of its kind in using representative sampling. 

The researchers surveyed 5,027 Danish citizens between the ages of 18 and 89 who were randomly selected from the Danish Civil Register. The citizens were emailed an invitation to complete an online survey in 2021. 2,347 people participated in the survey, 570 of whom were dog guardians. Overall, data from 502 participants was included in the analysis. 

Demographic data that were gathered in the questionnaire included:

• Dog: age, sex, neuter status, disease
• Guardian: gender, reason for and cost of getting the dog
• Housing: living in an apartment or house, urban or rural
• Management: exercise, enrichment, socialization, and training

Data from the survey responses was scored to find the prevalence of problems and associations between them and the four types of variables listed above.

The study showed that 34% of participants felt their dog had behavior problems, the most common being related to disobedience (11%), fear of noises (10%), and aggression toward other dogs (8%). This was consistent with past research identifying fear and disobedience as being the most common problems for companion dogs. In this study, the most common trigger for fear-related problems was noise. Factors correlated with increased fear included living in an apartment or dorm, having an acute disease, and receiving less training. Population density showed no correlation with fear. The most common trigger for aggression was other dogs. A possible predictor of increased aggression was chronic disease. Like past research, factors associated with lower reports of aggression were off-leash time on walks and training at home. Less disobedience was associated with increased age and more off-leash time. 

One limitation noted in the study was that some behaviors may not be interpreted as a problem by the guardian. The researchers also noted that the associations found within the study do not imply causality, meaning that we cannot claim that living in an apartment causes fear issues within dogs. There’s a need for future research on how to promote positive interspecies interactions with dogs, in addition to why off-leash time may lead to better-behaved canine companions. 

The researchers recommend behavior screening as a part of veterinary health exams due to the correlations between health and behavior. Advocates should also continue to endorse positive training, socialization, and exercise for dogs to promote their well-being and prevent behavior problems in the future.