Dogs learn new tricks ‘depending on the owner’s personality’

Different personalities of dog owners can predict how well a dog will respond to treatment for behavioral problems, according to a new study.

After examining dogs and their owners during a six-month training period, U.S. experts found owner-dog personality and dog-owner contact influenced treatment outcomes.

Dogs with conscience owners were less likely to change their misbehavior over time, the researchers found.

At the same time, independent owners reduced their pet’s ‘anti-social fear’ – their frightening responses to sudden or loud noises and unfamiliar situations – and a sensitivity to being touched.

‘Dog-led fear’ – scary or frightening responses when other unfamiliar dogs arrive – diminished over time when their owners were open to experiences.

Age, sex and size are the already known characteristics to predict how well a pet might respond to a clinical intervention.

But this new study provides evidence of the importance of owners ’personalities and the kind of connection that man and animal share.

It could help veterinarians provide better diagnosis and guidance in the future, according to U.S. experts.

‘These findings could be used by veterinarians to create more accurate prognoses and provide targeted advice to owners to reduce the impact of background factors on the dog’s response to clinical behavioral intervention. , ‘said the researchers, from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (PennVet).

Behavior change following veterinary intervention was related to canine demographic characteristics, owner personality and dog-owner affiliation.

Owners could implement behavior change mechanisms and better manage their dog’s behavior problems. ‘

Previous research has consistently shown that canine misconduct is a major cause of pet abandonment.

An estimated 3.3 million dogs end up in animal shelters in the U.S. each year, and about 670,000 are culled, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

In the UK, hundreds of dogs bought as puppies during last year’s lockup have been abandoned by owners who say they don’t have the time or resources to look after them, it was also recently published.

Identifying ways in which dogs can respond positively to treatment is therefore helpful for giving dogs a sustainable life.

For their study, the PennVet team analyzed the psychological and psychological characteristics of 131 pairs of dogs and their owners who attended a veterinary behavioral service over six months.

The results were based on a behavioral assessment questionnaire provided at the beginning, middle and end of the research program, along with other baseline assessments.

The data collected included different types of aggressive behavior, signs of separation anxiety and the animal’s energy and excitability levels.

Symptoms of separation anxiety in dogs include yelling, scratching and scratching at doors, chewing and urination or defecation (even with house-trained dogs).

The dogs that showed the most improvement were those that started with the least deserving behavior at the beginning of the program, such as being too aggressive or restrictive.

But other results were contradictory – for example, canines with owners who saw themselves as sensible did not show a significant improvement in behavior compared to others.

‘This was a remarkable result, which in some ways contradicted findings from a previous study,’ said the study’s author, Dr Lauren Powell at PennVet.

There could be at least a couple of explanations for these controversial findings, according to Dr. Powell.

For example, sensitive dog owners in the current study may have found out about the limits of reducing unwanted behavior such as a dog attack towards a stranger.

Another explanation is that conscience owners may be more aware of their dog’s behavior and report changes in a more accurate way, but less sensitive owners may not report major changes, such as the absence of bites. , ‘said Dr Powell.

Identifying the factors that predict success or failure in correcting canine behavior problems may help veterinarians better guide future owners.

For example, the study revealed a negative relationship between intrtrted owners and intimidating dogs regarding treatment outcomes.

In such cases, a veterinarian could use that information to explain to the pet owner why the dog has to choose when it wants to interact or be left alone.

‘Veterinarians who are able to select situations where dogs may be at risk for low development may be more proactive during follow-up, reaching out to clients more frequently and more frequently. feelings, ‘said Dr Powell.

While the PennVet team has no immediate plans for follow-up studies, Dr. Powell said it would be worth investigating why so many behavioral problems did not appear to respond to treatment.

‘This would include following issues more closely to look at issues such as owners’ compliance with treatment protocols, owners’ decisions to take out or recycle their dogs, and why some owners did not complete the investigation, ‘she said.

The study was published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science.