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Fear-related behaviour of dogs in veterinary practice
Dorothea Döring1, Anita Roscher, Fabian Scheipl
1Institute of Animal Welfare, Ethology and Animal Hygiene, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians University, 80637 Munich, Germany. doro.doering@tierhyg.vetmed.uni-muenchen.de
Abstract:
To investigate further the occurrence of fear-related behaviour in dogs in veterinary practice and to evaluate associated factors, 135 dogs were observed under practice conditions within the framework of a standardised test examination and the owners interviewed using a questionnaire. Most dogs exhibited fear reactions, particularly on the examination table, with 78.5% (106/135) categorised as 'fearful' based on their behaviour. Unlike weight and castration, age, gender and previous experience were significantly (P<0.05) associated with fearful behaviour. Male dogs were significantly less 'fearful' than females and animals under <2 years were significantly less 'fearful' compared with older dogs. Those with only positive previous experiences in veterinary surgeries were significantly less 'fearful' than dogs that had a previous negative experience. Fear-related behaviour in veterinary practice is an issue of importance.
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