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Educational Apps and Dog Behavioural Problem Prevention: Associations Between the Zigzag Dog-Training App and
Tom Rowland1, Luciana de Assis1, Carolyn Menteith2,3
1Animal Behaviour, Cognition and Welfare Research Group, School of Natural Sciences, University of Lincoln, Lincoln LN6 7DL, UK.
Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI
|February 26, 2025
Summary
Using a dog training app may reduce the severity of common behavioral problems in dogs. Increased app usage correlated with lower problem behavior severity, suggesting potential benefits for canine welfare and owner-dog relationships.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Animal Behavior
- Canine Welfare
Background:
- Behavioral problems in dogs significantly impact canine welfare and owner relationships, often leading to relinquishment or euthanasia.
- Early intervention is crucial for minimizing the risk and severity of problematic behaviors in developing dogs.
- Accessible, widely available interventions are needed, with smartphone applications offering a potential solution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between the use of the Zigzag dog-training application and the development or severity of problematic canine behaviors.
- To assess if app usage, independent of formal training, correlates with reduced behavioral issues.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional observational study was conducted on a subset of dog owners (n=367).
- Participants were categorized into 'no training' (n=194) or 'app only' users (n=173).
- Proportional odds ordinal logistic regression analyzed the relationship between app completion percentage and behavioral problem severity, controlling for covariates.
Main Results:
- 19 out of 21 odds ratio estimates favored lower severity with increased Zigzag app completion.
- No evidence suggested the app increased the severity of any behavioral issues.
- Reasonable evidence indicated the app may reduce the severity of aggression, house soiling, chewing, barking, escaping, and noise fear.
Conclusions:
- While causality cannot be definitively established, the study suggests a favorable association between Zigzag app usage and reduced severity of common dog behavioral problems.
- The findings support the potential of educational applications as accessible tools for improving canine behavior and welfare.
- Further research is warranted to explore these associations and potential causal links.
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