[Behavior problems in dogs. An inventory of the problems based on a survey conducted among Dutch veterinarians]

On the basis if an inquiry among Dutch veterinary practitioners, an attempt has been made to obtain an impression of the occurrence, the symptoms and the therapeutic measures used in problem behaviour in dogs. In addition, answers have been obtained to some supplementary questions. The response to the inquiry was limited. Aggression appeared to be the most serious and most frequent behaviour problem. Following this nervousness, unruliness, house-soiling, mounting and destructiveness were found to be serious behaviour problems with a high frequency. Therapeutic measures in unruliness and house-soiling problems consisted mainly of advice and obedience courses. In mounting, however, medical or surgical methods were primarily used. In aggression, nervousness and destructiveness, both the former and the latter methods were used about equally. The vast majority of the respondents was of the opinion that treating problem behaviour is part of the veterinary practitioners task.