Behavioral assessment of child-directed canine aggression. Issue 5 (4th October 2007)
- Record Type:
- Journal Article
- Title:
- Behavioral assessment of child-directed canine aggression. Issue 5 (4th October 2007)
- Main Title:
- Behavioral assessment of child-directed canine aggression
- Authors:
- Reisner, Ilana R
Shofer, Frances S
Nance, Michael L - Abstract:
- Abstract : Objective: To characterize behavioral circumstances of bites to children by dogs presented to a veterinary behavior clinic. Methods: Retrospective case series examining medical records of dogs presenting by referral to a university veterinary hospital for aggression and which had bitten a child <18 years old. Behavioral data included age of victim, familiarity with dog, and circumstances of bites. Results: Records of bites to 111 children were examined. Children <6 years old were most commonly bitten in association with resource guarding (44%), whereas older children were most commonly bitten in association with territory guarding (23%). Similarly, food guarding was the most common circumstance for bites to familiar children (42%) and territory guarding for bites to unfamiliar children (53%). Behavioral screening of the 103 dogs examined revealed resource guarding (61%) and discipline measures (59%) as the most common stimuli for aggression. Anxiety screens revealed abnormalities in 77% of dogs. Potential contributory medical conditions were identified/suspected in 50% of dogs. When history before presentation was known, 66% of dogs had never previously bitten a child, and 19% had never bitten any human. Most dogs (93%) were neutered, and 66% of owners had taken their dogs to obedience training classes. Conclusions: Most children were bitten by dogs with no history of biting children. There is a high rate of behavioral abnormalities (aggression and anxiety) inAbstract : Objective: To characterize behavioral circumstances of bites to children by dogs presented to a veterinary behavior clinic. Methods: Retrospective case series examining medical records of dogs presenting by referral to a university veterinary hospital for aggression and which had bitten a child <18 years old. Behavioral data included age of victim, familiarity with dog, and circumstances of bites. Results: Records of bites to 111 children were examined. Children <6 years old were most commonly bitten in association with resource guarding (44%), whereas older children were most commonly bitten in association with territory guarding (23%). Similarly, food guarding was the most common circumstance for bites to familiar children (42%) and territory guarding for bites to unfamiliar children (53%). Behavioral screening of the 103 dogs examined revealed resource guarding (61%) and discipline measures (59%) as the most common stimuli for aggression. Anxiety screens revealed abnormalities in 77% of dogs. Potential contributory medical conditions were identified/suspected in 50% of dogs. When history before presentation was known, 66% of dogs had never previously bitten a child, and 19% had never bitten any human. Most dogs (93%) were neutered, and 66% of owners had taken their dogs to obedience training classes. Conclusions: Most children were bitten by dogs with no history of biting children. There is a high rate of behavioral abnormalities (aggression and anxiety) in this canine population. Common calming measures (neutering, training) were not routinely effective deterrents. … (more)
- Is Part Of:
- Injury prevention. Volume 13:Issue 5(2007)
- Journal:
- Injury prevention
- Issue:
- Volume 13:Issue 5(2007)
- Issue Display:
- Volume 13, Issue 5 (2007)
- Year:
- 2007
- Volume:
- 13
- Issue:
- 5
- Issue Sort Value:
- 2007-0013-0005-0000
- Page Start:
- 348
- Page End:
- 351
- Publication Date:
- 2007-10-04
- Subjects:
- dog bite -- dogs -- child -- aggression -- animal behavior
Children's accidents -- Prevention -- Periodicals
Accidents -- Prevention -- Periodicals
617.1 - Journal URLs:
- http://ip.bmjjournals.com ↗
http://www.injuryprevention.com ↗
http://www.bmj.com/archive ↗ - DOI:
- 10.1136/ip.2007.015396 ↗
- Languages:
- English
- ISSNs:
- 1353-8047
- Deposit Type:
- Legaldeposit
- View Content:
- Available online (eLD content is only available in our Reading Rooms) ↗
- Physical Locations:
- British Library DSC - BLDSS-3PM
British Library HMNTS - ELD Digital store - Ingest File:
- 17845.xml