Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-2008
Abstract
The effectiveness of a rehabilitation program for reducing inter-dog aggression was evaluated at the municipal animal shelter. Sixteen dogs (of 60 examined) met the study criteria of medium inter-dog aggression as determined by an inter-dog aggression test. These dogs received a 10-day treatment of daily rehabilitation for 30 min (rehabilitation group, n = 9) or daily release into an outdoor enclosure for 30 min (control group, n = 7). Rehabilitation consisted of desensitising and counter-conditioning dogs to the approach of other ‘‘stimulus’’ dogs. Most dogs in the rehabilitation group showed a decline in aggression scores when re-tested after the last treatment (day 11), and differed significantly from the control dogs which showed either an increase or no change in aggression scores (U = 8.5, P < 0.01). Rehabilitation dogs also showed lower frequencies of aggressive body postures (‘‘facing the stimulus dog’’, P < 0.05, and ‘‘stiff posture’’, P < 0.10) and higher frequencies of less assertive postures (‘‘ears back’’, P < 0.05, and ‘‘lowered neck’’, P < 0.10) on day 11. The differences between groups were no longer significant when a reduced sample of dogs was tested 1 week after rehabilitation ended (day 18). The study shows short-term reduction of inter-dog aggression through rehabilitation, but further work is needed on effective ways of maintaining the behavioural change.
Recommended Citation
Orihel, J. S., & Fraser, D. (2008). A note on the effectiveness of behavioural rehabilitation for reducing inter-dog aggression in shelter dogs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 112(3), 400-405.
Comments
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