Owners’ abilities to recognise and comprehend signs or displays of aggression in their canine companions outwith the home environment

Abstract

Due to welfare and safety factors, canine aggression is at the forefront of a vast volume of behavioural assessments. Conditions resulting in behaviour problems normally result from a form of stimuli, including internal (psychological) or external (handling errors). The study’s main aims were establishing owner’s level of awareness when their dog displays aggressive behaviours towards veterinary staff and discovering whether/why owners can be reluctant to disclose information to veterinary staff regarding incidences of frequent aggression in their canines. The results highlighted the importance of owner education with regards to the occurrence of canine aggression in stressful environments.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Emma Joanne Campbell

Emma Joanne Campbell RVN BSc (Hons)

Emma qualified as an RVN in July 2015 from Edinburgh Napier University and currently works at Links Veterinary Group East Lothian. She recently presented the findings of this study at the BVNA Congress 2015. Her passion is animal behaviour and she is keen to study it further in the future.