Clinical ethology and canine aggression in Montevideo: implications of race and gender

Article Sidebar

PDF (Spanish) Información sobre autores (Spanish) Tablas y figuras (Spanish) Titulo y resumen en español e inglés (Spanish)
Published: Jul 28, 2011
DOI: https://doi.org/10.32348/1852.4206.v3.n2.5225
Keywords:
clinical ethology, aggression, dogs, Uruguay

Main Article Content

Juan Pablo Damián
Universidad de la República. Facultad de Veterinaria
Paul Ruiz Santos
Universidad de la República. Facultad de Psicología. Centro de Investigación Básica en Psicología
Maria Belino
Ruben Rijo

Abstract

Statistics about clinical data is lacking in Uruguay. Herein, we present an account of canine behavioral problems recorded from different sources: a) clinical reports on canine behaviour, from 30 veterinary clinics in Montevideo city from 2005 to 2007 (n = 179); b) records of dog attacks to people (n = 992) reported at the Servicio de Atención al Mordido (Ministerio de Salud Pública, same period); and c) conflicts from records of Comisión Nacional Honoraria de Zoonosis (n = 44,000). Based on these data we discus common behavioral problems, types of aggression involved, the frequency of male / female, if they were neutered or not and the age at the onset of the first episodes of aggression. For each record we obtained an aggressive risk factor associated to breed. The results are consistent with international reports, where the aggression was the most common behavioral problem (58.9%), and dominance aggression has the highest proportion (56%). The RDPCC records revealed that the proportion of animals involved in aggression is similar in both genders. However, SAM-MSP records showed that males (71%) were a significantly greater proportion than females (29%). Our data from RDPCC showed that 100% of males involved in aggression towards people were whole, while 38.5% females were castrated. The first signs of canine aggression towards people were observed in first year of life in 56.5% of cases. On the other hand, while the RDPCC record suggests that Cocker breed tended to show more attacks of aggression toward people, the SAMMSP record pointed to the German Shepher as the more aggressive breed. The Rottweiler and Uruguayan Cimarron, occupied the first and third place respectively in the aggressive risk factor rank associated to breed, both in RDPCC and SAM-MSP set of records. This is the first descriptive work on dog behavior problems and aggression in Montevideo, where also is shows the implication of the Cimarron uruguayo race in aggression.

Article Details

How to Cite
Clinical ethology and canine aggression in Montevideo: implications of race and gender. (2011). Argentinean Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 3(2), 19-28. https://doi.org/10.32348/1852.4206.v3.n2.5225
Issue
Vol 3, No 2 (2011): Revista Argentina de Ciencias del Comportamiento
Section
Original Articles

La RACC aplicará la licencia internacional de atribuciones comunes creativas (Reconocimiento 4.0 Internacional: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Bajo esta licencia, se permite cualquier explotación de la obra, incluyendo la explotación con fines comerciales y la creación de obras derivadas, la distribución de las cuales también está permitida sin ninguna restricción. Esta licencia es una licencia libre según la Freedom Defined. La única condición es que siempre y en todos los casos se cite a los autores y a la fuente original de publicación (i.e., RACC). Esta licencia fue desarrollada para facilitar el acceso abierto, gratuito y libre a trabajos originales científicos y artísticos.

Author Biographies

Juan Pablo Damián, Universidad de la República. Facultad de Veterinaria

Departamento de Biología Molecular y Celular.

Paul Ruiz Santos, Universidad de la República. Facultad de Psicología. Centro de Investigación Básica en Psicología

Departamento de Biología Molecular y Celular. Facultad de Veterinaria

 

How to Cite

Clinical ethology and canine aggression in Montevideo: implications of race and gender. (2011). Argentinean Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 3(2), 19-28. https://doi.org/10.32348/1852.4206.v3.n2.5225

References

Amat, M., Manteca. X., Mariotti, V.M., Ruiz de la Torre, J.L. & Fatjó, J. (2009). Aggressive behavior in the English cocker spaniel. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 4,111-117.

Bamberger, M. & Houpt, K.A. (2006). Signalment factors, comorbidity, and trends in behavior diagnoses in dogs: 1.644 cases (1991-2001). Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 229, 1591-1601.

Beaver, B. (1983). Clinical classification of canine aggression. Applied animal ethology, 10, 35-43.

Berkowitz, L. (1993). Aggression: Its causes, Consequences, and Control. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Borchelt, P.L. & Voith, V.L. (1996). Aggressive Behavior in Dogs and Cats. In: Voith VL & Borchelt PL (Eds.), Readings in Companion Animal Behavior (pp 217-229). Trenton: Veterinary Learning Systems.

Buss, A.H. (1961). The Psychology of Aggression. Wiley, New York.

Calle Saldarriaga, J. (2006). Evaluación de aspectos etológicos veterinarios y vínculo humano animal. Revista CES Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, 1, 33-41.

Campbell, W.E. (1986). The prevalence of behaviour problems in American dogs. Modern Veterinary Practice, 6, 28-31.

Chichinadze, K., Chichinadze, N. & Lazarashvili, A. (2011). Hormonal and neurochemical mechanisms of aggression and a new classification of aggressive behavior, Aggression and Violent Behavior, doi:10.1016/j.avb.2011.03.002

Diveiro, S., Tami, G. & Barone, A. (2008). Prevalence of aggression and fear-related behavioral problems in a sample of Argentine Dogos in Italy. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 3, 74–86.

Fatjó, J., Ruíz de la Torre, J.L. & Manteca, X. (2006). The epidemiology of behavioural problems in dogs and cats: a survey of veterinary practitioners. Animal Welfare, 15,179-185.

Fatjó, J. (2006). Problemas de agresividad del perro: aspectos epidemiológicos y etiológicos. Tesis Doctoral. Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona.

Fatjó, J., Amat, M., Mariotti V.M., Ruíz de la Torre, J.L. & Manteca, X. (2007). Analysis of 1040 cases of canine aggression in a referral practice in Spain. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 2, 158-165.

Giammanco, M., Tabacchi, G., Giammanco, S., Di Majo, D. & La Guardia, M. (2005). Testosterone and aggressiveness. Medical science monitor: international medical journal of experimental and clinical research, 11, 136-145.

Haverbeke, A., De Smet, A., Depiereux, E., Giffroy, J.M. & Diederich, C. (2009). Assessing undesired aggression in military working dogs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 117, 55-62.

Kruk, M.R., Halasz, J., Meelis, W. & Haller, J. (2004). Fast positive feedback between the adrenocortical stress response and a brain mechanism involved in aggressive behavior. Behavioral )euroscience, 118, 1062-1070.

Hsu, Y. & Serpell, J. (2003). Development and validation of a questionnaire for measuring behavior and temperament traits in pet dogs. Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association, 223, 1293-1300.

Le Brech, S., Koscinczuk, P. & Rossner, M. V. (2006). Relevamiento de problemas de conducta en caninos que asistieron a una consulta clínica en la Ciudad de Corrientes. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Comunicaciones científicas y tecnológicas, Resumen:

V-039.

Le Brech, S., Koscinczuk, P. & Rossner, M.V. (2008). Problemas de agresividad canina. Estudio preliminar en las ciudades de Corrientes y Resistencia. Revista Veterinaria, 19, 50–53.

Lindell, L. (2002). Control problems in dogs. In: Horwitz, D., Mills, D., Heath, S. (Eds.), BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Behavioral Medicine. British Small Animal Veterinary Association (pp 69-79). UK: Glouchester.

Lindsay, S. (2001). Handbook of Applied Dog Behavior and Training (Vol. 2): Etiology and Assessment of Behavior Problems. Iowa State University Press, Ames.

Line, S. & Voith, V. (1986). Dominance aggression of dogs towards people: behavior profile and response to treatment. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 16, 77-83.

Manteca Vilanova, X. (2003). Etología clínica veterinaria del perro y del gato. 3ª Edición. Barcelona: Multimédica S.A.

Mertens, P. (2002). Canine Aggression. In: Horwitz D, Mills D, Heath S, (Eds.) BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Behavioural Medicine (pp 195-215). Gloucester: BSAVA.

Mikkelsen, J. & Lund, J.D. (1999). Euthanasia of dogs due to behavioural problems: an epidemiological study of euthanasia of dogs in Denmark, with a special focus on problems of aggressive. European Journal of Companion Animimal Practice 10, 143–150.

Nuñez, F., Cornejo, J. & Morales, M.A. (2006). Factores de manejo que influyen en la presentación de conductas agresivas en perros. Avances en Ciencias Veterinarias, 21, 14-20.

O’Farrell, V. (1992). Manual of Canine Behaviour. Glouchester: British Small Animal Veterinary Association.

Orihuela, A. & Galindo, F. (2004). Etología aplicada en los bovinos. En Galindo, F. & Orihuela, A. (Eds). Etología aplicada. Primera edición (pp. 89-112). México: UNAM.

O’Sullivan, E., Jones, B., O’Sullivan, K. & Hanlon, A. (2008). The management and behavioural history of 100 dogs reported for biting a person. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 114, 149–158

Overall, K.L. (1997). Clinical Behavioral Medicine for Small Animals. Mosby-Year Book, St. Louis.

Overall, K.L. & Love, M. (2001). Dog bites to humans: demography, epidemiology, injury, and risk. Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association 218, 1923-1934.

Overall, K.L. (2007). Working bitches and the neutering myth: sticking to the science. Veterinary Journal, 173, 11-13.

O’Farrell, V. (1992). Manual of Canine Behaviour (2nd edition). British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Gloucester.

Podberscek, A.L. & Serpell, J.A. (1996). The English Cocker Spaniel: preliminary findings on aggressive behaviour. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 47, 75-89.

Pageat, P. (1998). Pathologie du comportement du chien (2é edition). Maissons-Alfort : Editions du Point Vétérinaire.

Patronek, G.J., Lawrence, T., Glickman, L.T., Beck, A., McCabe, G. & Ecker, C. (1996). Risk factors for relinquishment of dogs to an animal shelter. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 209, 572-581.

Pérez-Guisado, J., Lopez-Rodriuez, R. & Muñoz-Serrano, A. (2006). Heritability of dominant-aggressive behavior in English Cocker Spaniels. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 100, 219-227.

Pérez-Guisado, J., Muñoz-Serrano, A. & Lopez-Rodriuez, R. (2006). Perros peligrosos, la agresividad por dominancia (part 2): factores asociados dependientes del perro. Revista electrónica de Clínica Veterinaria, 1, 020106. http://www.veterinaria.org/revistas/recvet/n010106/020106.pdf.

Pérez-Guisado, J. & Muñoz-Serrano, A. (2009). Factors linked to territorial aggression in dogs. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 8, 1412-1418.

Presutti, J. (2001). Prevention and treatment of dog bites. American Family Physician, 63, 1567-1572.

Reisner, I.R., Houpt, K.A. & Shofer, F.S. (2005). National survey of ownerdirected aggression in English Springer Spaniels. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 227, 1594-1603.

Rivero, J.E., Vidal Figueredo, R.J. & Pellegrino F.C. (2008). Hallazgos en la coherencia cerebral en caninos con comportamiento agresivo. Revista InVet, 8, 81-90.

Sacks, J., Sinclair, L., Gilchrist, J., Golab, G.C. & Lockwood, R. (2000). Breeds of dog involved in fatal human attacks in the United States between 1979 and 1998. Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association 217, 836-840.

Sal y Rosas E., Fernández, V.P., Boris L. & Santiani, A. (2010). Tipo y frecuencia de agresividad canina a humanos en pacientes de una clínica veterinaria en Lima. Revista de Investigaciones Veterinarias del Perú, 21, 35-41.

Sepúlveda Lama, K.V. (2007). Determinación de alteraciones del comportamiento en caninos pacientes del hospital clínico Veterinario de la Universidad de Concepción Campus Chillán por medio del cuestionario C-BARQ (Canine Behavior Assesment and Research Questionnaire). Disertación doctoral no publicada, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile.

Scott, J.P. & Fuller, J.L. (1965). Genetics and the Social Behavior of the Dog (1997 reprint). Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.

Schalamon, J., Ainoedhofer, H., Singer, G., Petnehazy, T., Mayr, J., Kiss, K. & Höllwarth, M.E. (2006) Analysis of Dog Bites in Children Who Are Younger Than 17 Years. Pediatrics, 117, 374-379.

Silveira, C., Fernández, G. & Barba, C. (1998). El perro Cimarrón, la raza canina autóctona del Uruguay. Archivos de Zootecnia, 47, 533-536.

Studdert, V.P. (1989). Dog breed registrations in Australia. Aust. Vet. Assoc. News. Australian Veterinary Journal, 66, 128, en

Blackshaw, J. (1991). An overview of types of aggressive behaviour in dogs and methods o treatment. Applied Animal Behavior Science, 30, 351-361.

Takeuchi, Y. & Mori, Y. (2006). A comparison of the behavioral profiles of purebred dogs in Japan to profiles of those in the United States and the United Kingdom. Journal of Veterinary Medical Science, 68, 789-796.

Uribe Malarino, M.T., Lozano Ortega, I. & Calderón Maldonado, N.A. (2007). Importancia de la etología en la formación de los estudiantes de medicina Veterinaria y de Zootecnia en la Universidad de La Salle “reflexiones pedagógicas y aportes bibliográficos”.

Revista de Medicina Veterinaria, 13, 95-105.

Velásquez Fernández, H.A. (2005). Validación de Test para detectar diferencias de temperamentos de cachorros entre dos razas caninas. Disertación doctoral no publicada, Universidad Iberoamericana de Ciencias y Tecnología, Santiago de Chile, Chile.

Wright, J.C., Nesselrote, M.S. (1987). Classification of behavioral problems in dogs: distribution of age, breed, sex and reproductive status. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 19, 169-178.