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Survey of undesirable behaviors displayed by potential guide dogs with puppy walkers

Survey of undesirable behaviors displayed by potential guide dogs with puppy walkers
Survey of undesirable behaviors displayed by potential guide dogs with puppy walkers
This research aimed to identify the frequency and type of undesirable behaviors observed by guide dog puppy walkers and management strategies used by them during the puppy-walking period.

All members of 36 puppy-walking families (N = 96), recruited from the National School of Guide Dogs for Blind People in Florence (Italy), completed an 80-item questionnaire. This sampling represented homes caring for 28 Labrador Retrievers, 6 Golden Retrievers, and 2 German shepherd dogs. Of these dogs, 47.2% (n = 17) were males and 52.8% (n = 19) females, and 66.7% (n = 24) were between 7 and 12 months old.

Three categories of undesirable behaviors were recorded. First, behaviors considered inconsequential to the guide dog role were: digging (11.8%, n = 11); chewing objects (4.4%, n = 4); stealing or begging for food (3.1%, n = 3); liking people (5.9%, n = 5); getting on furniture (4.4%, n = 4); defending territory (2.8%, n = 2); and coprophagia (5.9%, n = 5). Second, the following behaviors considered easily resolvable through training were recorded: lack of recall (8.9%, n = 10); pulling on lead (11.8%, n = 11); jumping up (28.1%, n = 30); barking at other dogs (5.9%, n = 5); chewing the leash (1.5%, n = 1); and house soiling (5.9%, n = 5). Third, these potentially disqualifying behaviors were observed: scavenging (17.7%, n = 17); aggressive barking, growling, and biting (10.4%, n = 10); and fear of thunderstorms (6.2%, n = 6); loud noises (32.3%, n = 31); men (2.1%, n = 2); women (3.1%, n = 3); and people with unusual clothes (6.2%, n = 6). None of the puppies was reported to be fearful of children.

Overall, 66.7% (n = 66) of respondents recorded at least 1 undesirable behavior. However, only few of them might lead to disqualification. The results suggest that most of the puppies were well socialized to people and not fearful.

Puppy walkers could contribute to the early assessment of potential behavioral problems, which are a major cause of disqualifying guide dogs.
guide dogs, behaviour, puppy walking
1558-7878
104-113
Gazzano, A.
516c5070-9121-41f7-b06c-f7a0ce2a7f03
Mariti, C.
9e7dadfc-277b-426c-b4bd-0c99a4d0d08e
Sighieri, C.
ea6dd110-b2ed-4ec0-9d83-0d275a60f385
Ducci, M.
0513b85b-5ad1-4ec2-bfb9-b181cd90ab7c
Ciceroni, C.
78e514ac-2fb5-4ad0-bd18-fd4dafc13ab2
McBride, E.A.
8f13b829-a141-4b67-b2d7-08f839972646
Gazzano, A.
516c5070-9121-41f7-b06c-f7a0ce2a7f03
Mariti, C.
9e7dadfc-277b-426c-b4bd-0c99a4d0d08e
Sighieri, C.
ea6dd110-b2ed-4ec0-9d83-0d275a60f385
Ducci, M.
0513b85b-5ad1-4ec2-bfb9-b181cd90ab7c
Ciceroni, C.
78e514ac-2fb5-4ad0-bd18-fd4dafc13ab2
McBride, E.A.
8f13b829-a141-4b67-b2d7-08f839972646

Gazzano, A., Mariti, C., Sighieri, C., Ducci, M., Ciceroni, C. and McBride, E.A. (2008) Survey of undesirable behaviors displayed by potential guide dogs with puppy walkers. Journal of Veterinary Behaviour: Clinical Applications and Research, 3 (3), 104-113. (doi:10.1016/j.jveb.2008.04.002).

Record type: Article

Abstract

This research aimed to identify the frequency and type of undesirable behaviors observed by guide dog puppy walkers and management strategies used by them during the puppy-walking period.

All members of 36 puppy-walking families (N = 96), recruited from the National School of Guide Dogs for Blind People in Florence (Italy), completed an 80-item questionnaire. This sampling represented homes caring for 28 Labrador Retrievers, 6 Golden Retrievers, and 2 German shepherd dogs. Of these dogs, 47.2% (n = 17) were males and 52.8% (n = 19) females, and 66.7% (n = 24) were between 7 and 12 months old.

Three categories of undesirable behaviors were recorded. First, behaviors considered inconsequential to the guide dog role were: digging (11.8%, n = 11); chewing objects (4.4%, n = 4); stealing or begging for food (3.1%, n = 3); liking people (5.9%, n = 5); getting on furniture (4.4%, n = 4); defending territory (2.8%, n = 2); and coprophagia (5.9%, n = 5). Second, the following behaviors considered easily resolvable through training were recorded: lack of recall (8.9%, n = 10); pulling on lead (11.8%, n = 11); jumping up (28.1%, n = 30); barking at other dogs (5.9%, n = 5); chewing the leash (1.5%, n = 1); and house soiling (5.9%, n = 5). Third, these potentially disqualifying behaviors were observed: scavenging (17.7%, n = 17); aggressive barking, growling, and biting (10.4%, n = 10); and fear of thunderstorms (6.2%, n = 6); loud noises (32.3%, n = 31); men (2.1%, n = 2); women (3.1%, n = 3); and people with unusual clothes (6.2%, n = 6). None of the puppies was reported to be fearful of children.

Overall, 66.7% (n = 66) of respondents recorded at least 1 undesirable behavior. However, only few of them might lead to disqualification. The results suggest that most of the puppies were well socialized to people and not fearful.

Puppy walkers could contribute to the early assessment of potential behavioral problems, which are a major cause of disqualifying guide dogs.

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Published date: 2008
Keywords: guide dogs, behaviour, puppy walking

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 55182
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/55182
ISSN: 1558-7878
PURE UUID: 6428df1b-25a6-4457-ba24-9f422006079a

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Date deposited: 04 Aug 2008
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 10:52

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Contributors

Author: A. Gazzano
Author: C. Mariti
Author: C. Sighieri
Author: M. Ducci
Author: C. Ciceroni
Author: E.A. McBride

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