This study was used to evaluate whether the proximity of dogs to their human companions during sleep is associated with common problematic behaviors in canines, such as destroying objects, vocalizing excessively, urinating/defecating in inappropriate places (all when dogs are alone at home), and aggressive threats (growling or barking) and acts (biting) toward people. Over 60,000 dog keepers answered an online questionnaire that addressed where their dogs slept at night and the frequency with which they exhibited such behaviors. Except urinating/defecating in inappropriate places and biting people, other problematic behaviors were less frequent in dogs who slept inside the house. We conclude that dogs sleeping indoors (that is, closer to their keepers) less frequently exhibit aggressive threats and problematic behaviors that are commonly associated with separation anxiety.
Purchase
Buy instant access (PDF download and unlimited online access):
Institutional Login
Log in with Open Athens, Shibboleth, or your institutional credentials
Personal login
Log in with your brill.com account
Amat, M., Camps, T., Le Brech, S., & Manteca, X. (2014). Separation anxiety in dogs: The implications of predictability and contextual fear for behavioural treatment. Animal Welfare, 233, 263–266.
Anderson, D. C. (2008). The human-companion animal bond. The Reference Librarian, 41, 7–23.
Beerda, B., Shilder, M. B. H., van Hooff, J. A. R. A. M., & de Vries, H. W. (1997). Manifestation of chronic and acute stress in dogs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 52, 307–319.
Blackwell, E. J., Bradshaw, J. W. S., & Casey, R. A. (2013). Fear responses to noises in domestic dogs: Prevalence, risk factors and co-occurrence with other fear related behaviour. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 145, 15–25.
Bradshaw, J. W. S. (2011). Dog sense: How the new science of dog behavior can make you a better friend to your pet. New York, NY: Basic Books.
Campbell, W. E. (1986). The prevalence of behavioral problems in American dogs. Modern Veterinary Practice, 67, 28–31.
Casey, R. (2002). Fear and stress. In D. F. Horwitz & S. D. Mills (Eds.), BSAVA Manual of canine and feline behavioural medicine (pp. 144–153). Gloucester: BSAVA.
Casey, R. A., Loftus, B., Bolster, C., Richards, G. J., & Blackwell, E. J. (2014). Human directed aggression in domestic dogs (Canis familiaris): Occurrence in different contexts and risk factors. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 152, 52–63.
Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2007). Questionnaires. In L. Cohen, L. Manion, & K. Morrison (Eds.), Research methods in education (pp. 317–348). London and New York: Routledge.
Dotson, M. J., & Hyatt, E. M. (2008). Understanding dog–human companionship. Journal of Business Research, 61, 457–466.
Flannigan, G., & Dodman, N. (2001). Risk factors and behaviors associated with separation anxiety in dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 219, 460–466.
Gaultier, E., Bonnafous, L., Bougrat, L., Lafont, C., & Pageat, P. (2005). Comparison of the efficacy of a synthetic dog appeasing pheromone with clomipramine for the treatment of separation related disorders in dogs. Veterinary Record, 156, 533–538.
Goodman, L. A. (1965). On simultaneous confidence intervals for multinomial proportions. Technometrics, 7, 247–254.
Guy, N. C., Luescher, U. A., Dohoo, S. E., Spangler, E., Miller, J. B., Dohoo, I. R., & Bate, L. A. (2001). Demographic and aggressive characteristics of dogs in a general veterinary caseload. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 74, 15–28.
Hsu, Y., & Sun, L. (2010). Factors associated with aggressive responses in pet dogs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 123, 108–123.
Jacobs, C., de Keuster, T., & Simoens, P. (2003). Assessing the pathological extent of aggressive behaviour in dogs – A review of the literature. Veterinary Quarterly, 25, 53–60.
Jagoe, A., & Serpell, J. (1996). Owner characteristics and interactions and the prevalence of canine behaviour problems. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 47, 31–42.
Konok, V., Kosztolányi, A., Rainer, W., Mutschler, B., Halsband, U., & Miklósi, A. (2015). Influence of owners’ attachment style and personality on their dogs’ (Canis familiaris) separation-related disorder. PLoS One, 10, e0118375.
Marston, L. C., & Bennett, P. C. (2003). Reforging the bond – towards successful canine adoption. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 83, 227–245.
McCrave, E. A. (1991). Diagnostic criteria for separation anxiety in the dog. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 21, 247–255.
Mondelli, F., Previde, E. P., Verga, M., Levi, D., Magistrelli, S., & Valsecchi, P. (2004). The bond that never developed: Adoption and relinquishment of dogs in a rescue shelter. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 7, 253–266.
Neville, P. (1991). Do dogs need shrinks? London: Sidgwick and Jackson.
New, J. C., Salman, M. D., King, M., Scarlett, J. M., Kass, P. H., & Hutchinson, J. M. (2000). Characteristics of shelter-relinquished animals and their owners compared with animals and their owners in U.S. pet-owning households. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 3, 179–201.
O’Farrell, V. (1992). Manual of canine behaviour. Gloucester: British Small Animal Veterinary Association.
O’Farrell, V. (1995). The effect of owner attitudes on behaviour. In J. Serpell (Ed.), The domestic dog. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
O’Farrell, V. (1997). Owner attitudes and dog behavior problems. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 52, 205–213.
Overall, K. L. (2013). Manual of clinical behavioural medicine for dogs and cats. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Health Sciences.
Parthasarathy, V., & Crowell-Davis, S. L. (2006). Relationship between attachment to owners and separation anxiety in pet dogs (Canis lupus familiaris). Journal of Veterinary Behavior – Clinical Applications and Research, 1, 109–120.
Perez-Guisado, J., & Munoz-Serrano, A. (2009). Factors linked to dominance aggression in dogs. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 8, 336–342.
Ramazan, C., Day, C., & Phillips, C. J. C. (2016). An epidemiological analysis of dog behavior problems presented to an Australian behavior clinic, with associated risk factors. Journal of Veterinary Behavior – Clinical Applications and Research , 15, 1–11.
Salman, M. D., Hutchison, J., Ruch-Gallie, R., Kogan, L., New, Jr., J. C., Kass, P. H., & Scarlett , J. M. (2000). Behavioral reasons for relinquishment of dogs and cats to 12 shelters. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 3, 93–106.
Salman, M. D., New, J. C., Scarlett, J. M., & Kass, P. H. (1998). Human and animal factors related to the relinquishment of dogs and cats in selected animal shelters in the United States. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 1, 207–226.
Serpell, J., & Jagoe, J. (1995). Early experience and the development of behaviour. In J. Serpell (Ed.), The domestic dog: Its evolution, behaviour and interaction with people (pp. 79–102). Cambridge, UK: University Press.
Sherman, B., & Mills, D. (2008). Canine anxieties and phobias: An update on separation anxiety and noise aversions. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 38, 1081–1106.
Shore, E. R. (2005). Returning a recently adopted companion animal: Adopters’ reasons for and reactions to the failed adoption experience. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 8, 187–198.
Shore, E. R., Petersen, C. L., & Douglas, D. K. (2003). Moving as a reason for pet relinquishment: A closer look. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 6, 39–52.
Storengen, L. M., Boge, S. C. K., Strom, S. J., Loberg, G., & Lingaas, F. (2014). A descriptive study of 215 dogs diagnosed with separation anxiety. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 159, 82–89.
Vacalopoulos, A., & Anderson, R. K. (1993). Canine behavior problems reported by clients in a study of veterinary hospitals. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 37, 84.
Wells, D. L., & Hepper, P. G. (2000). Prevalence of behavior problems reported by owners of dogs purchased from an animal rescue shelter. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 69, 55–65.
All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
---|---|---|---|
Abstract Views | 4590 | 238 | 35 |
Full Text Views | 250 | 20 | 1 |
PDF Views & Downloads | 436 | 42 | 3 |
This study was used to evaluate whether the proximity of dogs to their human companions during sleep is associated with common problematic behaviors in canines, such as destroying objects, vocalizing excessively, urinating/defecating in inappropriate places (all when dogs are alone at home), and aggressive threats (growling or barking) and acts (biting) toward people. Over 60,000 dog keepers answered an online questionnaire that addressed where their dogs slept at night and the frequency with which they exhibited such behaviors. Except urinating/defecating in inappropriate places and biting people, other problematic behaviors were less frequent in dogs who slept inside the house. We conclude that dogs sleeping indoors (that is, closer to their keepers) less frequently exhibit aggressive threats and problematic behaviors that are commonly associated with separation anxiety.
All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
---|---|---|---|
Abstract Views | 4590 | 238 | 35 |
Full Text Views | 250 | 20 | 1 |
PDF Views & Downloads | 436 | 42 | 3 |