Citation

Reisner IR, Erb HN, Houpt KA. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 1994; 205(6): 855-863.

Affiliation

Department of Physiology, New York State College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca 14853-6401.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1994, American Veterinary Medical Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

7829381

Abstract

Establishing a prognosis for dogs with dominance-related aggression is difficult. Some dominant-aggressive dogs respond well to treatment; others continue to be serious risks for their owners. A study was performed to identify characteristics of dominance-related aggression and to identify risk factors associated with whether the aggressive behavior led to euthanasia. Medical records of 110 dogs with dominance-related aggression were examined retrospectively; characteristics of owner-directed aggression and eventual outcome of the dogs were recorded. By means of logistic regression, 2 different models were found to describe the association between behavior characteristics and outcome. In the first model, severe aggression in response to benign dominance challenges and body weight > 18.2 kg were associated with outcome. In the second model, unpredictability of aggression and a history of being purchased were associated with outcome. We concluded that dominance-related aggressive behavior can be subclassified according to severity and type and that outcome (ie, euthanasia) may be predictable in some cases.

Language: en