What factors affect owner perceptions of problem behaviour and training methods in dogs?
15 January 2025
January is National Train Your Dog Month, and we’re taking a look at some new research by Dogs Trust on factors associated with owners reporting problem behaviour and training methods used during their dog’s adolescence.
Problem behaviours (behaviours displayed by dogs which owners find troublesome or undesirable) are commonly reported in dogs, and are a major cause of relinquishment of dogs to shelters and euthanasia1. Training and early life environment are important modifiable risk factors that can affect behaviour and welfare throughout a dog’s life1.
New research by Dogs Trust, published in the Journal of Veterinary Behaviour, is the first to explore owner-perceptions of dog problem behaviours and approaches used to train dogs during adolescence, using longitudinal data1. The study used data collected as part of the ‘Generation Pup’ cohort – an ongoing longitudinal study of dogs’ health, behaviour and welfare that follows dogs from less than 16 weeks of age throughout their lives.
Data were extracted from surveys completed by owners of 4,781 dogs at different timepoints during puppyhood: at 1–3 weeks after puppy acquisition or up until 12 weeks of age (whichever was sooner), and when their dog was 12 weeks of age, 16 weeks, and 6, 9 and 12 months, respectively. Owners were asked if their dog had started to show behaviour(s) that they found a problem and about training methods they used (rewards-based and/or aversive-based).
At all timepoints when surveys were completed, most owners trained their dogs with a combination of rewards and aversive methods, and use of aversive-based training methods solely was rare. Nearly half of owners reported that they consistently used the same training method category at all timepoints. At all points throughout their dog’s development, less than half of owners reported a problem behaviour, however, the number of owners reporting problem behaviour increased significantly over time, peaking at 12 months. Problem behaviours reported included barking, jumping up, pulling on the lead, recall issues, contact behaviour (e.g. biting, nipping, grabbing), displaying fear, destructive behaviour, separation-related behaviours, chasing, toileting, resource guarding, and eating non-food items.
There were higher odds of owners reporting problem behaviour when their dog was 12 months old if they had: reported problem behaviour at previous timepoints, had changed to a more aversive training method between 9 and 12 months, were an ‘inexperienced’ dog owner (i.e. not owned a dog before), had not seen the dog’s mother during acquisition, and had a higher score on the ‘Openness’ personality trait (linked with enjoying new experiences, preferring variety over familiarity, and engagement with self-reflection). For owners who switched towards a more aversive training method, the majority did so between 9 and 12 months, while the highest proportion of owners who switched to a less aversive method did so between 12/16 weeks and 9 months.
The perception by owners that dog behaviour worsened during the first year of their dog’s life may motivate owners to start using aversive-based training. As it has been widely recognised that aversive training methods are associated with negative dog welfare and higher fear and anxiety in dogs2, researchers of the new study recommend owner education on the importance of consistent rewards-based training for their dogs.
The study was limited in that the ‘Generation Pup’ cohort is biased towards female dog owners and households with above average annual income and education attainment. Also, time commitment is required by owners to participate in the study, which could imply a particular owner interest in dog behaviour and training, and owners may under-report the use of aversive training methods.
Take home message
Dog owners who reported problem behaviour at an earlier time in their dog’s development, who switched to using more aversive training methods between 9 and 12 months, were an ‘inexperienced’ owner, or had not seen the dog’s mother during acquisition, had higher odds of reporting problem behaviour at 12 months of age. Managing owners’ expectations of behaviour during puppyhood and adolescence, especially if they haven’t owned a dog before, and additional support and education for owners on using rewards-based training during adolescence, is likely to be beneficial.
References
1Owczarczak-Garstecka SC, Casey RA, Cooper B, Da Costa REP, Kinsman RH, Lord MS, Séverine T, Williams A & Murray JK (2024) Association between training methods and owner-reported problem behaviours in dogs enrolled in the ‘Generation Pup’ longitudinal study in the UK. Journal of Veterinary Behavior. 77, 52-60, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2024.10.001.
2Ziv G (2017) The effects of using aversive training methods in dogs—a review. Journal of Veterinary Behavior. 19, 50-60. 10.1016/j.jveb.2017.02.004