Risk factors for behavior-related euthanasia among dominant-aggressive dogs: 110 cases (1989–1992)
- 15 September 1994
- journal article
- Published by American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Vol. 205 (6) , 855-863
- https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.1994.205.06.855
Abstract
Summary: 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.This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: