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Abstract
This study examined the prevalence of behaviour problems exhibited by dogs within
4 weeks of acquisition from a rescue shelter in Northern Ireland. One thousand five
hundred and forty-seven people who had purchased a dog from a rescue shelter in Northern
Ireland were sent a postal questionnaire designed to collect information on the behaviours
exhibited by their dog within the first month of acquisition. Five hundred and fifty-six
people responded to the survey, representing a response rate of 37%. The majority
of respondents (68.3%) reported that their dog exhibited a behaviour problem, the
most common being fearfulness. Most of those respondents (89.7%) who returned their
dog to the shelter did so because the animal exhibited behaviour that they considered
undesirable. Male dogs showed more unacceptable behaviours than females, specifically
inter-male aggression, sexual problems and straying tendencies. More stray dogs displayed
undesirable behaviour than unwanteds, specifically straying tendencies. Puppies were
less likely to exhibit unacceptable behaviours than juveniles or adults, particularly
fearfulness, sexual problems and straying tendencies. More juvenile dogs showed excessive
activity and excessive barking than puppies or adults. More adult dogs displayed aggression
towards other dogs than juveniles or puppies. Findings indicate that dogs purchased
from rescue shelters do exhibit behaviour problems that may lead to their return.
The number of dogs admitted or returned to rescue shelters with behaviour problems
may be reduced by raising public awareness regarding the value of behaviour therapy
and introducing behaviour therapy schemes to rescue shelters.