Canine behaviour problems in Brazil: a review of 180 referral cases

Abstract

Background: Behavioural case loads may vary due to cultural differences, and so it is important to know how these differ with geography.

Methods: One hundred and eighty dog cases referred to a veterinary behaviourist in São Paulo (Brazil) during the period of 2008-2014 are described.

Results: Aggression against people was the most common behavioural complaint (22.2 per cent of the cases), followed by apparent fears and phobias (13.3 per cent). Forms of aggression against other dogs (12.2 per cent) and repetitive behaviours (11.1 per cent) were third and fourth most frequent, respectively. Female and male patients were equally reported (47.6 and 52.4 per cent, respectively). These results differ slightly from the findings of other international studies, in which aggression was the main behavioural complaint with fears and phobias less common.

Conclusion: Regional demographic reviews of the case loads of veterinary behaviour specialists help the profession recognise the problems of most concern to pet owners in a given area and thus local priorities, as well as opening up the potential to generate new hypotheses relating to the reasons for regional differences.

Keywords: behaviour problem; caseload; dog.