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Fig. 1
Mean scores (±95% confidence intervals) for (A) stranger-, (B) owner- and (C) dog-directed aggression for each of the 11 dog breeds from the breed club survey. Horizontal bars indicate the population means.
Fig. 2
(A) Stranger- and (B) dog-directed aggression plotted against stranger- and dog-directed fear for the 11 dog breeds from the breed club survey. Data points are breed averages relative to the mean scores for all breeds combined.
Fig. 3
Mean scores (±95% confidence intervals) for (A) stranger-, (B) owner- and (C) dog-directed aggression and (D) dog rivalry for each of the 33 breeds of dog from the online survey. Horizontal bars indicate the population means.
Fig. 3
Mean scores (±95% confidence intervals) for (A) stranger-, (B) owner- and (C) dog-directed aggression and (D) dog rivalry for each of the 33 breeds of dog from the online survey. Horizontal bars indicate the population means.
Fig. 4
(A) Stranger- and (B) dog-directed aggression plotted against stranger- and dog-directed fear for the 33 breeds from the online survey. Data points are breed averages relative to the mean scores for all breeds combined. ((1) Airedale Terrier, (2) Akita, (3) Australian Cattle Dog, (4) Australian Shepherd, (5) Beagle, (6) Bernese Mountain Dog, (7) Bichon Frise, (8) Border Collie, (9) Boxer, (10) Brittany Spaniel, (11) Chihuahua, (12) Cocker Spaniel (American), (13) Collie, (14) Dachshund, (15) Doberman Pinscher, (16) English Springer Spaniel, (17) German Shepherd, (18) Golden Retriever, (19) Great Dane, (20) Greyhound, (21) Havanese, (22) Jack Russell Terrier, (23) Labrador Retriever, (24) Mastiff (English), (25) Pit Bull, (26) Poodle, (27) Portuguese Water Dog, (28) Rhodesian Ridgeback, (29) Rottweiler, (30) Shetland Sheepdog, (31) Siberian Husky, (32) Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, and (33) Whippet).
Fig. 5
Mean scores (±95% confidence intervals) of stranger-, owner- and dog-directed aggression of (A) English Springer Spaniels and (B) Labrador Retrievers comparing dogs bred for conformation (dark gray) vs. field stock (light gray). *P < 0.05.
Abstract
Canine aggression poses serious public health and animal welfare concerns. Most of what is understood about breed differences in aggression comes from reports based on bite statistics, behavior clinic caseloads, and experts’ opinions. Information on breed-specific aggressiveness derived from such sources may be misleading due to biases attributable to a disproportionate risk of injury associated with larger and/or more physically powerful breeds and the existence of breed stereotypes. The present study surveyed the owners of more than 30 breeds of dogs using the Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ), a validated and reliable instrument for assessing dogs’ typical and recent responses to a variety of common stimuli and situations. Two independent data samples (a random sample of breed club members and an online sample) yielded significant differences among breeds in aggression directed toward strangers, owners and dogs (Kruskal–Wallis tests, P < 0.0001).
Eight breeds common to both datasets (Dachshund, English Springer Spaniel, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Poodle, Rottweiler, Shetland Sheepdog and Siberian Husky) ranked similarly, rs = 0.723, P < 0.05; rs = 0.929, P < 0.001; rs = 0.592, P = 0.123, for aggression directed toward strangers, dogs and owners, respectively. Some breeds scored higher than average for aggression directed toward both humans and dogs (e.g., Chihuahuas and Dachshunds) while other breeds scored high only for specific targets (e.g., dog-directed aggression among Akitas and Pit Bull Terriers). In general, aggression was most severe when directed toward other dogs followed by unfamiliar people and household members. Breeds with the greatest percentage of dogs exhibiting serious aggression (bites or bite attempts) toward humans included Dachshunds, Chihuahuas and Jack Russell Terriers (toward strangers and owners); Australian Cattle Dogs (toward strangers); and American Cocker Spaniels and Beagles (toward owners). More than 20% of Akitas, Jack Russell Terriers and Pit Bull Terriers were reported as displaying serious aggression toward unfamiliar dogs. Golden Retrievers, Labradors Retrievers, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Brittany Spaniels, Greyhounds and Whippets were the least aggressive toward both humans and dogs. Among English Springer Spaniels, conformation-bred dogs were more aggressive to humans and dogs than field-bred dogs (stranger aggression: Mann–Whitney U test, z = 3.880, P < 0.0001; owner aggression: z = 2.110, P < 0.05; dog-directed aggression: z = 1.93, P = 0.054), suggesting a genetic influence on the behavior. The opposite pattern was observed for owner-directed aggression among Labrador Retrievers, (z = 2.18, P < 0.05) indicating that higher levels of aggression are not attributable to breeding for show per se.
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