Small Animal Veterinarians' Perceptions, Experiences, and Views of Common Dog Breeds, Dog Aggression, and Breed-Specific Laws in the United States

Kogan, Lori R, Schoenfeld-Tacher, Regina M, Hellyer, Peter W, Oxley, James A and Rishniw, Mark (2019) Small Animal Veterinarians' Perceptions, Experiences, and Views of Common Dog Breeds, Dog Aggression, and Breed-Specific Laws in the United States. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH, 16 (21). E4081-.

Access the full-text of this item by clicking on the Open Access link.

Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16214081

Abstract

Dog aggression directed towards humans is a common and serious behavioral and public health issue. This cross-sectional study was designed to gain insights into U.S. small animal veterinarians' views and experiences with the most common dog breeds in the U.S., dog aggression, and breed-specific legislation. An electronic survey was distributed via email to an online veterinary community, and responses were summarized and compared by means of χ<sup>2</sup> and Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel tests. Most respondents were concerned about the risks of dog bite injuries, but the majority were not in favor of banning specific breeds of dogs in order to enhance public safety. When participants rated the perceived bite risk associated with popular dog breeds, Chow Chows were perceived as the highest risk, with pit bull types categorized as a moderate risk. Golden Retrievers were seen as the most appropriate for families with children. Public education about animal behavior was the most frequently endorsed policy intervention to increase public safety. These findings suggest that most veterinarians feel that banning an entire dog breed is not an effective way to ensure human safety. Instead, most respondents endorsed alternative initiatives, such as public education and stricter leash laws, to reduce the risk of dog bites.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	canine, bite, aggression, pit bull, breed, public health
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	29 Nov 2019 11:17
Last Modified:	31 Jan 2024 20:39
DOI:	10.3390/ijerph16214081
Open Access URL:	https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16214081
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3064020