Cover Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
ISSN:
0003-1488
Publication Date:
01 Feb 2017

  • 1. Overall KL, Love M. Dog bites to humans—demography, epidemiology, injury, and risk. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2001; 218: 1923–1934.

  • 2. Rosado B, Garcia-Belenguer S, Leon M, et al. A comprehensive study of dog bites in Spain, 1995–2004. Vet J 2009; 179: 383–391.

  • 3. Beck AM, Jones BA. Unreported dog bites in children. Public Health Rep 1985; 100: 315–321.

  • 4. Reisner IR. Differential diagnosis and management of human-directed aggression in dogs. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 2003; 33: 303–320.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • 5. Cornelissen JM, Hopster H. Dog bites in The Netherlands: a study of victims, injuries, circumstances, and aggressors to support evaluation of breed specific legislation. Vet J 2010; 186: 292–298.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • 6. Wright JC. Severe attacks by dogs: characteristics of the dogs, the victims, and the attack settings. Public Health Rep 1985; 100: 55–61.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • 7. Gershman KA, Sacks JJ, Wright JC. Which dogs bite? A case-control study of risk factors. Pediatrics 1994; 93: 913–917.

  • 8. Shuler CM, DeBess EE, Lapidus JA, et al. Canine and human factors related to dog bite injuries. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2008; 232: 542–546.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • 9. Patronek GJ, Sacks JJ, Delise KM, et al. Co-occurrence of potentially preventable factors in 256 dog bite-related fatalities in the United States (2000–2009). J Am Vet Med Assoc 2013; 243: 1726–1736.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • 10. Reisner IR, Shofer FS, Nance ML. Behavioral assessment of child-directed canine aggression. Inj Prev 2007; 13: 348–351.

  • 11. Landsberg G, Hunthausen W, Ackerman L. Handbook of behavior problems of the dog and cat. Philadelphia: Elsevier Ltd, 2003.

  • 12. American Kennel Club. Dog breeds. Available at: www.akc.org/breeds. Accessed Sep 2, 2014.

  • 13. Blackwell EJ, Bolster C, Richards G, et al. The use of electronic collars for training domestic dogs: estimated prevalence, reasons and risk factors for use, and owner perceived success as compared to other training methods. BMC Vet Res 2012; 8: 93–104.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • 14. Sacks JJ, Kresnow M, Houston B. Dog bites: how big a problem? Injury Prev 1996; 2: 52–54.

  • 15. Raglus TI, De Groef B, Mastron LC. Can bark counter collars and owner surveys help identify factors that relate to nuisance barking? A pilot study. J Vet Behav 2015; 10: 204–209.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • 16. De Keuster T, Lamoureux J, Kahn A. Epidemiology of dog bites: a Belgian experience of canine behavior and public health concerns. Vet J 2006; 172: 482–487.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • 17. Casey RA, Loftus B, Bolster C, et al. Human directed aggression in domestic dogs (Canis familiaris): occurrence in different contexts and risk factors. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2014; 152: 52–63.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • 18. AVMA Task Force on Canine Aggression and Human-Canine Interactions. A community approach to dog bite prevention. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2001; 218: 1732–1749.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • 19. Hsu Y, Liching S. Factors associated with aggressive responses in pet dogs. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2010; 123: 108–123.

  • 20. Martinez AG, Pernas GS, Casalta JG, et al. Risk factors associated with behavioral problems in dogs. J Vet Behav 2011; 6: 225–231.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • 21. Guy NC, Luescher UA, Dohoo SE, et al. Demographic and aggressive characteristics of dogs in a general veterinary caseload. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2001; 74: 15–28.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

Advertisement

Escape rates and biting histories of dogs confined to their owner's property through the use of various containment methods

Nicole S. Starinsky DVM1, Linda K. Lord DVM, PhD2, and Meghan E. Herron DVM3
View More View Less
  • 1 Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210.
  • | 2 Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210.
  • | 3 Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.250.3.297
Volume/Issue:
Volume 250: Issue 3
Online Publication Date:
01 Feb 2017
Restricted access
Reprints and Permissions Purchase Article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To determine escape rates for dogs confined to their owner's property by various containment methods and determine whether biting history was associated with containment method.

DESIGN Cross-sectional survey.

SAMPLE 974 owners of 1,053 dogs.

PROCEDURES Individuals patronizing pet stores in Columbus, Ohio, were recruited to complete a survey on the method they used to confine their dogs to their property and their dogs’ behavior history.

RESULTS Dogs were confined to their owner's property by a physical fence (821/1,053 [78.0%]), electronic fence (150/1,053 [14.2%]), or tether system (82/1,053 [7.8%]). Dogs confined by an electronic fence were more likely to have escaped (66/150 [44.0%]) than were dogs confined by a see-through fence (153/658 [23.3%]), privacy fence (38/163 [23.3%]), or tether (22/82 [26.8%]). Forty-eight (4.6%) dogs had reportedly bitten a person in the past, and 81 (7.7%) had reportedly bitten another dog, but containment method was not significantly associated with whether dogs had ever bitten a person or another dog. Greeting behavior (growling, snarling, or trying to bite) was significantly associated with a history of biting a person or another dog.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggested that escape rate, but not biting history, was associated with the method owners used to confine dogs to their properties. Greeting behavior was associated with biting history, suggesting that owners of dogs that growl, snarl, or attempt to bite when meeting an unfamiliar person or dog should seek assistance to prevent future bites.

Contributor Notes

Address correspondence to Dr. Starinsky (starinsky.5@osu.edu).