Dogs suffer from anxiety more than we think. I study

    Dogs suffer from anxiety more than we think. I study

    The first cause of anxiety for four-legged friends is noise: 32% of the dogs in the sample are anxious if they hear a noise.

    He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him

    Nearly three-quarters of house dogs have behaviors that are highly anxiety-related, behaviors that reduce their quality of life and could even be the cause of their abandonment. A study says so, according to which the noise is the first source of disturbance, followed by fear.





    The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, conducted by the Finnish University of Helsinki and coordinated by Hannes Lohi, is based on a survey of owners of more than 13.700 pet dogs in Finland, including 264 breeds and both young puppies and senior dogs. .

    The research looked at the frequency of seven traits related to anxiety, including sensitivity to noise, fear, aggression, separation problems, and compulsive behavior, as well as secondary traits within these categories, such as tail chasing. For each aspect, the dogs were classified as having low, medium or high problems.

    The results showed that 72,5% of the dogs exhibited highly problematic behaviors in at least one of the seven categories and many had multiple problems. Nearly a third of the dogs showed high sensitivity to noise, fireworks in the first place, while 29% of the dogs were highly frightened and 14% showed highly problematic aggression.

    “We observed some differences: male dogs are more often aggressive and impulsive, while females are more fearful,” Lohi told the Guardian.

    Also observe some differences by age: for example, thehigh sensitivity to noise was more common among older dogs, while destructive behavior in moments of loneliness - classified as a type of separation-related problem - was more common in younger dogs.

    The team also looked at particular breeds, finding that while dogs of any breed could have anxiety problems, certain traits were more common in certain types of dogs.

    Miniature schnauzers, for example, had high levels of aggression towards strangers and family members and a fear of strangers, while nearly 10% of Staffordshire bull terriers continuously chased their tails.


    Dr Rowena Packer, an expert on animal behavior and welfare at the Royal Veterinary College, said a dog's genetics and environment contribute a lot to how they act.


    "The way breeders and owners interact with dogs is extremely important in raising mentally healthy dogs," he explains. This includes adequate socialization with people and other animals, habituation to everyday experiences from an early age and positive, strengthless training throughout life. "

    Do you mirror the behavior of your dogs in all of this?

    "Some of the behavioral problems highlighted in this study can lead to a life of pain for dogs and an emotional and financial burden for their owners," Packer concludes. Addressing these issues by educating owners on proper interactions, environment and training for dogs should be a priority for all lovers of these beautiful animals. "


    Fonti: Nature / The Guardian

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