Behavioral problems are a leading cause of challenges in dog ownership. A study published in February 2022 in the journal Animals reviewed 1,923 cases seen at a U.S. veterinary college behavioral medicine service between 1997 and 2017. The findings highlight aggression as the most common presenting problem, alongside trends in adoption sources and breed representation.
The analysis found that 72.2% of dogs were brought to the clinic for aggression, while 20.1% presented with anxieties, fears, or phobias, and 7.4% for other behavioral concerns. Over time, the proportion of dogs acquired from breeders decreased, while those adopted from shelters, rescues, or found as strays increased significantly. This shift reflects broader trends in how families acquire dogs in the U.S.
When comparing breeds, dogs from the herding group and terrier group were significantly overrepresented among behavioral cases compared to the hospital’s overall caseload. These results suggest that genetic predispositions, combined with environmental factors, may contribute to higher behavioral referrals in these groups.
The authors noted that inconsistent terminology and diagnostic criteria across studies make long-term comparisons difficult, underscoring the need for standardized methods in veterinary behavioral medicine. They emphasized that understanding breed trends and adoption sources can help direct resources toward owner education, shelter support, and genetics research aimed at preventing behavioral problems.
Source: Anderson, K., Yao, Y., Perry, P., Albright, J., & Houpt, K. Animals, February 2022.
