Behavioural disorders are among the most common welfare challenges in domestic dogs. Malkani and colleagues (2024) investigated which welfare factors were most strongly associated with behaviour problems using the Animal Welfare Assessment Grid (AWAG), an online tool applied by veterinary and animal welfare professionals.
The study analyzed 177 assessments across 129 dogs with diagnosed behaviour disorders and compared them with 117 healthy dogs. Results showed that dogs with behaviour problems scored worse across nearly all physical, psychological, procedural, and environmental welfare factors, including mobility, clinical health, reaction to stressors, social interactions, and use of enrichment.
Crucially, logistic regression analysis identified three predictive factors for behaviour disorders: aggression towards caregivers, the frequency of fears and anxieties, and a reduced sense of choice, control, and predictability. These findings underscore the complex interplay between emotional health, environment, and welfare outcomes in dogs.
The authors argue that these markers should be carefully considered by veterinarians, behaviourists, and welfare professionals when assessing canine emotional health. Monitoring changes in these areas may help identify dogs at risk and support earlier intervention strategies.
Source: Malkani, R., Paramasivam, S., & Wolfensohn, S. (2024). A Multidimensional Evaluation of the Factors in the Animal Welfare Assessment Grid (AWAG) That Are Associated with, and Predictive of, Behaviour Disorders in Dogs. Animals, 14. Published February 1, 2024.
