E. Yalcin and H. Batmaz (2007) published their findings in Acta Veterinaria Brno, investigating behavioral diagnoses in dogs in the Bursa region of Turkey between 2000 and 2004. The study aimed to classify common canine behavior issues and explore their comorbidity across different breeds.
Data were collected from 80 dogs with diagnosed behavior problems. Of these, 68 dogs were patients at Uludag University’s Veterinary Faculty clinic and 12 were from a private kennel. Together, they accounted for 6.2% of all dogs over six months old presented to the clinic during the study period. A total of 110 behavior problems were identified, with some dogs displaying more than one disorder.
The most frequent diagnosis was aggression (59%), followed by separation anxiety (12%), phobias such as fear of veterinary clinics or loud noises (10.5%), and compulsive disorders (10.5%), including tail chasing, lick dermatitis, and self-mutilation. Less frequent problems included inappropriate elimination (4%), coprophagia (2%), false pregnancy (1%), and even a single case of puppy killing.
Breed distribution revealed that German Shepherds (19%), Terriers (18%), mixed breeds (15%), and Anatolian Sheepdogs (10%) were most represented among cases. The findings indicate that behavioral disorders are relatively common in Turkish dogs, with aggression emerging as the most pressing issue for owners and veterinarians alike.
The authors emphasized that understanding the prevalence and patterns of these issues is essential for developing effective interventions, including training, environmental enrichment, and medical management, to improve canine welfare and human–dog relationships.
Source: Yalcin, E., & Batmaz, H. (2007). Signalment Factors, Comorbidity in Behavior Diagnoses in Dogs in Bursa Region, Turkey (2000–2004). Journal: Acta Veterinaria Brno, Volume 76, Pages 445–450. Publication Date: 2007-11-13. Authors: E. Yalcin, H. Batmaz.
