Published in PLoS ONE, this large-scale study investigated why many dogs react fearfully during veterinary visits and in other unfamiliar situations. Drawing on 26,555 entries from the Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) database, researchers sought to understand both prevalence and predictors of fear.
According to guardian reports, 41% of dogs exhibited mild to moderate fear during veterinary examination, while 14% showed severe or extreme fear. Similar patterns were observed in novel situations such as a dog’s first-ever visit to a clinic.
Chi-squared analyses revealed significant associations between fear and every environmental and demographic variable measured. The strongest predictors of fear during a veterinary exam were: breed group (27.1%), dog roles or activity history (16.7%), source of acquisition (15.2%), weight (12%), age of other household dogs (9.5%), and guardian experience (6.3%). However, together these factors explained only 7% of the variance.
This low explanatory power suggests that clinic environment, handling style, and human–animal interactions may have far greater influence on a dog’s fear response than inherent traits. The authors highlight that fear is not merely common but also potentially modifiable through improved veterinary practices.
The study concludes by encouraging future research focused on creating low-stress veterinary environments, refining handling methods, and enhancing guardian education to reduce fear responses across diverse dog populations.
Source: Edwards, P. T., Hazel, S., Browne, M., Serpell, J., McArthur, M., & Smith, B. P. (2019). Investigating risk factors that predict a dog’s fear during veterinary consultations. PLoS ONE. Published July 22, 2019.
