Edwards et al. C-BARQ data used in investigating risk factors contributing to dogs fearful of the vet

In the current study, we
investigated the risk factors associated with fear during veterinary
examination and in novel situations (including first time at the veterinary
clinic) from 26,555 responses in the Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research
Questionnaire database. According to their guardians, 41% of companion dogs
displayed mild to moderate fearful behaviour when examined by a veterinarian,
and 14% exhibited severe or extreme fear in the same context. Predictors of
fear during veterinary examination included: the dog’s breed group, their
history of roles or activities, where they were sourced, their weight, the age
of other dogs in the household and dog owner experience. However, combined
these risk factors only explain a total of 7% of variance of fear observed
during veterinary examination, suggesting other factors (e.g. human-animal
interactions or clinic environment) may have a larger impact on dog experience
in the veterinary context.

© University of Pennsylvania, 2019
This dataset remains the copyright of the University of Pennsylvania.