Data for: An Investigation Into the Effectiveness of Various Professionals and Behavior Modification Programs, With or Without Medication, for the Treatment of Canine Aggression

In this follow up study we investigate a subset of 963 dogs whose owners (n=800) described as having at least one form of aggressive behavior. We were particularly interested in learning which types of professionals, if any, were sought for assistance for the presenting behavior. Owners were also asked to indicate the resolutions employed, including training methods and equipment, behavior modification programs, behavior modification and training techniques, medications, and forms of alternative medicine. Using a self-reported questionnaire, both cohesive and dispersive aggressive behaviors were investigated including conflict aggression, interdog housemate aggression, fear aggression toward people, fear aggression toward dogs, and predatory aggression. Fifty-three percent of dogs with reported aggressive behaviors were mixed breeds. The study sample was 56% male, a majority (91%) of which were neutered. Most commonly, the dogs with reported aggressive behaviors were the sole dog in the household. Fifty-six percent of dogs were brought to at least one professional for remedial assistance. Combined approaches employing a veterinarian with either a trainer, behavior consultant, or credentialed behavior consultant were found to be highly rated among owners. Fifteen percent of dogs brought to veterinarians for advice about behavior problems were found to have an underlying medical problem contributing to the dog’s misbehavior. As far as training equipment was concerned, we found a decreased probability of improvement in overall aggression when anti-bark collars were used (OR: 0.18) as well as a decreased probability of success (OR: 0.51) when a muzzle was employed for treatment of aggression to unfamiliar dogs (designated fear aggression). Thirty-six percent of dogs were exposed to behavior modification programs as a form of treatment and an association was found between systematic desensitization and a positive response to treatment for overall aggression (OR: 2.41). When employing behavior modification training techniques, response blocking was found to decrease probability for improvement in predatory aggression (OR: 0.40). Twenty-one percent of dogs received medication as a form of treatment for aggression. There was a decreased probability for improvement when trazadone was used for overall aggression (OR: 0.53) and conflict aggression (OR: 0.28). There was also a decreased probability for improvement when clomipramine was used for external aggression to dogs (OR: 0.20). Interestingly, when investigating alternative medicines, we were surprised to find a strong association between chiropractic methods and positive response to treatment for external aggression to dogs. No treatment was positively associated with an improvement in predatory aggression. This Mendeley dataset includes: - The raw dataset. - A link the GitHub repository where analysis was performed.本追踪研究纳入了963只犬的亚样本，其犬主（n=800）称这些犬至少存在一种攻击行为。本研究重点关注针对此类表现出攻击行为的犬只，饲主通常会寻求哪些专业人士的帮助。同时，研究要求犬主说明所采用的干预措施，包括训练方法与工具、行为矫正方案、行为矫正与训练技术、药物治疗及各类替代疗法。本研究通过自填式问卷（self-reported questionnaire），对两类攻击行为展开调查，分别为凝聚性攻击与弥散性攻击，具体涵盖冲突攻击、家庭内犬只间攻击、对人的恐惧性攻击、对犬的恐惧性攻击及掠夺性攻击。 据报告存在攻击行为的犬只中，53%为混血犬。研究样本中，公犬占比56%，其中绝大多数（91%）已接受绝育手术。此类存在攻击行为的犬只中，多数为家庭唯一饲养的犬只。56%的犬只曾至少向一名专业人士寻求矫正援助。研究发现，联合兽医与训犬师、行为咨询师或持证行为咨询师的干预方案，在犬主中获得了较高评价。在因行为问题向兽医咨询的犬只中，15%存在导致其行为异常的潜在医学病因。 就训练工具而言，研究发现使用防吠项圈时，犬只整体攻击行为改善的概率降低（优势比 odds ratio, OR=0.18）；而在针对陌生犬只的攻击行为（即对犬的恐惧性攻击）的治疗中，使用口套会使干预成功的概率降低（OR=0.51）。36%的犬只接受了行为矫正方案作为治疗手段，且研究发现系统脱敏法（systematic desensitization）与犬只整体攻击行为的正向治疗反应存在显著关联（OR=2.41）。在采用行为矫正训练技术时，反应阻断（response blocking）会降低掠夺性攻击行为的改善概率（OR=0.40）。21%的犬只接受了药物治疗以控制攻击行为。研究发现，使用曲唑酮（trazodone）治疗整体攻击行为（OR=0.53）与冲突攻击（OR=0.28）时，均会降低行为改善的概率；使用氯米帕明（clomipramine）治疗针对其他犬只的外部攻击行为时，同样会降低改善概率（OR=0.20）。值得注意的是，在调查替代疗法时，我们意外发现脊椎推拿疗法（chiropractic methods）与针对其他犬只的外部攻击行为的正向治疗反应存在强关联。未发现任何治疗手段可显著改善掠夺性攻击行为。 本Mendeley数据集包含以下内容： - 原始数据集 - 本次研究分析所用GitHub仓库的链接。