Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Dog encounters are a common part of everyday life for many dog owners and can be perceived as stressful situations for some dogs and their owners. Reactive behaviours, such as barking and lunging towards the approaching dog, are common problems that may occur during dog encounters. Previous research has shown that both leash tension and human influence can affect dogs’ behavioural reactions during dog encounters. The aim of the study was to investigate whether equipment such as a harness or collar, leash type, leash handling, and size differences between dogs affect dogs’ reactivity index during dog encounters.
A total of 35 dog encounters were observed in the observational study in parks and a dog training club. Equipment such as collar or harness, leash type, leash handling, and size differences between the dogs were recorded. The dogs’ behaviours were registered on paper protocols and compiled into a reactivity index (max score=5) based on observed reactive behaviours.
No statistically significant differences were observed between dogs with collar and dogs with harnesses, or between dogs of varying size difference to the approaching dog. Statistically significant differences between groups were found for leash type and leash handling. Dogs using retractable leashes displayed a higher reactivity index (2.45 ± 1.90) compared with dogs using a fixed leash (0.86 ± 1.31; p = 0.010). Dogs with a tight leash displayed a higher reactivity index (2.76 ± 1.60) compared with dogs with a loose leash (0.22 ± 0.55; p <0.001).
The results of this study suggest that leash handling and leash type may be important factors influencing dogs’ behavioural reactions during dog encounters. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to investigate the importance of the different factors involved in dog encounters in greater detail.