Behavioral assessment of child-directed canine aggression.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize behavioral circumstances of bites to children by dogs presented to a veterinary behavior clinic.


METHODS
Retrospective case series examining medical records of dogs presenting by referral to a university veterinary hospital for aggression and which had bitten a child <18 years old. Behavioral data included age of victim, familiarity with dog, and circumstances of bites.


RESULTS
Records of bites to 111 children were examined. Children <6 years old were most commonly bitten in association with resource guarding (44%), whereas older children were most commonly bitten in association with territory guarding (23%). Similarly, food guarding was the most common circumstance for bites to familiar children (42%) and territory guarding for bites to unfamiliar children (53%). Behavioral screening of the 103 dogs examined revealed resource guarding (61%) and discipline measures (59%) as the most common stimuli for aggression. Anxiety screens revealed abnormalities in 77% of dogs. Potential contributory medical conditions were identified/suspected in 50% of dogs. When history before presentation was known, 66% of dogs had never previously bitten a child, and 19% had never bitten any human. Most dogs (93%) were neutered, and 66% of owners had taken their dogs to obedience training classes.


CONCLUSIONS
Most children were bitten by dogs with no history of biting children. There is a high rate of behavioral abnormalities (aggression and anxiety) in this canine population. Common calming measures (neutering, training) were not routinely effective deterrents.
Reisner
Ilana R
IR
Department of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6010, USA. reisner@vet.upenn.edu
Shofer
Frances S
FS
Nance
Michael L
ML
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004285:Dogs / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D001841:Human-Animal Bond; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010414:Pennsylvania; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013045:Species Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires