The efficacy of systematic desensitization for treating the separation-related problem behaviour of domestic dogs

Separation Anxiety in Dogs

Rynae Butler, Rebecca J. Sargisson, Douglas Elliffe

The efficacy of systematic desensitization for treating the separation-related problem behaviour of domestic dogs

Applied Animal Behaviour Science, Volume 129, Issues 2–4, 31 January 2011, Pages 136–145

Abstract

The evaluation of systematic desensitization to treat separation-related problem behaviours, such as destruction of property, excessive barking, or house-soiling, has tended to rely on single case-studies. Eight dogs exhibiting separation-related behaviour, and their owners, participated in a controlled experiment using a within-subjects design to evaluate the efficacy of a combination of systematic desensitization and counter-conditioning. Treatment produced significant reductions in both the frequency (T(9)) = 0.0, P = 0.008) and the severity (T(9)) = 0.0, P = 0.008) of separation-related behaviours compared to baseline. Six dogs, for which follow-up data were obtained three months after treatment ended, showed almost complete elimination of the problem behaviour. The use of counter-conditioning, and other behavioural advice, did not appear to be related to the success of the treatment, suggesting that systematic desensitization was the critical element. Speed of progress and final success was not related to the consistency with which the owners applied systematic desensitization, indicating that even when owners apply systematic desensitization haphazardly, it can still be successful in treating separation-related behaviour in dogs.

Eliminatory behaviour of domestic dogs in an urban environment

James B. Reid, David F. Chantrey, C. Davie

Eliminatory behaviour of domestic dogs in an urban environment

Applied Animal Behaviour Science, Volume 12, Issue 3, April 1984, Pages 279–287

Abstract

Although dogs are valuable, indeed essential, members of society, they sometimes cause problems of an aesthetic, environmental or public health nature arising from their eliminatory habits. To identify which kinds of dog are more likely to be responsible for these problems, defaecation and urination by domestic dogs under varying degrees of human control were studied in the field. Observations were made between February 1980 and November 1981 in 2 streets, 2 landscaped parks and 2 large rough grass areas. The dogs most likely to defaecate in these public places were those who were accompanied by their owner, but not restricted by being on a lead. There was also an inverse correlation between the number of visits made by dogs on a lead to, and faeces density in, the study sites. Generally, the dogs responsible for most urination were discovered to be those off rather than on a lead, males rather than females, and pedigree males rather than mongrel males. Explanations of these findings, and suggestions for minimising dog fouling of the environment, are offered.

Observations of scent-marking and discriminating self from others by a domestic dog (Canis familiaris): tales of displaced yellow snow

Marc Bekoff

Observations of scent-marking and discriminating self from others by a domestic dog (Canis familiaris): tales of displaced yellow snow

Behavioural Processes, Volume 55, Issue 2, 15 August 2001, Pages 75–79

Abstract

Little is known about what stimuli trigger urinating or scent-marking in domestic dogs, Canis familiaris, or their wild relatives. While it is often suggested that the urine of other animals influences urinating and scent-marking patterns in canids, this has not been verified experimentally. To investigate the role of urine in eliciting urinating and marking, in this pilot study I moved urine-saturated snow (‘yellow snow’) from place-to-place during five winters to compare the responses of an adult male domestic dog, Jethro, to his own and others' urine. Jethro spent less time sniffing his own urine than that of other males or females, and that while his interest in his own urine waned with time it remained relatively constant for other individuals' urine. Jethro infrequently urinated over or sniffed and then immediately urinated over (scent-marked) his own urine. He marked over the urine of other males more frequently than he marked over females' urine. The method used here can be extended to other species for which experimental data are lacking. Though based on one dog, these novel data may further our knowledge of the role of scent-marking in territorial behavior and of sex differences in territory acquisition and maintenance.