A pilot study on assessment of dog owners’ attitude towards their dogs

Abstract

It is known that having both theoretical and practical knowledge about main and further needs and training of dogs as well as communication with them have critical importance for dog owners in order to maintain a good dog-human relationship. In Turkey, dogs have taken the lead in pet population which has been showing an over increase in recent years. Although in foreign countries studies evaluating dog - owner relationship have been drawn growing attention in recent years, in our country any study on those issues have not yet been conducted. Present study is a pilot study aimed to assess the knowledge of the owners about their pets as well as the general attitude of them towards their dogs via a questionnaire which was directed to 85 dog owners who were clients of a private pet hospital in Ankara. The results of the questionnaire reflect a lack of practical and theoretical knowledge in dog owners about dog training, socialization period and proper communication with dogs. On the other hand, it was detected that the owners are aware of the basic and further needs of their pets

Keywords

• Survey
• dogs
• dog training
• socializationa

Köpek sahiplerinin köpeklerine yaklaşımlarının değerlendirilmesiüzerine bir pilot çalışma

Abstract

Köpek sahiplerinin hayvanlarının temel ve ek ihtiyaçları, hayvanları ile nasıl bir ilişki kurmaları gerektiği, hayvanlarına verilmesi gereken eğitim hakkında doğru bilgi sahibi olmaları ve doğru uygulamalar yapmaları sağlıklı bir insan-köpek ilişkisinin yürütülmesi açısından kritik öneme sahiptir. Bununla birlikte, Türkiye’de son yıllarda başta köpek olmak üzere pet hayvanı popülasyonunun artmasına karşın, insanların bu konular hakkında ne derece bilgi sahibi oldukları önemli bir soru işaretidir. Yurt dışında pet ve pet sahibi ilişkisini inceleyen araştırmalar oldukça fazla olmasına rağmen, ülkemizde henüz bu konuda yapılmış bir çalışma mevcut değildir. Mevcut makale, Ankara’da özel bir hayvan hastanesinin müşterisi olan 85 köpek sahibinin doldurduğu anketler aracılığı ile köpek sahiplerinin köpeklerine genel yaklaşımlarının ve köpekleri hakkında sahip oldukları bilgilerin doğruluğunun incelenmesini amaçlayan pilot bir çalışmadır. Bu anketten elde edilen bulgular, köpek sahiplerinde köpeklerinin eğitimi, sosyalizasyonu ve köpekleri ile doğru iletişim konularında önemli bilgi ve uygulama eksikliği olduğunu, ancak köpek sahiplerinin köpeklerinin günlük ihtiyaçları konusunda oldukça bilinçli olduklarını göstermiştir

Keywords

• Anket
• köpekler
• köpek eğitimi
• sosyalizasyon

References

1. Allen K, Blascovich J, Mendes B (2002): Cardiovascular reactivity and the presence of pets, friends and spouses. the truth about cats and dogs. Psychosomatic medicine, 64, 727-739.
2. Anderson W (1992): Does petownership reduce your risk for heart disease? Baker Medical Research Institute, Melbourne, Avustralya. Interactions, 10, 12-13.
3. Appleby D (2002): Ain’t Misbehavin’: a good behaviour guide for family dogs. Broadcast books. Great Britain.
4. Bernardo LM, Gardner MJ, O'Connor J, Amon N (2000): Dog bites in children treated in a pediatric emergency department. J Soc Ped Nurs, 5, 87-95.
5. Chapillon P, Patin V, Roy V, Vincent A, Caston J (2002): Effects of pre- and postnatal stimulation on developmental, emotional and cognitive aspects in rodents: a review. Dev Psychobiol, 41, 373-387.
6. Dunbar I (1979): Dog Behavior. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune, NJ. 15-34.
7. Fox M (1972): Understanding Your Dog. Coward, McCann and Geoghegan, New York, NY, 74, 100-108.
8. Gazzano A, Mariti C, Notari L, Sighieri C, McBride E.A (2008): Effects of early gentling and early environment on emotional development of puppies. Appl Anim Behav Sci, 110, 294-304.

9. Hesselmar B, Aberg N, Aberg B, Eriksson B, Björksten B (1999): Does early exposure to a cat or dog protect against later allergies developing. Clin Exp Allergy, 29, 611-7
10. Hoffman L, Kelley R, Waltz D (2004): Managing puppy and kitten growth for a healthy adulthood. Proceedings of the Pre-Congress Symposium at the 29th World Congress of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association, Rhodes, Greece.
11. Jennings GL (1995): Animals and cardiovascular health- paper presented at the 7th International Conference on human-animal interactions, animals, health and quality of life, Cenevre, İsviçre.
12. Kobelt AJ, Hemsworth PH, Barnett JL, Coleman GJ (2003): A survey of dog ownership in suburban Australia— conditions and behaviour problems. Appl Anim Behav Sci, 82, 137-148.
13. Kuhns M (2007): Developing puppy and kitten kindergarten (Basic Behavior Training Classes Week 2). www. vetmedteam.com.
14. Lorenz KZ (1970): Studies in animal and human behavior. I. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, 403.
15. McHarg M, Baldock C, Headey B, Robinson A (1995): National People and Pets Survey, a Report to the Urban Animal Management Coalition, Sydney.
16. McNicholas J, Gilbey A, Rennie A, Ahmedzai A, Dono JA, Ormerod E (2005): Pet ownership and human health: a brief review of evidence and issues. BMJ, 331, 7527, 1252, 1254.
17. Mondelli F, Previde EP, Verga M, Levi D, Magistrelli S, Valsecchi P (2004): The bond that never developed: adoption and relinquishment of dogs in a rescue shelter. J Appl Anim Welf Sci, 7, 253–266.
18. Salgirli Y (2008): Comparison of stress and learning effects of three different training methods: Electronic training collar, pinch collar, and quitting signal. Doktora tezi, Hannover, Almanya.
19. Salman MD, New JC, Scarlett JM, Kass PH, Hetts S, Ruch-Gallie R (1998): Human and animal factors related to the relinquishment of dogs and cats in 12 selected animal shelters in the USA. J Appl Anim Welf Sci, 1, 207– 226.
20. Scott JP (1962): Critical Periods in behavioral development. Science, 138, 949-958.
21. Svartberg K, Forkman B (2002): Personality traits in domestic dog (Canis familiaris). Appl Anim Behav Sci, 79, 133-155.
22. Vidovic V, Stetic, VV, Bratko D (1999): Pet Ownership, Type of Pet and Socio-emotional Development of School Children. Anthrozoos, 12, 211-217.