Evidence Based Canine Behaviour Interventions for aggression and fear/anxiety in Sweden

Abstract: Aggression and fear/anxiety are behaviour problems that dogs is Sweden experience and behaviour interventions are primarily conducted by behaviour counsellors. A systemic literature review was conducted to map the scientific literature available about the efficacy of behaviour problem intervention for canine aggression and fear/anxiety. Seven articles that only investigated behaviour modification intervention without additions such as medications could be included in the review. This illustrates the lack of and need for research in this area. All studies except one were granted low internal validity based on the present confounding factors, biases, and experimental methodology. A survey was created in google forms and sent via email to 144 identified canine behaviour counsellors in Sweden with an answering rate of 39%. The majority of behaviour counsellor’s educational background was high school, and they had attained their behaviour counselling education through a private school enterprise. The behaviour counsellors have been active for a median 2-5 years and works approximately 12 h/week in the profession. The behaviour problems in canines probably far extend the cases seen by the behavioural counsellors. Methods identified and used by the behaviour counsellor for behaviour modification interventions were many and varied. Counterconditioning was used by 43% for aggression intervention and by 34% for fear and anxiety. Desensitization was mentioned as a method for aggression intervention by 21% while 34% used it for behaviour interventions for fear and anxiety. Management changes was only used by 5% (aggression) and 16% (fear and anxiety). Owner compliance with the behaviour intervention plan was identified as a hinder for the efficacy by 96% of the behaviour counsellors. A model is proposed for evidence based clinical canine behaviour interventions based on the findings in this thesis. This model explains the environmental context and the equally important context of both the canine and its owner, the scientific evidence and the expertise and experience of the behaviour counsellor. It illustrates the need for more research in clinical canine behaviour interventions as well as the need to remake the professional behaviour counsellor.