All first-time dog owners should read this

By Maria Collinge via SWNS

Abnormal repetitive behavior in dogs - such as tail chasing - are more common among first-time owners, according to new research.

Other behaviours such as biting and pacing are also frequent among dogs in households with a lot of family members, say scientists.

The signs can indicate that they are not getting enough exercise or attention leading to stressful behaviours.

The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, looked at 4,436 Finnish dogs from 22 different breeds.

Researchers from the University of Helsinki concluded that out of the 1,315 dogs (30 percent) who engaged in repetitive behaviours, 58 per cent were from a combination of a dog’s home environment and lifestyle.

Hannes Lohi, professor in veterinary sciences and author of the study said: "The origin of repetitive behaviour is complex, contributed by both environmental and genetic factors."

He added: "As abnormal repetitive behaviour can considerably worsen the wellbeing of dogs and impair the dog-owner relationship, a better understanding of the environmental, lifestyle, and molecular factors affecting canine repetitive behavior can benefit both dogs and humans."

Repetitive behaviours were 58 per cent more likely among dogs where the dog is the owner’s first, compared to those who owned dogs previously.

Findings also revealed that dogs living with one person were 33 per cent less likely to engage in repetitive behaviors than those that lived with a family of three or more.

Dogs living without another dog were 64 per cent more likely to engage in such behaviours than those that did.

Less than one hour per day of exercise is also a driver of repetitive behaviors and were 53 percent more common in less active dogs than those exercising for between one and two hours per day.

German Shepherds, Chinese Cresteds and Pembroke Welsh Corgis are the breeds most associated with repetitive behaviours, whilst Smooth Collies, Miniature Schnauzers and Lagotto Romagnolos are breeds less likely to engage in them.

Younger dogs under the age of two and older dogs over the age of eight are more likely to engage in stressful behaviour, according to the findings.

It was also more common among dogs that were reported by their owners to be more hyperactive, aggressive and more easily distracted.

Until now, research has focussed on how abnormal behaviours in dogs can impair relationships between dogs and owners and worsen dogs’ overall wellbeing.

Despite prior research focussing on how relationships between dogs and owners worsen as a result of abnormal behaviours, the factors associated with such behaviours have not been explored.

The study, which analysed the dogs’ behaviours between February 2015 and September 2018, required owners to describe their dogs' movements - from tail chasing, snapping at their reflection or shadow, surface licking, pacing, staring, spending time near their water bowl and self-biting.

The findings suggest that complex and associated factors, ranging from environmental, lifestyle and genetic factors, are the key influences in a dog’s likelihood to engage in abnormal behaviours.

The authors propose that understanding these factors could help improve dog welfare.

Professor Lohi added: "Identifying associated risk factors of repetitive behaviour could help prevent the welfare and management problems related to these traits and develop a strategy for robust genetic studies with more susceptible breeds."