Behavioural characteristics of pure-bred dogs in Italy; comparison with US and UK

In recent times the selection of dog breeds for functionality has progressively lost its importance and the behavioural attitudes originally selected are often considered as problems in household environments (Coppinger, 1995, Coppinger, 1998, Coppinger, 2001, Willis, 1989, Willis, 1995). It is difficult to carry out genetic studies in order to identify inherited behavioural traits in a large sample of the numerous breeds and these studies would probably have many ethical, economical and practical implications ( Brown, 1978, Dykermann, 1979,Goddart & Beilharz, 1985, Scott & Fuller, 1965, Svartberg, 2002) . The present study intends to obtain information about dog behavioural characteristics by following the same methodology as the ones used in the studies conducted in the USA by Hart &Hart (1983) and in the UK by Bradshaw, Goodwin, Lea and Whitehead (1996). The comparison of the results with those of the USA and UK studies can give further information about this topic. One-hundred and twelve Italian veterinarians and fifty-six dog experts (trainers, behaviour counsellors and animal charity officers) were asked to complete a questionnaire with 13 questions about behavioural characteristics of dogs and to compare male and female behaviour. The breeds chosen for the survey were selected among the most popular ones present in Italy. On the basis of the number of enrolments to the Italian Kennel Club (average for years 2000, 2001 and 2002) in the different groups as divided by Federation Cynologique International (FCI), 49 breeds were selected ( Fiorone, 1987, Gallicchio, 2001). Many of these breeds were the same as those studied in the UK and USA studies. On the basis of the replies, factor analysis was carried out and two principal factors called “aggressivity” and “reactivity/immaturity” were found (Fisher & Yates, 1963, Petrie, 1999, Spss, 1998). Nine different breed groups with different behavioural characteristics (described by the two factors) were formed. This grouping had some similarities with the groupings presented in the USA and UK studies. Female were considered as more trainable for obedience, more demanding for affection and more housetrainable, thus reflecting the general tendency shown in previous studies. In the present study factor analysis generated factors that accounted for 56,676% of the total variance; these results, when compared with the studies conducted by Hart & Hart (1983) and by Bradhaw, Goodwin, Lea and Whitehead (1996), that generated factors that accounted for 88% of the total variance, can lead to several reflections about the different evaluations of dog breed behaviour both between and within groups of respondents. Probably both differences in breeding in the different countries and differences in cultural perception of dog behaviour can explain these results