Body Size and Behaviour Traits of Dogs in Czech Households

Abstract

The objective of this study was to analyse the effect of body size of dogs on their coexistence with humans in Czech households. For this purpose we used questionnaire data on 246 dogs indicating the breed. The dogs were divided into five body size groups, i.e. toy (T, up to 5 kg body mass, n = 32), small (S, 5 -10 kg body mass, n = 52), medium size (M, 10 -17 kg body mass, n = 39), large (L, 17 -33 kg body mass, n = 70), giant (G, over 33 kg body mass, n = 53). The largest dogs surpassed the body mass of the smallest dogs at least seven times, and giant dogs weighed at least one half and toy dogs less than one tenth of the average body mass of people in the Czech human population. Despite this the majority of the studied traits regardless of body mass of the dogs showed no significant differences. In the vast majority of Czech households all dogs were considered household members, taken on travels or vacations, photographed and their birthdays were celebrated. Aggressiveness of the dogs did not correlate with their body size.Among the 84 traits of the behaviour of dogs and their owners, which were analysed, only 23, i.e. 27.4% traits were significantly related to their body mass. Larger and heavier dogs were more frequently kept in houses with yards and gardens, in rural environments. Toy and small dogs prevailed in urbanised environments, in apartments. They were allowed to use furniture, sleep in beds of household members. Moreover, toy dogs predominated in one-person households.Large dogs were more often trained, sometimes by professional trainers, obeyed commands better and were more often described as obedient. They were considered not only as companions but also as working dogs. Giant size dogs were also more often trained to be protective.These data show that the differences in the body size of dogs modified their co-existence with humans only to a limited extent.

Characteristics and risk factors of dog aggression in the Slovak Republic

“…Consequently, people might better tolerate aggression in smaller dogs and thus the selection pressure towards them might have been weaker (Duffy et al 2008). It has been shown that the size of the dog impacts the way it interacts with its owner (Kobelt et al 2003;Baranyiova et al 2009). Larger dogs are more likely to be trained and this training is more likely to be done by professionals (Kobelt et al 2003;Baranyiova et al 2009).…”

“…It has been shown that the size of the dog impacts the way it interacts with its owner (Kobelt et al 2003;Baranyiova et al 2009). Larger dogs are more likely to be trained and this training is more likely to be done by professionals (Kobelt et al 2003;Baranyiova et al 2009). Owners of small dogs engage less frequently in training activities (Baranyiova et al 2009) and, moreover, are less consistent overall (Arhant et al 2010).…”

“…Larger dogs are more likely to be trained and this training is more likely to be done by professionals (Kobelt et al 2003;Baranyiova et al 2009). Owners of small dogs engage less frequently in training activities (Baranyiova et al 2009) and, moreover, are less consistent overall (Arhant et al 2010). In addition, small dogs have been reported to be stubborn (Baranyiova et al 2009), more diso-doi: 10.17221/8418-VETMED bedient and excitable when compared with large breeds (Bennett and Rohlf 2007;Arhant et al 2010).…”

“…Owners of small dogs engage less frequently in training activities (Baranyiova et al 2009) and, moreover, are less consistent overall (Arhant et al 2010). In addition, small dogs have been reported to be stubborn (Baranyiova et al 2009), more diso-doi: 10.17221/8418-VETMED bedient and excitable when compared with large breeds (Bennett and Rohlf 2007;Arhant et al 2010). Again, this might be because the consequences of having a small disobedient dog are not perceived as being as significant as in the case of large breeds.…”

Dog Bites to Children in the Czech Republic: the Risk Situations

“…Moreover, only a fraction of small dogs obtain any kind of training and their exercise is limited as well (Baranyiová et al , 2009). Such dogs may be predisposed to biting; in small dogs fear aggression may lead to biting.…”