Evaluation of animal-owner relationship in dogs of cities from São Paulo state

• Grant number: 11/12860-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2011
• End date: September 30, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Ecology of Domestic Animals and Ethology
• Principal Investigator: Cristiane Gonçalves Titto
• Grantee: Bárbara Monteiro da Silva Marques Alves
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZEA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Pirassununga , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The occurrence of behavioral problems in dogs has strong animal welfare implications and on their relationship with the owners. In Brazil there are few studies relating the occurrence of behavioral problems in dogs. More specifically, there is a little information about the variables that influence the behavioral problems and their importance in this scenery. This project aims to investigate the most important variables related with the epidemiology, etiology and ontogeny of behavioral problems in dogs. A questionnaire to be applied to the dog owners with different profiles and to veterinaries will be formulated and used for the target population in three cities from the São Paulo state. It is expected to validate a method to evaluate the impact of the behavioral problems in dogs using the questionnaire. Finally, it is important to point out that, in order to validate and apply the proposed questionnaire, a survey of the main elements profile that influence the behavioral problems in dogs will be obtained.