English Demographics and characteristics of dog-on-dog attacks

Abstract

Dog-on-dog aggression is a societal concern and a significant animal welfare issue. This survey study investigated 130 cases of intraspecific aggression, of which 14.6% were performed by a pack of dogs (2-4 dogs). The victim dogs were 82% of small and medium size, and as the severity of the injury increased so did the number of small dogs. The majority of attacks happened daytime in the summer, in public places. An experienced female dog owner was most often the owner of the victim dog. The dog-on-dog attacks were 96% perceived as unprovoked and 82.3% performed by an unknown dog. In 43.8% of the cases, the attacking dog failed to respond to the victim dog’s submission signals.

It was the owner/caregiver of the victim dogs who identified the attacking dog, and in 25% of the 130 cases, the victim dog owners identified the attacking dog as a crossbred. The attacking dogs were 61.5% Bull type terriers, including their mixes. Among the victim dogs, Companion and Toy dogs, Retrievers as well as Terriers other than Bull type terriers, were overrepresented. The major difference in the distribution of the attacking dog types in comparison to the victim dog types suggests that they are distinctly different populations and that the severe intraspecific aggression shown by the attacking dog breeds is a pathological condition.