Survey of travel‐related problems in dogs

Abstract

The aim of this study was to quantitatively assess the kind of transport dogs undergo, the behaviours displayed during transport, the prevalence of travel-related problems in dogs and owners' interventions to solve these problems. A convenience sample of 907 dog owners completed a questionnaire containing 16 multiple-choice questions. All dogs had been transported by car at least once, but 4.7 per cent were no longer transported. 76.2 per cent of animals always responded positively to car transport, the rest showing or having shown problems (6.7 per cent always reacted negatively). Dogs were found to be more excited than inhibited during car transport. The vast majority (86.0 per cent) had become used to travelling by car as puppies; this made them less likely to develop problems (6.3 per cent v 24.1 per cent; χ(2)=19.886, P=0.000). If dogs were transported only to veterinary clinics, they were more prone to respond negatively to car transport (46.4 per cent v 22.7 per cent; χ(2)=7.245, P=0.007). For dogs reported as problematic (23.8 per cent of the sample), 96.3 per cent of the owners did not administer any treatments or other substances, 48.7 per cent did not seek any advice, and 40.4 per cent of them made attempts to solve the problem by themselves

Stress Response of Beagle Dogs to Repeated Short-Distance Road Transport

“…Results of a questionnaire study among dog owners suggest that dogs used to travelling by car since puppy age were less likely to respond negatively to road transport than dogs transported as adults only. According to their owners’ perception, however, 24% out of close to 1000 dogs experienced problems when transported by car [ 22 ]. This suggests that although a certain degree of adaptation occurs in most dogs over longer times, transport is still perceived as stressful or negative by a substantial percentage of dogs.…”

“…In a survey among dog owners, 24% of dogs were reported to have problems when travelling by car. When dogs had become used to travelling by car as puppies, the likelihood of transport-related problems at adult age was reduced, suggesting a certain degree of habituation [ 22 ]. In two experimental studies, road transport of dogs was associated with increases in heart rate, behavioral changes and an increase in the neutrophil to leukocyte ratio [ 23 , 24 ].…”

Dogs on the Move: Factors Impacting Animal Shelter and Rescue Organizations’ Decisions to Accept Dogs from Distant Locations

“…A study of the transporters, who often operated independently from the larger organizations represented in our study, would provide insight into efforts made to minimize the potential negative impacts of transport on dog welfare and would draw attention to transport-related welfare concerns that merit consideration. Welfare issues associated with long-distance transfer are an area of particular concern given that transport can adversely affect dog behavior and has the potential to create new behavior problems (e.g., phobias) [ 20 ].…”

The assessment of dog welfare in the waiting room of a veterinary clinic

“…Detecting the response to a stressor is important, but assessing the time of recovery is even more important for its impact on dog welfare: some poor welfare states may be acceptable if they are short or if the animal can tolerate them (Morton 2007); whereas a prolonged stress can be highly detrimental. Poor welfare in the waiting room is particularly important if the dog has to visit the veterinary clinic regularly, if it leads to travelrelated problems (Mariti et al 2012a), or if dogs (as reported by many owners) anticipate going to the vet, because they might develop anxiety (Overall 2014).…”