论文标题：Prevalence, comorbidity, and breed differences in canine anxiety in 13,700 Finnish pet dogs
期刊：Scientific Reports
作者： Milla Salonen, Sini Sulkama et.al
发表时间：2020/03/05
数字识别码：10.1038/s41598-020-59837-z
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根据《科学报告》发表的一项研究Prevalence, comorbidity, and breeddifferences in canine anxiety in 13,700 Finnish pet dogs，不同品种的狗可能普遍存在焦虑和行为问题。研究发现，最常见的焦虑特征是对噪声敏感，其次是恐惧。
特征（a）和亚特征（b）在264个品种的13715只狗中的普遍性。来源：Salonen, M., Sulkama, S., Mikkola, S. et al.
芬兰赫尔辛基大学的Hannes Lohi和同事采取基于养狗者报告的问卷形式，对芬兰1.37万只宠物狗的七个焦虑样特征和问题行为进行了调查。作者发现，72.5%的宠物狗表现出问题行为，包括攻击性和恐惧。对噪声敏感是最常见的焦虑；32%的狗害怕至少一种噪声，特别是有26%的狗害怕烟花。恐惧是第二常见的焦虑，29%的狗都有恐惧的表现，包括害怕其它狗（17%）、害怕陌生人（15%）和害怕新环境（11%）。
对噪声的敏感——尤其对打雷的恐惧——会随年龄而增加；恐高以及惧怕在金属网格或发亮的地板等表面上行走也会随年长而加剧。年幼的狗在独处时更容易损坏东西或在上面小便，它们比年长的狗更马虎、多动或冲动，更常追着尾巴转。公狗比母狗更有攻击性、更多动/冲动；而母狗更容易感到害怕。
研究结果显示，不同品种的狗可能都存在焦虑和行为问题。作者认为，应努力减少这些症状的普遍性，比如通过选育策略和改变生活环境。
摘要：Behaviour problems and anxieties in dogs decrease their quality of life and may lead to relinquishment or euthanasia. Considering the large number of pet dogs and the commonness of these problematic behaviours, a better understanding of the epidemiology and related molecular and environmental factors is needed. We have here studied the prevalence, comorbidity, and breed specificity of seven canine anxiety-like traits: noise sensitivity, fearfulness, fear of surfaces and heights, inattention/impulsivity, compulsion, separation related behaviour and aggression with an online behaviour questionnaire answered by dog owners. Our results show that noise sensitivity is the most common anxiety-related trait with a prevalence of 32% in 13,700 Finnish pet dogs. Due to the high prevalence of noise sensitivity and fear, they were the most common comorbidities. However, when comparing the relative risk, the largest risk ratios were seen between hyperactivity/inattention, separation related behaviour and compulsion, and between fear and aggression. Furthermore, dog breeds showed large differences in prevalence of all anxiety-related traits, suggesting a strong genetic contribution. As a result, selective breeding focusing on behaviour may reduce the prevalence of canine anxieties. Anxious animals may suffer from chronic stress and thus, modified breeding policies could improve the welfare of our companion dogs.
（来源：科学网）
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