How to prevent dog bites - the Canine Good Citizen

Dr Kersti Seksel

Abstract

The canine good citizen is the dog that we would love to own. The dog that we would want living next door. The

dog that knows how to interact well with other dogs and people and that is accepted wherever he goes.

This dog has an owner that appreciates that owning a dog brings with it many pleasures as well as responsibilities.

The Canine Good Citizen program is designed to help dogs and owners learn together, in a fun and informative way,

to be good citizens on both ends of the lead so that all of our community can benefit from pet ownership.

The Benefits of Canine Good Citizens

Introduction

Dogs are an integral part of our society. An estimated 60% of Australians now share their homes with one or more

pets and 68% of these households care for one or more dogs (McHarg 1995).

Over the years we have come to recognise the many advantages that pet ownership brings. Pets provide us with

companionship, security and numerous health benefits. Studies have shown that we are 12% less likely to visit the

doctor and even less likely to be on long term medication if we own a pet. (Friedmann 1990, Headley 1995).

However, pet ownership brings with it many responsibilities and there are also other considerations in pet

ownership. Pets can cause allergies, they cost money to look after properly and require considerable amounts of

time.

Many owners find that they cannot cope with the pressures of dog ownership. They are unable to deal with a dog

that roams, barks, jumps up on them, digs holes or acts aggressively and they have no idea where to seek help.

These are, of course, all normal behaviours of dogs but are considered by many to be socially unacceptable.

So, sadly, each year up to 20% of these urban dogs are surrendered to pounds and animal shelters and of these 80%

are euthanased (Murray and Penridge 1992). In 1990 J. Norris, Ku-Ring-Gai Municipal Council's Dog Control

Officer, surveyed animal shelters and pounds and estimated that more than 300,000 dogs were euthanased in NSW

alone (personal communication). In the United States in 1989 about 20 million dogs were surrendered to animal

shelters. Surveys indicated that 50-80% of these dogs were given up because of behaviour problems (Burghardt

1991). No doubt the same would be true in Australia.

Incredible as it seems, the average age of dogs in Australia is only 3 years!! (Jennens 1995). In fact the largest cause

of death of puppies under one year of age is euthanasia due to behaviour problems and is not due to accidents or

illness. So despite recent advances in veterinary medicine that enable veterinarians to treat many geriatric problems

and even perform kidney transplants, the average pet does not grow old enough to benefit.

It is a myth that 'there are no bad dogs, only bad owners'. In fact, there are bad owners but there are also bad dogs.

Some good owners end up owning bad dogs and some good owners become bad owners because they are not aware

of normal dog behaviour.

The first step towards having less 'bad' dogs is to educate the potential pet owners. For some people the ideal pet for

their lifestyle may not be a dog, but rather a goldfish or even having no pet at all. We must educate new pet owners

in all aspects of pet care and responsible pet ownership.

Problems with urban animals are one of council's most difficult and persistent neighbourhood problems. In some

council areas complaints about dogs comprise about 25 % of the total number of complaints received (pers com).

These complaints range from barking and roaming, to fouling the streets and parks, to the most serious of all -

aggression directed towards other dogs and or towards people.

There are many reasons why dogs bite. Dealing with diagnosis of the types of aggression, their causes, prognosis

and the appropriate therapy is beyond the scope of this paper, but one way we may be able to help prevent some

types of aggression is by educating owners about their dogs and their behaviour.

Owners need to be properly educated along with their dogs on how to cope with the situations faced in everyday

modern urban life. Imposing heavy fines and introducing harsher legislations in an attempt to resolve the problem

will not work until owners understand the underlying causes of their dog's behaviour.

In my opinion, as a veterinarian, an animal behaviour consultant and a member of the general community, the Canine

Good Citizen program is a very good starting point. If we are to have less problem dogs we need more canine good

citizens.

About the author

Dr Kersti Seksel

B.V.Sc.(Hons), MRCVS, BA, MACVSc. (Animal Behaviour)

Seaforth Veterinary Hospital

55 Ethel Street

Seaforth NSW 2092

Telephone: (02) 99491288

Fax: (02) 99496364

Graduated in Veterinary Science from Sydney University in 1977, then worked in small animal practice in Sydney,

then in U.K. Graduated from Macquarie University in 1990 with BA in Behavioural Sciences with major interest in

psychology. Presently engaged in MA(hons) in animal behaviour at Macquarie University. NSW Veterinary

Surgeons Board registered Animal Behaviour Consultant. Member American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior.

Member Australasian Society for the Study of Animal Behaviour. Member Delta Society. Currently partner in

multi-person small animal practice in Seaforth, Sydney with special interest in animal behaviour problems. Actively

involved in developing and running Puppy and Kitten Training Courses. Patron People-Pet Partnership, Canine

Good Citizen Program, Sydney.

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