Factors associated with successful owner-reported treatment outcomes for canine separation-related problems: A retrospective cross-sectional survey of Scandinavian dog owners

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

The purpose of this retrospective cross-sectional questionnaire study was to map and quantify associations between selected dog-, treatment-, and household-related factors and owner-reported, operationally defined treatment outcomes of canine separation-related problems (SRPs). Data were obtained from responses to an online questionnaire provided to dog owners in three Scandinavian countries (Denmark, Sweden, and Norway) who reported on their dog’s most recently completed professional SRP treatment program. Participants were recruited through kennel clubs, practitioner networks, Facebook groups, and targeted Facebook advertisements. In total, 1,012 individuals accessed the survey link. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 233 respondents were retained for analysis. Among dog-related factors, age of SRP onset was associated with successful treatment outcome (p=0.018; adjusted p=0.005), with higher treatment success among dogs with late (≥6 months) compared to early onset (<6 months). The primary analysis suggested a possible interaction between age of onset and severity (p=0.049), with greater success for severe cases if the SRP onset was late. Failure to learn to cope with being left alone during puppyhood was associated with a lower proportion of successful treatment outcomes (p<0.001). Regarding treatment strategy, more frequent home-alone training was associated with a higher proportion of successful treatment outcomes (p=0.017). In terms of household factors, successful treatment was more common in households with more than one dog (p=0.008). Given the exploratory nature of the study, its reliance on owner-reported treatment outcome, and the number of variables examined, the findings should be interpreted as hypothesis-generating and confirmed in future prospective studies.