Abstract

When dogs are left alone for extended periods, they can exhibit separation-related behaviors (SRBs), defined in this study as behavioral changes triggered by their guardians' absence. These behaviors can negatively affect human-dog relationships, contribute to neighborhood disturbances, and, in severe cases, lead to dog abandonment. This research aimed to investigate the prevalence, common behaviors, and associated factors of SRBs in Thai dogs. Data were collected from a national survey involving 1827 participants, utilizing demographic details and an SRB-specific questionnaire. The questionnaire included 12 signs rated on a scale of 0–4, with 4 indicating the highest frequency. Dogs were classified as having SRBs if their total score was at least 8, and severity was categorized as mild-to-moderate (score 8–13) or moderate-to-severe (score > 14). Factors associated with moderate-to-severe SRBs were further analyzed. The overall prevalence of SRBs was 80.24% (n = 1466), with 43.95% (n = 803) exhibiting moderate-to-severe SRBs. Overexcitation, often accompanied by vocalization and destructive behaviors, was the most common SRB. Associated factors linked to moderate-to-severe SRBs included dog characteristics (age, breed, reproductive status), guardian demographics (age), dog-human interactions (walking frequency and duration), and environmental factors (house type). Higher prevalence of moderate-to-severe SRBs were observed in younger dogs, intact dogs, young guardians, those who rarely walked their dogs, and dogs in smaller homes. Therefore, we propose increasing walking frequency and duration, training dogs to become comfortable with being alone for periods of time and providing more education on dog care and behavior to guardians, as these measures may help reduce the risk of SRBs.