Assessment of canine behaviors using C-BARQ in a sample from Northern Mexico

Problematic behaviors in dogs can negatively affect dogs' welfare and the welfare of their owners. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Mexican version of the Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire and identify the variables associated with behavioral problems. The study involved 483 owners who completed the Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire, the Dog-owner Compatibility Index of Activity Preferences, and answered several questions about their dogs. The most frequent behavior concern reported was stranger-directed aggression, which correlated with other types of aggression, with age of dog, and with the compatibility between dog and owner in activity preferences. Our results suggest that the human-dog interaction could improve with a proper handling of the dog.