Canine Behavioral History

Animal Behavior Clinic, Box 25, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853-6401
Dr. Katherine A. Houpt, Director 607-253-3450; Dr. Julia Albright 607-253-4350
Fax 607-253-3846
http://www.vet.cornell.edu/abc
email: vabc@cornell.edu

Please answer the following questions and send this form (mail/fax/email) back to us. We shall then call to arrange an appointment. Specific questions about the problem behavior(s) will be asked during your visit/telephone call.

General Information

Date: _________________ Clinic # _________________

Recorder: _________________

Client's name: _________________ Name of pet: _________________

Address: _________________ Breed: _________________

_________________ Date of Birth: _________________

Zip Code: _________________ Sex: ______ neutered/spayed: _______

Home phone: _________________

Work/Day phone: _________________

Who is your regular veterinarian:

Dr. _____________________________

Clinic Name: _____________________________

Address: _____________________________

_____________________________

Phone: _____________________________

Fax: _____________________________

What is the main behavior problem or complaint?

Additional problems (please list):

How frequently does the problem (or problems) occur (how many times daily, weekly or monthly):

a. Main Problem: Frequency:

b. Other Problem: Frequency:

c. Other Problem: Frequency:

Chronology Of The Behavior Problem

When did you first notice the main problem (age of dog)?

When did it first become a serious concern?

In what general circumstances does the dog misbehave?

Has this problem changed in frequency? (please describe)

Has this problem changed in intensity? (please describe)

Has this problem otherwise changed?

Describe several examples in detail:

1. Most recent incident: (Date: _________________)

2. Second to last incident: (Date: _________________)

3. Third to last incident: (Date: _________________)

Other significant incidents:

What have you done so far to try to correct the problem?

How do you discipline your dog for this and for other misbehavior?

Home Environment

Please list the people, including yourself, living in your household. Please include ages of children:

Name Hours Away From Home

Please list all animals in the household including patient:

Name Species Breed Sex Age Obtained Age Now

In what sequence were the above animals obtained? (Please number animals in the table above.)
What is your dog's relationship to the other animals
(e.g. friendly, hostile, fearful)? Please describe:

What type of area do you live in? (Circle one) City/Town Suburbs Rural

What type of house do you live in? Please describe.

Have you moved since acquiring your dog? _____no _____yes How many times? ________

Has your household (people or animals) changed since acquiring your dog?
_____no _____yes, please describe:

Dog's Background

Why did you decide to get a dog?

Why did you choose this breed?

Where did you get this dog (circle one): SPCA Breeder-newspaper ad/flyer Breeder - referral Pet store Friend Stray Other: ____________

Have you owned dogs before? _______yes ________no

If known: how many littermates? males ________ females ________

How many animals to choose from? ________________________
Why did you choose this dog over the others (please be specific):

Was a temperament test performed? ______yes ______no ______unsure
Result:
Describe your dog's behavior as a puppy:

Do you have any news about littermate behavior? (please describe)

Did you meet the parents? _____no _____yes, please describe their behavior:

Has this dog had other owners? ______no ______yes, how many? ____________
Why was the dog given up?________________
At what age was your pet neutered/spayed? ___________________________
Why was this done?

Were there any behavior changes after neutering?

If your pet is "intact" has he/she ever been bred? ________yes ________no

Are you planning to breed? ________yes ________no _________unsure

If you have an intact female, when was her last heat? Was it normal?

Diet and Feeding

What do you feed your dog? (Please be specific, e.g. brand name)

Has your dog's appetite (increased, decreased, no change)? ____________________

How much do you feed? (please be specific) Meal Times ____________________

Who feeds the dog?
Location ______________________

What is your dog's favorite treat?

Daily Schedule - Typical 24 hr day

Please describe a typical 24-hour day in your dog's life:

How does the dog behave with familiar visitors?

How does the dog behave with unfamiliar visitors (children or adults)?

How do you exercise your dog?

Is the dog free in a fenced yard?
Is the dog tied outside?

Does the dog run free?

How do you play with your dog?

What toys does the dog have?

Is your dog housetrained? _____no _____yes How was the dog housetrained?

Does your dog ever eliminate in the house? _____no _____yes urinate _____ defecate _____

Where does your dog sleep at night (please be specific):

Does your dog sleep (more, less, same)? ____________

Where is your dog when alone in the house?

Where is your dog when you have guests?

How does your dog behave while you are leaving the house?

How does your dog behave when you return?

Obedience Training

What basic obedience training has your dog had? (Circle one)

    None     Trained at home     Started obedience classes but didn't finish     Graduated obedience class once     Graduated obedience class two or more
levels
    Private trainer     Other ___________________

How old was the dog when obedience training started?

Who in the family is the primary trainer?

Does your dog have any awards or titles? (Please describe)

Has your dog had any hunting, herding, protection, attack or Schutzhund training?
What per cent of the time does your dog obey the following commands, for each member of the family:

Family Member Sit Down Stay Come Heel (Don't Pull)

Does your dog know any tricks? Please describe:

Have you exhibited your dog in breed shows?
  _____yes   _____no   _____no, but I plan to

Does your dog jump up on you or others without permission? _____yes _____no

Does your dog paw at you or at others? _____yes _____no

Does your dog lick you? _____yes _____no

Does your dog mount people? _____yes _____no

If yes, whom does he or she mount?

Does your dog mount other animals or objects? _____yes _____no Please describe:

Does your dog ever bark at you? _____no _____yes When? Please describe:

Does your dog bark at other times? Please describe:

What is your dog's activity level in general (Circle one):     Low     Average     High     Excessive

Medical History

Is your dog on any medication now, for this or other problems?

Has your dog been on medication in the past?

Date of most recent rabies vaccination: ________________(1 year, 3 year)

Aggression Screen (Please Fill Out)

Animal Behavior Clinic
Cornell University

GR - growl Owner: ________________

SL - snarl/bare teeth Pet: ________________

SB - snap/bite Date: ________________

NR - no reaction

NA - not applicable

GR SL SB NR NA

1. pet dog

2. hug dog

3. kiss dog

4. lift dog

5. call off furniture

6. push/pull off furniture

7. approach on furniture

8. disturb while resting/sleeping

9. approach while eating

10. touch while eating

11. take dog food away

12. take human food away

13. take water dish away

14. take rawhide

15. take biscuit/cookie

16. take real bone

17. take toy/object

18. approach when dog has any object/toy/bone

19. verbally punish

20. physically punish

21. visual threat

22. speak to dog (normal tone)

23. stare at dog

24. bend over dog

25. push on shoulders or back

GR SL SB NR NA

26. approach dog near spouse

27. enter room

28. leave room

29. reach toward dog

30. leash restraint

31. collar restraint

32. scruff restraint

33. put leash on/take off

34. put collar on/take off

35. bathe dog

36. towel dog

37. groom/brush dog

38. dog at groomer's

39. trim nails

40. leash/collar correction

41. response to "sit"

42. response to "down"

43. dog at veterinary clinic

44. unfamiliar adult enters house or yard

45. unfamiliar child enters house or yard

46. familiar adult enters house or yard

47. familiar child enters house or yard

48. response to toddlers/babies

49. dog in car at tollbooths, gas stations

50. unfam. adult approaches owner, dog on leash

51. unfam. child approaches owner, dog on leash

52. dog in house, sees people outside

53. response to other dogs, while on leash

54. response to other dogs, while not on leash

Where are you on a scale of 1 to 5 as follows:

I am here only out of curiosity - problem is not serious.
I would like to change the problem, but it is not serious.
The problem is serious and I would like to change it, but if it remains unchanged that's all right.
The problem is very serious and I would like to change it, but if it remains unchanged I will keep my dog.
The problem is very serious and I would like to change it; if it remains unchanged I will have my dog euthanized or give him/her up.

FOR AGGRESSION (TOWARDS PEOPLE) (Skip this section if aggression is not the problem):

Please answer yes or no to these characteristics of your dog's aggressive behavior:

______attacks are sudden and surprising
______episodes appear unprovoked
______the dog is abruptly docile after an episode
______the dog appears "sorry" afterwards
______the dog appears disoriented afterwards
______episodes are associated with a "glazed" or "absent" expression
______I can usually tell what will set off my dog
______the aggressive behavior is new and uncharacteristic

Has your dog bitten and broken skin? _____yes _____no

Number of bites that broke skin:____________________

Total number of bites (that did or did not break skin):__________________

Total number of episodes of aggression (growling, snapping, biting):______________

Describe typical episode (eg. does dog growl, lunge or bite, and in what circumstance?):

If the dog is in the above situation 10 times, in how many of those times is aggression seen (eg. all=100%, just one=10%, etc.)?

What parts of the body has the dog bitten and how severe were the injuries?

Who is/are the target(s) of aggression?

Did your dog bite as a puppy? _____yes _____no
If yes, please describe, including age:

How old was your dog the first time he/she growled at a person?

What was the circumstance?

How old was your dog the first time he/she snapped or bit at a person?

What was the circumstance?

(End of questionnaire - thank you!)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Date:	_________________	Clinic #	_________________
Recorder:	_________________

Client's name:	_________________	Name of pet:	_________________
Address:	_________________	Breed:	_________________
	_________________	Date of Birth:	_________________
Zip Code:	_________________	Sex: ______	neutered/spayed: _______
Home phone:	_________________
Work/Day phone:	_________________

Dr.	_____________________________
Clinic Name:	_____________________________
Address:	_____________________________
	_____________________________
Phone:	_____________________________
Fax:	_____________________________

a. Main Problem:	Frequency:

b. Other Problem:	Frequency:

c. Other Problem:	Frequency:

GR - growl	Owner: ________________
SL - snarl/bare teeth	Pet: ________________
SB - snap/bite	Date: ________________
NR - no reaction
NA - not applicable

	GR	SL	SB	NR	NA
1. pet dog
2. hug dog
3. kiss dog
4. lift dog
5. call off furniture
6. push/pull off furniture
7. approach on furniture
8. disturb while resting/sleeping
9. approach while eating
10. touch while eating
11. take dog food away
12. take human food away
13. take water dish away
14. take rawhide
15. take biscuit/cookie
16. take real bone
17. take toy/object
18. approach when dog has any object/toy/bone
19. verbally punish
20. physically punish
21. visual threat
22. speak to dog (normal tone)
23. stare at dog
24. bend over dog
25. push on shoulders or back
	GR	SL	SB	NR	NA
26. approach dog near spouse
27. enter room
28. leave room
29. reach toward dog
30. leash restraint
31. collar restraint
32. scruff restraint
33. put leash on/take off
34. put collar on/take off
35. bathe dog
36. towel dog
37. groom/brush dog
38. dog at groomer's
39. trim nails
40. leash/collar correction
41. response to "sit"
42. response to "down"
43. dog at veterinary clinic
44. unfamiliar adult enters house or yard
45. unfamiliar child enters house or yard
46. familiar adult enters house or yard
47. familiar child enters house or yard
48. response to toddlers/babies
49. dog in car at tollbooths, gas stations
50. unfam. adult approaches owner, dog on leash
51. unfam. child approaches owner, dog on leash
52. dog in house, sees people outside
53. response to other dogs, while on leash
54. response to other dogs, while not on leash