Table 4.
Responses of adopters to survey questions about the frequency of separation-related behaviours in 54 adult dogs rehomed through the participating animal shelter in Auckland, New Zealand.
| Survey Questions about Separation-Related Behaviours | Never | Rarely | Sometimes | Often | Always | Don’t Know |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n (%) | n (%) | n (%) | n (%) | n (%) | n (%) | |
| Has your dog shown any of the following separation-related behaviours? | ||||||
| Barking or whining for long periods a | 26 (48%) | 12 (22%) | 5 (9%) | 1 (2%) | 1 (2%) | 9 (17%) |
| Destruction of property a (chewing, digging, or scratching) | 26 (48%) | 11 (20%) | 11 (20%) | 1 (2%) | 2 (4%) | 3 (6%) |
| Self-injurious behavior a (e.g., over-grooming) | 43 (80%) | 7 (13%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 1 (2%) | 3 (6%) |
| Escaping from the property a | 39 (72%) | 10 (19%) | 2 (4%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 3 (6%) |
| Overly excited when owner leaves the property | 29 (54%) | 14 (26%) | 8 (15%) | 1 (2%) | 0 (0%) | 2 (4%) |
| Overly excited when owner returns to the property | 16 (30%) | 11 (20%) | 12 (22%) | 8 (15%) | 5 (9%) | 2 (4%) |
a Only in the absence of the owner (i.e., when the dog is left alone).