Table 3.
Behaviors of each principal component according to the results of the principal component analysis of 54 behaviors of 762 dogs presenting separation related problems.
| Principal component and interpretation | Behaviors | N (%) |
|---|---|---|
| PC1—Exit frustration | Destruction of the main exit door when it was closed | 121 (15.9) |
| Destruction of the main exit door of the room | 112 (14.7) | |
| Destruction of door frame next to where the door opens | 93 (12.2) | |
| Destruction of door itself next to where it opens | 87 (11.4) | |
| Destruction of doors | 147 (19.3) | |
| Destruction on or around door handle | 52 (6.8) | |
| Destruction of floor nearby the place where the door opens | 50 (6.6) | |
| Destruction of big objects (furniture, windows, doors, doorframes, other exit points from house) | 197 (25.9) | |
| Destruction of house structure (holes in wall, torn up linoleum) | 110 (14.4) | |
| Destruction using his/her claws | 256 (33.6) | |
| PC2—Social panic | Vocalization after owner has stepped outside | 514 (67.5) |
| Whines during routinely pre-departures | 280 (36.8) | |
| Whines during unusual pre-departures | 319 (41.9) | |
| Frequency of vocalization when dog is left alone for at least 1 h (often and always) | 444 (59.3) | |
| Paces during routinely pre-departures | 305 (40) | |
| Frequency of whining without human company (always) | 254 (33.3) | |
| Vocalizes without human company | 591 (77.6) | |
| Frequency of distress pre-departure (often and always) | 258 (33.9) | |
| Paces during unusual pre-departures | 351 (46.1) | |
| Frequency of vocalization when dog is left confined for at least 1 h (often and always) | 287 (37.7) | |
| Vocalizes during short separation period | 264 (34.7) | |
| Frequency of restlessness, agitation or pacing when confined of left home alone (often and always) | 254 (33.3) | |
| Looks anxious during short separation period | 209 (27.4) | |
| Bites and/or claws the door/window/crate after owner has stepped outside | 231 (30.3) | |
| Frequency of barking without human company (always) | 243 (31.9) | |
| PC3—Elimination | Urinates in inappropriate places in owner absence | 213 (27.9) |
| Defecates in inappropriate places in owner absence | 150 (19.7) | |
| Urinates in inappropriate places when alone or confined | 163 (21.4) | |
| Defecates in inappropriate places when alone or confined | 125 (16.4) | |
| Urine when alone that started only after 6 months old | 238 (31.2) | |
| Defecates when alone that started only after 6 months old | 192 (25.2) | |
| Frequency of house soiling when left alone for at least 1 h (often and always) | 69 (9.1) | |
| Frequency of house soiling when alone that happened only after 6 months old (often and always) | 50 (6.6) | |
| Urinates in inappropriate places even when not alone or confined | 66 (8.7) | |
| Defecates in inappropriate places even when not alone or confined | 43 (5.6) | |
| PC4—Redirected frustration | Takes objects and destroys them when alone without human company | 323 (42.4) |
| Destruction using his/her mouth | 441 (57.9) | |
| Destruction of medium-sized items | 278 (36.5) | |
| Destruction of clothing | 214 (28.1) | |
| Take objects and destroy them when confined without human company | 197 (25.9 | |
| Destructiveness in owner absence | 346 (45.4) | |
| PC5—Reactive communication | Barks when there's a person at the door | 574 (75.3) |
| Wags tail when there's a person at the door* | 148 (19.4) | |
| Barks when doorbell rings | 582 (76.4) | |
| Wags tail when he/she is inside of the car and an unfamiliar person/dog approaches* | 182 (23.9) | |
| Barks when he/she is inside of the car and an unfamiliar person/dog approaches | 388 (50.9) | |
| Barks when it can't reach an unfamiliar person/dog when approaching | 482 (63.3) | |
| PC6—Immediate frustration | Bites when the owner tries to put him/her on the lead earlier than normal after a run in the park or when he/she gets a significantly shorter walk than usual. | 2 (0.3) |
| Bites when he/she is not allowed to play free in the park or do some other usual activity 1 day | 2 (0.3) | |
| Growls when he/she sees the owner outside talking to some person | 1 (0.1) | |
| PC7—Noise sensitivity | Panics and starts to destroy things when hears screeches or whistles | 3 (0.4) |
| Panics and starts to destroy things when hears fireworks bangers | 10 (1.3) | |
| Panics and starts to destroy things when hears thunderstorms | 6 (0.8) | |
| Panics and starts to destroy things when hears sudden loud noises (e.g., car backfires, objects falling) | 5 (0.7) |
*
Behaviors that loaded negatively within their principal components (i.e., two items in PC5).