Table 4.
Hypotheses formed to examine the convergent validity of the questionnaire, and their Pearson correlation coefficients, t-test statistics, sample sizes, and p-values. All p-values were corrected for false discovery rate (FDR).
| Factor | Hypothesis | Test | Statistic | n | p-Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personality | |||||
| Energy | Older dogs less energetic | correlation | −0.33 | 12,865 | <0.0001 |
| Belgian Shepherd Dogs, German Shepherd Dog and Australian Shepherd more active than Bernese Mountain Dogs, Mastiff-type dogs, brachycephalic dogs and teacup dogs | t-test | 18.18, df = 1654.6 | 1837 | <0.0001 | |
| Insecurity | Fearful dogs more insecure | correlation | 0.75 | 10,622 | <0.0001 |
| Large dogs less insecure | correlation | −0.13 | 11,406 | <0.0001 | |
| Aggressiveness/dominance | Male dogs more aggressive | t-test | 9.49, df = 12,697 | 12,865 | <0.0001 |
| Dachshunds, German Shepherd Dog, teacup dogs and mixed breed dogs more aggressive/dominant than Bernese Mountain Dogs, Golden Retriever and Labrador Retriever | t-test | 20.37, df = 2041.9 | 2044 | <0.0001 | |
| Human sociability | Dogs with high training focus more sociable | correlation | 0.12 | 12,865 | <0.0001 |
| Insecure dogs less sociable | correlation | −0.13 | 12,865 | <0.0001 | |
| Not met: Large dogs more sociable | correlation | −0.09 | 11,406 | <0.0001 | |
| Dog sociability | Older dogs less sociable | correlation | −0.47 | 12,865 | <0.0001 |
| Aggressive/dominant dogs less sociable | correlation | −0.34 | 12,865 | <0.0001 | |
| Dogs high in dog-directed aggression less sociable | correlation | −0.33 | 10,538 | <0.0001 | |
| Training focus | Older dogs more focused | correlation | 0.13 | 12,865 | <0.0001 |
| Australian Shepherd, Belgian Shepherd Dogs, German Shepherd Dog, Shetland Sheepdog and Poodles more focused than Dachshunds, sled dogs, brachycephalic dogs and teacup dogs | t-test | 6.55, df = 1301.1 | 2310 | <0.0001 | |
| Perseverance | Insecure dogs less persevering | correlation | −0.13 | 12,865 | <0.0001 |
| Energetic dogs more persevering | correlation | 0.15 | 12,865 | <0.0001 | |
| Fearfulness | Female dogs more fearful | t-test | 8.40, df = 11,986 | 11,995 | <0.0001 |
| Jack Russell Terrier, Lagotto Romagnolo, Shetland Sheepdog, teacup dogs and mixed breed dogs more fearful than Bull-type terriers, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever and German Shepherd Dog | t-test | 17.40, df = 2233.2 | 2437 | <0.0001 | |
| Dogs classified as having fear of strangers, dogs or situations more fearful than dogs classified as non-fearful | t-test | 75.31, df = 5730.5 | 11,219 | <0.0001 | |
| Noise sensitivity | Older dogs more fearful of noises | correlation | 0.18 | 11,844 | <0.0001 |
| Fears of different noises correlate * | - | − | - | - | |
| Large dogs less fearful of noises | correlation | −0.09 | 11,329 | <0.0001 | |
| Dogs classified as having fear of thunder, firework or other noises more fearful than dogs classified as non-fearful | t-test | 65.44, df = 4499.2 | 11,842 | <0.0001 | |
| Separation anxiety | Dogs fearful of noises have more separation anxiety | correlation | 0.19 | 9446 | <0.0001 |
| Not met: Large dogs have less separation anxiety | correlation | −0.006 | 10,127 | 0.573 | |
| Dogs classified as separation anxious have more separation anxiety | t-test | 31.48, df = 1434.3 | 10,296 | <0.0001 | |
| Aggression | |||||
| Barking | Not met: Male dogs bark more | t-test | −1.43, df = 11,515 | 11,670 | 0.157 |
| Dogs aggressive towards strangers bark more | correlation | 0.61 | 11,670 | <0.0001 | |
| Dogs classified as aggressive towards strangers bark more | t-test | 36.47, df = 671.09 | 11,384 | <0.0001 | |
| Stranger directed aggression | Older dogs more aggressive | correlation | 0.07 | 11,670 | <0.0001 |
| Male dogs more aggressive | t-test | 3.88, df = 11,194 | 11,670 | 0.0001 | |
| Fearful dogs more aggressive | correlation | 0.39 | 11,040 | <0.0001 | |
| Dogs classified as aggressive towards strangers more aggressive | t-test | 32.38, df = 649.02 | 11,384 | <0.0001 | |
| Dog directed aggression | Older dogs more aggressive | correlation | 0.20 | 11,668 | <0.0001 |
| Fearful dogs more aggressive | correlation | 0.26 | 11,040 | <0.0001 | |
| Dachshunds, German Shepherd Dogs and teacup dogs more aggressive than Bernese Mountain Dogs, Golden Retriever and Labrador Retriever | t-test | 13.42, df = 1270.7 | 1462 | <0.0001 | |
| Dogs classified as aggressive towards dogs more aggressive | t-test | 66.54, df = 3569.6 | 11,161 | <0.0001 | |
| Owner directed aggression | Not met: older dogs more aggressive | correlation | 0.01 | 11,670 | 0.143 |
| Male dogs more aggressive | t-test | 5.53, df = 11,085 | 11,670 | <0.0001 | |
| Dogs aggressive towards strangers more aggressive towards the owner | correlation | 0.34 | 11,670 | <0.0001 | |
| Dogs classified as aggressive towards the owner more aggressive | t-test | 18.52, df = 277.11 | 11,519 | <0.0001 | |
| Fear of surfaces and heights | Fearful dogs more fearful of surfaces | correlation | 0.22 | 9601 | <0.0001 |
| Dogs classified as fearful of surfaces more fearful | t-test | 40.38, df = 963.54 | 9754 | <0.0001 | |
| Impulsivity/inattention | |||||
| Hyperactivity/impulsivity | Older dogs less impulsive | correlation | −0.15 | 10,726 | <0.0001 |
| Dogs with high training focus less impulsive | correlation | −0.63 | 10,194 | <0.0001 | |
| Dogs classified as impulsive more hyperactive/impulsive | t-test | 58.10, df = 2494.4 | 10,168 | <0.0001 | |
| Dogs of owners more disturbed by impulsive behavior more hyperactive/impulsive | correlation | 0.69 | 10,657 | <0.0001 | |
| Inattention | Older dogs less inattentive | correlation | −0.10 | 10,726 | <0.0001 |
| Dogs with high training focus less inattentive | correlation | −0.69 | 10,194 | <0.0001 | |
| Dogs classified as impulsive more inattentive | t-test | 33.33, df = 2656 | 10,168 | <0.0001 | |
| Dogs of owners more disturbed by impulsive behavior more inattentive | correlation | 0.49 | 10,657 | <0.0001 |
* Behavioral reactions toward different noises loaded onto the same factor, indicating a high correlation between fear of different noises. As a result, statistical analysis was not possible.