Relação proprietário-cão domiciliado: atitude, progressividade e bem estar

Abstract

The objective of this study was to verify the eventual association between man-dog relationship and the animal welfare. Relationships among raising conditions of 60 dogs, owners progressiveness and attitude and animal welfare were studied through multiple correspondence analysis. The investigation model used in the research was of the exploratory type of descriptive character with field research. To evaluate the target population, data were collected at households through an inquiry. Residences were selected according to a systematic sampling procedure covering type of residence and socioeconomical levels. Behavior, peacefulness state and body state evaluations were the three indicators used for measuring animal welfare. Dogs simultaneously tame, peaceful and with ideal body condition were considered to experience appropriate welfare. Exactly 83,3% of the investigated dogs were tame, 90% were peaceful and 56,6% presented ideal body condition. However, only 43,3% of the canine population could be classified as under appropriate welfare during interviews and clinical evaluation. Among the three used indicators, corporal condition and state of peacefulness were shown to best characterize poor welfare rather than appropriate welfare. The aggressiveness presented a jweak association with other variables. Results suggested that progressiveness, positive attitude and the owners attention and care to provide a good life quality to his dog, did not imply in its adequate welfare, in nearly half of studied population