A study led by Bonnie Beaver at Texas A&M University found that over 99% of dogs in the United States exhibit behavior problems, based on data collected from more than 43,517 dog owners. More Than 99% of U.S. Dogs Have a Behavior Problem, Texas A&M …

The finding, published in 2024 in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior, casts a wide net across common canine issues that range from mild nuisance behaviors to more disruptive and risky conduct. Researchers described problems including aggression, separation and attachment behaviors, fear and anxiety, and house soiling, providing everyday examples such as owners returning to a chewed-up couch or trash strewn through a living room. Common behavior problems in dogs predominantly include separation and attachment issues like restlessness, following the owner constantly, and persistent vocalizing or chewing when left alone.

Beaver, identified in the study as a researcher at Texas A&M University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, warned that many of these problems go unaddressed because owners do not always recognize them as issues or know where to seek help. “Most dogs probably will show mild expressions of a problem behavior infrequently enough that an owner does not consider it important to seek help,” she said. Effective interventions begin with owners discussing any concerns with their veterinarian, who can help identify the underlying cause and recommend appropriate solutions.

The study used owner-reported answers to measure the presence and severity of behaviors across a broad cross-section of dogs and households. It cataloged specific patterns such as restlessness, pacing, following owners around the house, sitting close to people, attempts to escape, and barking or chewing when left alone—behaviors the authors grouped under separation and attachment concerns.

Beaver emphasized the role of veterinary encounters in identifying problems, noting that owners may not raise concerns and that veterinary professionals do not always ask about behavior. “Some studies report that only 50% of veterinarians ask questions about behavior during appointments, and owners may not think to ask the veterinarian about something they don’t like,” she said. This lack of proactive dialogue compounds the issue, as behavior problems may continue to escalate unchecked.

The paper argues for more routine behavioral screening during veterinary visits and for better owner education so that problems are identified and managed before they escalate. “It is also likely that there are dogs with moderate to serious problems that go unreported because owners do not think of the behavior as a problem, decide to tolerate the behavior, find a tolerable way to live with it, or do not know where to find help,” Beaver wrote. The study also suggests that relying solely on observation may lead to a misrepresentation of the severity of issues, as about 4–8% of dogs typically receive professional training specifically for behavior concerns.

In plain terms, the study presents behavior concerns that many owners recognize at home—chewed furniture, persistent vocalizing, anxious pacing—but that often fail to reach clinical attention. The authors connected common aggression-related behaviors and anxiety-driven actions to everyday household disruptions, while noting that some problems, such as house soiling, appear less frequently than separation-related issues.

Beaver capped her assessment with a call for change. “This has to change, so we don’t end up missing half of the problems,” she said, underlining the study’s policy implication that veterinary practice and owner outreach need adjustment to capture the true scale of canine behavioral health.

The findings have been summarized on veterinary and pet-focused outlets, including a detailed piece at dvm360 and coverage on Myvetcandy, where the implications for veterinary practice and owner support were discussed.

The study’s scope—drawing on responses from more than 43,517 dog owners across the United States and published in 2024—points to behavior problems as a near-universal aspect of dog ownership, according to the authors. The Journal of Veterinary Behavior published the research, and Texas A&M University led the analysis.

Where the research leaves readers is with a simple procedural next step: expanding how veterinary teams and owners identify and address behavior concerns so commonplace they are often normalized at home, yet consequential for animal welfare and household life.

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Original reporting: view the original article.