A study of 43,517 dogs enrolled in the Dog Aging Project found behavior problems are widespread across the United States, including about 55.6% of dogs showing moderate to serious aggression.

The analysis, led by Bonnie V. Beaver of the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS), also reported fear and anxiety in 49.9% of the dogs and house soiling as a moderate or serious issue in 4.1% of the sample. Common behavior issues in dogs include aggression (growling, snapping, biting), separation and attachment problems, and fear related to noises or unfamiliar environments. The findings were published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior, painting a broad picture of common concerns owners face with companion animals.

Dogs in the Dog Aging Project contributed owner-reported behavior information that the researchers used to estimate prevalence across a large national sample. The study’s scale—tens of thousands of companion animals—allowed the authors to quantify how often particular problem behaviors appeared in typical household dogs.

“Most dogs probably will show mild expressions of a problem behavior infrequently enough that an owner does not consider it important to seek help,” Bonnie V. Beaver, professor of small animal clinical sciences at VMBS, said. That observation helps explain why many behaviors appear in a large sample even if owners do not always pursue treatment. This disconnect is highlighted by the study’s finding that 99.12% of dogs in the U.S. have at least one moderate to serious behavior problem, a significantly higher prevalence than earlier studies.

Beaver emphasized the scope of the problem in blunt terms: “Essentially all pet dogs in the United States have at least one moderate to serious behavioral issue, which typically goes unaddressed by veterinary practitioners.” The comment highlights the study’s central conclusion about the prevalence and management of canine behavior concerns.

The breakdown of specific problems underscores differing patterns: aggression-related behaviors of moderate to serious intensity affected roughly 55.6% of dogs, fear and anxiety were reported in 49.9% of animals, and house soiling at that level was reported for 4.1% of the sample. Additional owner-reported issues included persistent barking, escaping and undesirable chewing. For owners looking to address these issues, it’s important first to have a veterinarian rule out medical problems and then use evidence-based behavior modification techniques.

The study was summarized in veterinary reporting by DVM360, which noted the large dataset and the prevalence figures that emerged from it. Texas A&M’s VMBS has also highlighted the findings in institutional summaries and news releases, framing them as part of ongoing research into dog health and welfare.

Because the dataset reflects owner responses from dogs enrolled in a long‑term research project, the authors presented prevalence estimates that differ from some earlier, smaller studies. The work provides a detailed snapshot of behavior as reported by owners across many breeds and living situations, according to the study team.

Researchers and clinicians reviewing the results pointed to a gap between how often behaviors occur and how often they are addressed in veterinary practice, a point stressed directly in the study’s text and by its lead author. That disconnect is central to the paper’s interpretation of why so many dogs show moderate to serious issues in owner surveys.

For dog owners, the study’s dataset offers a large-scale view of how common certain problems are, and for veterinarians it raises questions about routine behavioral screening during appointments. The authors framed their conclusions around patterns observed in the Dog Aging Project sample and urged attention to the prevalence data in clinical settings.

The analysis of tens of thousands of companion animals provides a detailed baseline for future research into the causes, consequences and potential responses to canine behavior problems, the study team said.

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Original reporting: view the original article.