Qualitative methods are increasingly used to investigate the complexities of the dog-humanudrelationship. In order to inform a larger study of human dog interaction, a focus group studyudwas carried out to address the question ‘How is aggressive behavior in dogs perceived andudrationalized by people who have experience of dog behavior?’ Six focus groups, including threeud‘non-professional’ groups (two groups of dog owners and one group of amateur trainers) andudthree ‘professional’ groups (a behaviorist group, veterinary group and academic group) wereudcarried out, involving participants who were recruited opportunistically. The focus groupudtranscripts were analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings indicated that participants who doudnot work with dogs in a professional capacity are largely defensive of dogs when discussingudaggressive behavior. However, these participants also discussed factors that make a dog ‘risky’udand how responsible owners manage that risk and the characteristics of ‘dangerous dogs’. Forudthe professional groups, aggressive behavior in dogs presents a barrier to everyday work. Theyudconsidered working with the owners of dogs showing aggressive behavior and battlingudanthropogenic stereotypes and misconceptions to be part of the professional challenge.udProfessionals also contributed views on the nature of ‘dangerous dogs’ and demonstratedudawareness of how perceptions could be distorted by the media and propagation of stereotypes.udThis research highlights the variability of perceptions about canine aggressive behavior.udFindings can inform the critical interpretation of quantitative results, and offer a foundation forudquantitative study of human directed aggressive behavior in dogs.
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