Development and validation of a psychometric tool for assessing impulsivity in the domestic dog (Canis familiaris)
Open accessAbstract
Impulsivity is a trait that has received much attention in humans, but in dogs impulsivity is illdefined, and previous studies have tended to focus on aggression, rather than its more pervasive effect on behavior. The objective of this study was to develop a valid psychometric assessment tool of impulsivity in dogs. An owner report questionnaire was constructed using items generated by a survey of experts. Five hundred and seventy one dog owners returned the questionnaire and data were subjected to principal components analysis, revealing a three-factor structure: Factor 1: Behavioral Regulation, Factor 2: Aggression & Response to Novelty, and Factor 3: Responsiveness. The resulting Dog Impulsivity Assessment Scale comprised of 18 items demonstrated evidence of reliability and validity.
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Smaller breed dogs tend to show higher impulsivity levels than larger breed dogs.
“Wright et al. [154] have found that smaller breed dogs tend to show higher impulsivity levels than larger breed dogs, which they explain is due to owner efforts to control dogs of a considerable size to prevent worse problems; in comparison, owners show indulgence towards small dogs’ activities because the consequences or the perceived risk is minor.”
From Ethical Concerns about Fashionable Dog Breeding (2024) · cites this paper as [154]
The Discussion reports a significant difference by size and suggests that owners may put more effort into teaching larger dogs self-control. But it presents that explanation as a possibility, not an established cause, and notes that toy-sized dogs were less impulsive than the other size categories. Page numbers are not provided in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.84)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredSmaller dog impulsivity is explained by owner efforts to control large dogs and indulgence towards small dogs because consequences or perceived risk are minor.
“Wright et al. [154] have found that smaller breed dogs tend to show higher impulsivity levels than larger breed dogs, which they explain is due to owner efforts to control dogs of a considerable size to prevent worse problems; in comparison, owners show indulgence towards small dogs’ activities because the consequences or the perceived risk is minor.”
From Ethical Concerns about Fashionable Dog Breeding (2024) · cites this paper as [154]
The Discussion reports a size-related difference in impulsivity and proposes that owners may be less inclined to train small dogs’ self-control because the consequences and perceived threat are lower. It presents this owner-training explanation as a possibility, not an established cause; it also notes a breed-composition explanation and an exception for toy dogs. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredDuring the walk dogs exhibited a temporary reduction in in-kennel behaviors typically reported to be associated with stress, frustration, and in-kennel excessive arousal as they transition to enhanced activity outside of the kennel.
“These results suggest that during the walk dogs exhibited a temporary reduction in in-kennel behaviors typically reported to be associated with stress, frustration, and in-kennel excessive arousal (11–14) as they transition to enhanced activity outside of the kennel.”
From Combined enrichment and pharmaceutical intervention reduces excessive arousal in shelter dogs in a randomized controlled trial (2026) · cites this paper as [12]
The Discussion (page unavailable) links repetitive behavior and physical signs to excitement or arousal, and aggression to frustration. It does not establish that these are in-kennel behaviors associated with stress. The temporary reduction during a walk is presented as the citing authors’ own result, not a finding attributed to this source. (LLM, conf=0.83)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
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Prevalence, comorbidity, and breed differences in canine anxiety in 13,700 Finnish pet dogs
Salonen, M., Sulkama, S., Mikkola, S., Puurunen, J., Hakanen, E., Tiira, K., Araujo, C., & Lohi, H. (2020) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-020-59837-z · Cited by 182 · see citing works
Ethical Concerns about Fashionable Dog Breeding
Menor-Campos, D. J. (2024) · Animals · doi:10.3390/ani14050756 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
“Wright et al. [154] have found that smaller breed dogs tend to show higher impulsivity levels than larger breed dogs, which they explain is due to owner efforts to control dogs of a considerable size to prevent worse problems; in comparison, owners show indulgence towards small dogs’ activities…”
BackgroundTooley, C., & Heath, S. E. (2023) · Animals · doi:10.3390/ani13030465 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Cisneros, A., O’Hanley, K., Moody, C. M., & Stellato, A. C. (2026) · Frontiers in Veterinary Science · doi:10.3389/fvets.2026.1931203
- Authors
- Wright, H. F., Mills, D. S., & Pollux, P. M. J.
- Affiliations
- University of Lincoln (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Wright, Hannah F.
- Venue
- International Journal of Comparative Psychology
- Publisher
- California Digital Library (CDL)
- Published
- 2011-05-01
- Volume
- 24
- Issue
- 2
- ISSN
- 0889-3667 (ISSN-L)
- 2168-3344
- OpenAlex
- W4312308083
- Cited by
- 129
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 13 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 1.40
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- diamond
- doi.org
- Locations
- International Journal of Comparative Psychology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Lincoln Repository (University of Lincoln) (acceptedVersion)
- eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- International Journal of Comparative Psychology (cc-by)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Veterinary Orthopedics and Neurology
- Keywords
- impulsivity, dogs, psychometric scale development, behavioral regulation, aggression, responsiveness, dog behavior
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