C-BARQ and Fe-BARQ

The goal of this project is to collect behavioral information on pet dogs and cats from citizen scientists all over the world. To date, we have collected more than 70,000 records for more than 300 different breeds and mixed breeds of dog and about 7,000 records for cats. This may seem like a lot, but the more owners who contribute to the project, the more reliable and useful the information becomes. The primary aim of the study is to understand variation in temperament and behavior of dogs and cats, and the causes of canine and feline behavior problems. At the moment, we are particularly interested in input from cat owners.

The C-BARQ (Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire) and Fe-BARQ (Feline Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire) are two surveys designed to provide dog and cat owners and professionals with standardized evaluations of canine and feline temperament and behavior. The current versions of the surveys each consist of 100 questions describing the different ways in which dogs and cats typically respond to common events, situations, and stimuli in their environment. They are simple to use, and can be completed by anyone who is reasonably familiar with their pet’s typical, day-to-day behavior. On average, they take about 15 minutes to complete.

To add your cat or dog to the database, just visit the websites and click on the “sign up today” button.