Do owners represent a secure base for their dogs?
Do owners represent a secure base for their dogs?
Investigations of the dog-human bond using modified versions of the Ainsworth Strange Situation Test show some similarities in findings. However, methodological differences mean it cannot be concluded that this bond is comparable to that between children and their mothers. The aim of this study was to assess whether owners can represent an emotionally secure base for their dogs, using a modified version of the Ainsworth Strange Situation Test.
The videoed behaviour of 40 companion dogs was continuously sampled. Durations (seconds) of 22 behaviours were analyzed using Wilcoxon Tests (p<0.05) for differences between owner and stranger situations.
Significant differences in median values were found: contact with/proximity to door/chair/shoe was higher during the absence of owner vs stranger (143.0 vs 49.5, z=4.731, p=0.000); contact with/proximity to owner was higher than to stranger (127.0 vs 50.5, z=5.383, p=0.000); whining lasted longer during the absence of owner vs stranger (0.5 vs 0.0, z=3.099, p=0.002); exploration was higher in the presence of the owner vs stranger (20.5 vs 6.0, z=2.293, p=0.022); individual play was higher in the presence of owner vs stranger (2.5 vs 0.0; z=3.467, p=0.001).
The data suggest that dogs show behaviour similar to that of children in the Ainsworth Strange Situation Test. Owners, like mothers, can represent a secure base from which the dog can play and explore; be the preferred recipient of affiliative behaviour; and, in owner absence, dogs show behaviours indicative of distress. According to Bowlby’s definitions the dogs appear to be linked to their owners by a true attachment bond.
The absence of fear behaviours directed to the stranger in this study is different to that observed in children. This may reflect the different developmental stages at which children are tested versus dogs. In addition, reduced fear of strangers in dogs is known to relate to good interspecific socialization.
Mariti, C.
9e7dadfc-277b-426c-b4bd-0c99a4d0d08e
Ricci, E.
9034aa2a-202d-4d01-8b24-9e6b7dd97eef
McBride, E.A.
8f13b829-a141-4b67-b2d7-08f839972646
Pierantoni, L.
ec4d84f6-9493-4b07-a17c-3e83f77b2aff
Borgognini-Tarli, S.
fa1d4e8f-ab1a-47fc-84c7-b9b3d8be3419
Presciuttini, S.
c8c9d508-61d6-4027-9a88-f779d14b5a13
Ducci, M.
0513b85b-5ad1-4ec2-bfb9-b181cd90ab7c
Gazzano, A.
516c5070-9121-41f7-b06c-f7a0ce2a7f03
Mariti, C.
9e7dadfc-277b-426c-b4bd-0c99a4d0d08e
Ricci, E.
9034aa2a-202d-4d01-8b24-9e6b7dd97eef
McBride, E.A.
8f13b829-a141-4b67-b2d7-08f839972646
Pierantoni, L.
ec4d84f6-9493-4b07-a17c-3e83f77b2aff
Borgognini-Tarli, S.
fa1d4e8f-ab1a-47fc-84c7-b9b3d8be3419
Presciuttini, S.
c8c9d508-61d6-4027-9a88-f779d14b5a13
Ducci, M.
0513b85b-5ad1-4ec2-bfb9-b181cd90ab7c
Gazzano, A.
516c5070-9121-41f7-b06c-f7a0ce2a7f03
Mariti, C., Ricci, E., McBride, E.A., Pierantoni, L., Borgognini-Tarli, S., Presciuttini, S., Ducci, M. and Gazzano, A.
(2010)
Do owners represent a secure base for their dogs?
19th Annual Conference of the International Society for Anthrozoology, Stockholm, Sweden.
30 Jun 2010.
(Submitted)
Record type:
Conference or Workshop Item
(Paper)
Abstract
Investigations of the dog-human bond using modified versions of the Ainsworth Strange Situation Test show some similarities in findings. However, methodological differences mean it cannot be concluded that this bond is comparable to that between children and their mothers. The aim of this study was to assess whether owners can represent an emotionally secure base for their dogs, using a modified version of the Ainsworth Strange Situation Test.
The videoed behaviour of 40 companion dogs was continuously sampled. Durations (seconds) of 22 behaviours were analyzed using Wilcoxon Tests (p<0.05) for differences between owner and stranger situations.
Significant differences in median values were found: contact with/proximity to door/chair/shoe was higher during the absence of owner vs stranger (143.0 vs 49.5, z=4.731, p=0.000); contact with/proximity to owner was higher than to stranger (127.0 vs 50.5, z=5.383, p=0.000); whining lasted longer during the absence of owner vs stranger (0.5 vs 0.0, z=3.099, p=0.002); exploration was higher in the presence of the owner vs stranger (20.5 vs 6.0, z=2.293, p=0.022); individual play was higher in the presence of owner vs stranger (2.5 vs 0.0; z=3.467, p=0.001).
The data suggest that dogs show behaviour similar to that of children in the Ainsworth Strange Situation Test. Owners, like mothers, can represent a secure base from which the dog can play and explore; be the preferred recipient of affiliative behaviour; and, in owner absence, dogs show behaviours indicative of distress. According to Bowlby’s definitions the dogs appear to be linked to their owners by a true attachment bond.
The absence of fear behaviours directed to the stranger in this study is different to that observed in children. This may reflect the different developmental stages at which children are tested versus dogs. In addition, reduced fear of strangers in dogs is known to relate to good interspecific socialization.
Text
Pisa_abstract_secure_base_dog_owner_ISAZ_2010.doc
- Other
More information
Submitted date: April 2010
Venue - Dates:
19th Annual Conference of the International Society for Anthrozoology, Stockholm, Sweden, 2010-06-30 - 2010-06-30
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 146131
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/146131
PURE UUID: d99eee36-207b-43c2-b44a-ef8fb92556d1
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 21 Apr 2010 13:05
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 00:54
Export record
Contributors
Author:
C. Mariti
Author:
E. Ricci
Author:
L. Pierantoni
Author:
S. Borgognini-Tarli
Author:
S. Presciuttini
Author:
M. Ducci
Author:
A. Gazzano
Download statistics
Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.
View more statistics