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Updated: Jan 30, 2026

A System for Tracking the Dynamics of Social Preference Behavior in Small Rodents
Published on: November 21, 2019
Pet dogs exhibit social preference for people who synchronize with them: what does it tell us about the evolution of
Charlotte Duranton1,2,3, Thierry Bedossa4,5, Florence Gaunet6
1Cognitive Psychology Laboratory (UMR 7290), 3C Research Federation, Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, 3 Place Victor Hugo, CS 80249, Bât. 9, Case D, 13331, Marseilles Cedex 03, France. charlotte.duranton@cegetel.net.
Abstract:
Humans show greater affiliation with people who are behaviorally synchronized with them but little is known about the impact of synchronization at an interspecific level. We, therefore, explored whether the synchronization of humans with dogs affects dogs' human preferences. Pet dogs were exposed to two unfamiliar persons: one synchronized her walking behavior with them and one walked randomly. In a preference test, molossoids exhibited a clear social preference for the synchronized person, unlike shepherds. We conclude that pet dogs show a greater affiliation with humans who mimic their walking behavior, although genetic selection modulates this propensity. Behavioral synchronization, therefore, acts as a social glue in dogs too. It is the first time that such a human-like ability has been highlighted in domesticated canids at an interspecific level. Implications for the evolution of behavioral synchronization are discussed.
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