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The Other End of the Leash: An Experimental Test to Analyze How Owners Interact with Their Pet Dogs
Published on: October 13, 2017
18.1K
Showing behavior in Animal Assisted Intervention and pet dogs.
C Cavalli1, F Carballo2, M V Dzik1
1Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas A. Lanari, Combatientes de Malvinas 3150, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de investigaciones Médicas (IDIM), Grupo de Investigación del Comportamiento en Cánidos (ICOC), Combatientes de Malvinas 3150, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Behavioural Processes
|August 14, 2020
Summary
Dogs in animal-assisted interventions (AAI) and pet dogs show similar food-finding behaviors. However, AAI dog owners are better at interpreting their canine companions' cues, potentially improving animal welfare.
Area of Science:
- Canine ethology
- Animal-assisted interventions (AAI)
- Human-animal interaction
Background:
- Dogs exhibit "showing behavior" (gazing, gaze alternation) to indicate hidden object locations to humans.
- Previous research focused on pet dogs, neglecting working dogs like those in AAI.
- Gazing behavior is vital for AAI dogs navigating novel environments with handlers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the "showing behavior" of dogs in Animal Assisted Interventions (AAI) and pet dogs.
- To investigate if AAI dogs and pet dogs differ in their ability to communicate hidden food locations.
- To assess the human ability to interpret canine communicative cues in both populations.
Main Methods:
- A "showing task" was designed to assess canine communicative behavior.
- Both AAI dogs and pet dogs participated in trials involving hidden food.
- Gaze patterns (towards target, towards human) and human success in finding food were recorded.
Main Results:
- Dogs, regardless of background, demonstrated "showing behavior" by gazing at and alternating gaze towards the hidden food.
- Minimal differences were observed in the "showing behavior" between AAI dogs and pet dogs.
- Owners of AAI dogs were significantly more successful in locating the hidden food compared to pet dog owners.
Conclusions:
- Canine "showing behavior" is present in both AAI and pet dogs.
- AAI dog owners exhibit enhanced skills in interpreting their dogs' communicative signals.
- Improved human interpretation of canine cues is crucial for AAI dog welfare and effective intervention.
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