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Dog Attachment Styles

Dogs have evolved a capacity for attachment to their owners that is functionally analogous to infants´ attachments to their mother. Dogs seem to possess an ability to interpret and respond to human signaling that exceeds that of chimpanzees. Current limited research suggest that dogs present the same attachment styles as those observed in children towards their caregivers. Dogs have shown behaviors indicative of an attachment relationship defined by Bowlby. The attachment bond is characterized by four essential elements (1) contact maintenance which is maintaining physical contact and proximity with the attachment figure; (2) searching response or protest separation when involuntarily separated from the attachment figure; (3) secure base, the attachment figure represents a base which allows non-attachment related exploratory behaviors; (4) Safe haven, the attachment figure serves as a shelter to retreat to in times of threat or distress. For dogs, humans seem to represent a social partner that, in addition to providing information pertinent to food acquisition, can be a source of emotional fulfilment and attachment.

This is my friend's dog.

"It's important to underline that dogs' ages and breeds are likely to influence their responses"

Attachment Styles (for more info check this dog attachment study)

Secure Style

• The dog actively seeks proximity with the caregiver and such proximity is increased in quality and intensity after separation.
• The reunion with the caregiver appears to calm the dog. It may take some time, but the presence or interaction with the caregiver appears to reassured the dog, so he can either explore the environment, remain in proximity/contact with the caregiver, always in a relaxed manner.
• The dog may show some interest in the stranger; however, the dog shows a preference for the caregiver (i.e. more intense greeting, longer or deeper proximity seeking, reassurance)
• During separation, especially when left alone in the room, the dog may show some search of the caregiver and may display some distress at separation. When separated from caregiver but in the presence of the stranger, the dog may remain close to the stranger for reassurance.
• Before separation, especially before the first separation, the dog may show interest in the environment, thus exploring the room and the stranger. This interest may last even after separation, but it is usually overshadowed by the increase in proximity seeking.

Insecure-Avoidance Style

• The dog shows little or no tendency to actively seek proximity with the caregiver, and such proximity is not increased in quality and/or intensity after separation, instead it may be reduced upon the second reunion. The dog shows some proximity avoidance. (i.e. the dog may follow or approach the caregiver but sooner or later the dog turns, looks or turn away) The dog also shows some gaze aversion.
• The dog may show some interest in the stranger and does not show a preference for the caregiver.
• During separation, the dog may display some/little search of the caregiver and shows little distress at separation.
• Distress at separation may be more pronounced when the dog is left completely alone. When separated from the caregiver but in the presence of the stranger, the dog may remain close to the stranger for reassurance.
• Before separation, especially before the first separation, the dog may show interest in the environment, thus exploring the room and the stranger. This interest may remain even during and after separation.

An anxious sad dog.

Insecure-Ambivalent Style

• The dog actively and obviously seeks proximity with the caregiver, and such proximity is increased in quality and/or intensity after separation, especially upon the second reunion. However, the dog is unable to find reassurance in the caregiver, so the dog makes strong efforts to maintain physical contact with the caregiver and show persistent distress.
• The dog may show interest in the stranger and shows a preference for the caregiver.
• During separation, especially when left alone in the room, the dog shows some search of the caregiver and displays evident distress at separation. When separated from the caregiver but in the presence of a stranger, the dog may remain close to the stranger for reassurance.
• Before separation, especially before the first separation, the dog may show little interest in the environment, not exploring the room nor focusing on the stranger for a long time. If that is the case, such interest for the environment does not remain after separation.

Disorganized Style

• No clear pattern is present
• Behavior is inexplicable or contradictory in the context of interaction with the caregiver, and this disorganization has to be frequent, extreme or extensive and more evident when the caregiver is present.
• They show repeated manifestations of disorganization, the appearance of several different indices of disorganization, and disorganized behavior displayed immediately after reunion.

Unclassified

• The dog behavior seems disturbed but too ambiguous to classify, and an alternative underlying condition can be supposed (Physical illness or a behavioral disorder)
• For instance, the dog shows constantly repetitive behaviors regardless of the caregiver presence (possibly due to neurological disorder or potential depression)
• It is unclear whether the dog is frequently dissociating in the caregiver's presence or simply reacting to distant sounds that the coder cannot hear.

Dog with owner.

Dogs' Attachment Styles in Relation to Owners

Human behavior can influence dog behavior by changing emotional valence and arousal

• Human behaviors that likely contribute to a more positive affective state in dogs are often those that provide the dog with resources of emotional value(i.e. affiliation, human attention, and safety)
• Owners of aggressive dogs are more likely to be high on neuroticism, low on conscientiousness and extraversion. Owners with anxious attachment style have dogs with less aggression towards strangers and higher sociability.
• Owners with insecure-avoidant attachment styles seem to have dogs with increased separation-related behaviors. This finding seems to suggest that owners that are high on neuroticism seem to have dogs that are high on neuroticism as well.
• Insecure human-dog relationships may be related to poor stress coping in dogs, thereby compromising well-being and contributing to relinquishment. Dogs show poorer performance on operational tasks, and delayed responses to owner commands.
• Owners that score high on openness are likely to have dogs low in dog-directed fear which means these dogs score low on neuroticism.
• Neuroticism seems to be the most influential owners' personality trait that impacts dogs' behaviors. Furthermore, dogs that are higher on aggression (implying they might be high on neuroticism) seems to be inversely related to sociability (extroversion).

Dogs in the blizzard.

Dog Demographics (For more information visit this study)

• Dogs with relatively larger sizes show lower stranger-directed aggression which means they might be high on agreeableness.
• Female dogs seem to more high in excitability and attention-seeking behaviors which means they might be high on extraversion and openness.
• Males dogs are more likely to exhibit more aggression and separation-related behaviors which means they are higher on extraversion and neuroticism.
• Dog age is inversely associated with behaviors involving trainability and sociability which means as age decreases extraversion.
• Younger dogs show higher frequency of owner-seeking behaviors compared to older dogs.

Dogs with Separation Related Disorder(SRD)

• SRD is a common behavioral problem in dogs characterized by severe physiological and behavioral signs which occur during the absence of their owner and significantly affects the dogs' welfare.
• Dogs show similar attachment-related behaviors toward their owner, as children show toward their parents.
• It manifests in many behavioral and physiological signs
  • Destructive behavior displayed in the home
  • Excessive vocalization (often noticed by neighbors)
  • Inappropriate elimination (Urination/defecation)
  • Hypersalivation/hyperventilation
  • Increased and repetitive motor activity
  • Depression (Withdrawal, inactivity or inappetence, escape behavior)
• Male dogs are diagnosed with SRD more often than female dogs.
• It is a popular approach to consider dogs diagnosed with SRD to be "hyperattached" or "overattached" to the owner; however, empirical studies do not support this hyperattachment theory.
  • Behavioral tests have shown that SRD dogs do not display more affection toward the owner (Evaluated by proximity, body contact and eye contact)
  • Dogs with SRD do not use the owner as a secure base; thus, dogs cannot be easily calmed down by the return of the owner after separation.
  • Dogs with SRD seem to exhibit similar behavior patterns as dogs with insecure-anxious attachment style. This implies that the owners' caregiving behavior might be similar between dogs with insecure attachment and dogs with SRD.
  • More importantly, dogs with insecure-anxious attachment style are more susceptible to SRD which implies that there may exist a comorbidity between insecure attachment style and SRD.
• Owners that are aware of SRD in their dogs seem to pay more attention to their dogs. In turn, dogs may notice and feel stressed by their owners' extra worriedness which can aggravate the dog's symptoms.
• Owners with an avoidant attachment style make their dogs more susceptible to SRD.
• Overall, the owner's attachment and caregiving style might affect the dogs' attachment style and SRD.

Common Measuring Methods

• Behavior Assessment Reactivity Checklist (B.A.R.C.)
  • B.A.R.C. is an assessment tool designed to fairly evaluate a dog's behaviors through a series of interactions.
  • It contains tools to guide the evaluator to a clear interaction with the dog and gives him/her a better understanding on the dog's problems.
  • The checklist involves seven different assessments
    • Kennel Approach
    • Possession
    • Touch/Handing
    • Food
    • Correction
    • Dominance
    • Dog to Dog Intro
    • Dog to Dog Food Issues

Dog with treat.

Lexington Attachment to Pets Survey (LAPS)

• LAPS is developed by Johnson, Garrity and Stallones to assess people's relationship with their pets by having participants respond to what degree they agree or disagree with statements. The scale contains three subscales: General Attachment, Animal Rights and Welfare, and Person Substituting.
• General attachment
  • Includes statements pertinent to respondents’ relationship with their dogs. Exemplar statements include: “My pet and I have a very close relationship. “I consider my pet to be a great companion.”
• Animal Rights and Welfare
  • Examines a pet's status in the household. Statements include: “I believe pets should have the same rights and privileges as family members.”
• Person Substituting
  • Focuses on how central the pet is to the respondent’s life, which is assessed by statements such as “My pet means more to me than any of my friends.” and  “I love my pet because it never judges me.”

References

Category:Psychology Category:Attachment theory Category:Animal attachment