Human-Canine interaction. Active support versus passive support : the influence of type of support given by the owner on the behaviour of the domestic dog (canis familiaris) in an approach test

Abstract: Strong emotional responses in domestic dogs (canis familiaris) to unfamiliar people or in situations, for example during walks, may increase the risk of dogs biting people. Aggressive behaviour by dogs towards humans is much discussed and has significant consequences for society. The calming effects of dog-owners on dogs could prevent such unwanted responses. However, to what degree owners directly influence their dog’s behaviour in situations that may cause tension in the dog is largely unknown. The way dog-owners react in general and interact with their dog will in part be a reflection of their personality whereas a dog’s response to signals from its owner will reflect its personality, making the personalities of both dogs and owners relevant when investigating owner-dog interactions. In this research the effect of active support (tactile and vocal) versus passive support (only presence) given by the owner on the dogs’ behaviour towards a strange-looking approaching person was investigated. In total 66 dog-owner combinations were tested via an approach paradigm, in which a strange-looking person approaches the dog-owner combination three times, while the owner received an instruction on how to behave during such confrontations. Also characteristics of the owner (using the Five Factor Model of personality and the Monash Dog Owner Relationship Scale) and the dog (using the Canine Behavioural assessment & Research Questionnaire) were taken into account. The behaviour of the dog and the effect of the instruction and the repeated exposure on the behaviour was analysed via multiple restricted maximum likelihood analyses. Owners ignoring the dog seemed to facilitate ‘Looking at the stranger’, ‘Looking away’ and ‘Boldness’ behaviours, indicating a stronger sensitisation for passive avoidance or approach behaviour. However, responses to the degree of social support differed between types of dogs. Relatively, when supported actively by the owner, aggressive dogs seemed to become more aroused and showed more extravert behaviours and fearful dogs showed more active-avoidance behaviour. Thus, when owners gave active support to their dog this reduced conflict-related behaviour towards an approaching person, but effects differed in dogs known to be aggressive or fearful towards strangers in general. In such dogs active support resulted in more aggressive or fear-related behaviour, in comparison to when these dogs received passive support. Social support may attenuate behavioural inhibition in fear-aggressive dogs, facilitating the expression of conflict behaviour like avoidance and aggression. The personality of the owner had an effect on the behaviour of the dog in that active support given by extravert or conscientious owners reduced the conflict-related behaviour of the dog and active support given by introvert or non-conscientious owners resulted in more conflict-related behaviour. Independently of type of support, dogs of agreeable owners showed relatively high levels of avoidance behaviour and became more aroused with repeated exposure. Dogs of neurotic owners showed relatively much fearful behaviour and those owned by closed people acted less calm towards the approaching person. Owner-dog relationship also had an influence on the effect of active support. Active support given by owners who reported having a good emotional bond with the dogs had a stronger conflict-reducing effect than active support given by owners who had weaker emotional bonds, however former these dogs did respond with more unease as compared to the passive support, which could be linked to behavioural inhibition release. Also a strong opposite of the proposed effect of active support was seen when the dog was seen as costly. Results produced by this type of studies could be used in the future to give advice to dog owners in how to respond in future threatening situations. Preliminary results indicate that giving active support is a good way to reduce the emotional responses in dogs confronted with unfamiliar people. However, if the dog is known to be aggressive or fearful, then it might be better for the surrounding people to ignore the dog, otherwise the reduction of stress might disinhibit unwanted responses of the dog. It is also seen that personality of the owner and the bond the owner has with the dog has an effect on the behaviour of the dog and how the dog responds to support. Thus dog-owner interaction is important in understanding the dogs’ behaviour and should be included in the investigation towards reducing problem behaviour in dogs.