Читать книгу Animal Behavior for Shelter Veterinarians and Staff - Группа авторов - Страница 19

Attachment theory initially described the affectionate bond relating to safety, security, and protection between a child and caregiver, and it has since been extended to and identified between dogs and their caretakers (Bowlby 1958; Topál et al. 1998). Attachment is displayed through particular behaviors such as proximity maintenance, approach, and gaze toward a caregiver when reunited. Similar to infants, dogs display the “secure base effect” by exploring and playing more in a novel environment when in the presence of an owner than a stranger (Horn et al. 2013). Like the child‐parent relationship, dogs can display different attachment styles described broadly as secure (explore and also seek contact) or insecure (avoidant, ambivalent, or disorganized) (Solomon et al. 2019). Dog attachment style and owner caregiving strategies both contribute to the dyad’s relationship (Rehn and Keeling 2016).

Early exposure to humans is important for normal dog social development, but attachment relationships can form later in life, multiple times, and toward multiple people. Gácsi et al. (2001) found that similar to owned dogs, shelter dogs displayed attachment behaviors toward a newly appointed “owner” (designated by three short interactions with the dog). Thielke and Udell (2020) found that, similar to owned dogs, dogs in foster care formed secure attachments, and leaving the shelter seems to further support relationship development. If adopters are concerned about shelter dogs forming bonds, these studies could provide comfort.

Biological mechanisms could also underpin the dog‐human relationship. The neurohormone oxytocin is often highlighted for its role in bonding and affiliation, good feelings, and stress buffering. Studies find that pleasurable interactions such as gentle petting, light play, talking in a positive tone, greeting, and sharing gaze with a known person promote oxytocin release in both dogs and people (Kis et al. 2017; Powell et al. 2019b). Although oxytocin appears to contribute to the dog‐human relationship, a positive oxytocin effect is not always observed (Powell et al. 2019a).

Researchers are also exploring whether administering oxytocin to dogs elicits affiliative and social behaviors. Findings to date are not straightforward. For example, Romero et al. (2014) found that oxytocin promoted affiliative behavior toward humans and other dogs, but Barrera et al. (2018) found that intranasal oxytocin did not improve reactions toward a stranger during a sociability test, as was expected. Additionally, administering oxytocin to dogs can be challenging, and Schaebs et al. (2020) found that a vaporizer mask—which requires training—administers oxytocin more reliably than the more commonly used intranasal spray. Regardless, unclear sex, neuter status, and breed differences have been identified, and outcomes are not always in the anticipated direction. In humans, for example, oxytocin has been linked to distrust of and preemptive aggression toward strangers (Sapolsky 2018). The utility and real‐world use of oxytocin administration remains to be seen.