Hormonal and ethological correlates of attachment styles in dogs

The aim of this study was to investigate dogs’ physiological and behavioural differences in relation to their primary attachment style towards the owner. Furthermore, it also aimed at assessing possible correlations between the dogs’ attachment styles during a laboratory procedure and their behaviour at home. We approached this task by using multiple methods of data collection (i.e. psychometric scales, questionnaires, laboratory tests) and multiple measures (i.e. behavioural, physiological). Overall, our results suggest that there may be a more intense physiological response to acute stress related to the activation of the Sympathetic Nervous System in dogs that are classified as anxious/ambivalent, compared to avoidant and especially secure dogs. However, we failed to obtain a conclusive evidence of a different cortisol reactivity to acute or chronic stress depending on the dogs’ attachment style. Similarly, although dogs’ oxytocin levels increased at the end of the test, possibly because of the overall positive effect of the interactions with the owner during the SSP, their fluctuations were not affected by the dog’s attachment style. Contrary to what occurred in dogs, owners’ cortisol levels were higher before than after the test, perhaps because of anticipatory stress response to the experimental test. No conclusive evidence was found that dogs’ attachment styles, as classified in the laboratory test, have practical implications on dogs’ everyday life, in terms of attachment behaviour and emotional disorders. However, owners of anxiously attached dogs also perceived to be emotionally closer to them, compared to secure and avoidant dogs. Perhaps, owner’s perception of their dog as a source of emotional support, does not help create optimal dynamics of interactions, ultimately jeopardizing the quality of the relationship. Finally,owners’ experience with dogs seem to predict their dog’s attachment style, with later first dog-ownership (adulthood vs childhood, adolescence vs childhood) being associated with an increased likelihood of having a securely attached dogs.