scholarly journals Characterizing Human–Dog Attachment Relationships in Foster and Shelter Environments as a Potential Mechanism for Achieving Mutual Wellbeing and Success

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren E. Thielke ◽  
Monique A.R. Udell
Keyword(s):  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Secure Base ◽  
Potential Mechanism ◽  
Animal Shelters ◽  
Pet Dogs ◽  
Attachment Relationships ◽  
Foster Homes ◽  
Shelter Dogs ◽  
Dog Attachment ◽  
Attachment Bonds

This study aimed to characterize attachment relationships between humans and dogs living in animal shelters or foster homes, and to contextualize these relationships in the broader canine attachment literature. In this study, 21 pairs of foster dogs and foster volunteers and 31 pairs of shelter dogs and shelter volunteers participated. Each volunteer–dog dyad participated in a secure base test and a paired attachment test. All volunteers completed the Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale (LAPS), a survey designed to measure strength of attachment bonds as reported by humans. Although no significant differences were present in terms of proportions of insecure and secure attachments between foster and shelter populations, proportions in the shelter population were significantly lower (p < 0.05) than the proportions of attachment styles that would be expected in a population of pet dogs based on the published literature on pet dog attachment styles. Additionally, findings are presented in relation to data from a paired attachment test that demonstrate foster and shelter dogs spend more time in proximity to humans when the human is actively attending to the dog and encouraging interaction, as would be expected based on previous studies. We also present findings related to the presence of disinhibited attachment (previously reported in children who spent a significant portion of time living in institutionalized settings) which is characterized by a lack of preferential proximity seeking with a familiar caregiver and excessive friendliness towards strangers in foster and shelter dogs.

scholarly journals Evaluating Cognitive and Behavioral Outcomes in Conjunction with the Secure Base Effect for Dogs in Shelter and Foster Environments

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 932 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren E. Thielke ◽  
Monique A. R. Udell
Keyword(s):  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Behavioral Assessment ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Animal Shelters ◽  
Attachment Relationships ◽  
Foster Homes ◽  
Patterns Of Behavior ◽  
And Performance ◽  
And Behavior

Although it is widely accepted that dogs and humans form attachment relationships, characterizing attachment styles in dogs has only recently received attention in the literature. Previous research has shown that pet dogs display patterns of behavior in an attachment test that can be classified into secure and insecure attachment styles, much like human children and their caretakers. However, we currently know relatively little about the role of attachment styles in relation to canine well-being. This question may be of particular interest for the 3.9 million dogs that enter animal shelters in the United States alone each year, as this transition marks the dissolution of prior bonds and the establishment of new attachment relationships. Herein, results are presented from analyses of volunteer-reported canine personality and behavior measures, as well as performance on two cognitive tasks as they relate to attachment styles developed within shelter and foster environments. Results from the Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) indicated that foster dogs were scored as having significantly higher levels of attachment and attention-seeking behaviors when compared with shelter dogs. In both environments, dogs categorized as securely attached to a shelter or foster volunteer had lower neuroticism scores. Secure attachment in foster homes was also associated with improved persistence and performance on a point following task. These results provide support for the idea that attachment styles formed with temporary caregivers is associated with other behavioral and personality measures, and therefore may have implications for behavior and welfare in dogs living in foster homes and animal shelters.

Attachment relationships in old age

2010 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor G. Cicirelli
Keyword(s):  
Old Age ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Adult Life ◽  
Support Networks ◽  
Secure Base ◽  
Safe Haven ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Attachment Relationships ◽  
The Relationship

There is still relatively little known about attachment relationships late in life. This study investigated changes in number and identities of attachment figures in older adults’ support networks. Participants were 80 married and widowed men and women aged 60—99 (M = 77.8). Each identified attachment figures for proximity seeking, secure base, and safe haven functions, ranked in importance; the Relationship Scales Questionnaire (Bartholomew & Horowitz, 1991) assessed attachment styles. Elders had smaller attachment networks than reported for younger adults; women and the married had larger networks (p < .05). The nature and identities of attachment figures changed from those of earlier adult life to adult children, deceased loved ones, and God. Elders had fewer full-blown attachments but a greater variety of attachment figures. The widowed had a greater proportion of dismissive attachment styles. The results suggest that attachment figures are needed for maximum adaptation in old age.

scholarly journals Secure base effect in former shelter dogs and other family dogs: Strangers do not provide security in a problem-solving task

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. e0261790
Author(s):  
Giulia Cimarelli ◽  
Julia Schindlbauer ◽  
Teresa Pegger ◽  
Verena Wesian ◽  
Zsófia Virányi
Keyword(s):  
The Novel ◽  
Secure Base ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Unique Role ◽  
Pet Dogs ◽  
Human Partner ◽  
Behavioural Patterns ◽  
Shelter Dogs ◽  
Manipulation Task ◽  
The Stranger

Domestic dogs display behavioural patterns towards their owners that fulfil the four criteria of attachment. As such, they use their owners as a secure base, exploring the environment and manipulating objects more when accompanied by their owners than when alone. Although there are some indications that owners serve as a better secure base than other human beings, the evidence regarding a strong owner-stranger differentiation in a manipulative context is not straightforward. In the present study, we conducted two experiments in which pet dogs were tested in an object-manipulation task in the presence of the owner and of a stranger, varying how the human partner would behave (i.e. remaining silent or encouraging the dog, Experiment 1), and when alone (Experiment 2). Further, to gain a better insight into the mechanisms behind a potential owner-stranger differentiation, we investigated the effect of dogs’ previous life history (i.e. having lived in a shelter or having lived in the same household since puppyhood). Overall, we found that strangers do not provide a secure base effect and that former shelter dogs show a stronger owner-stranger differentiation than other family dogs. As former shelter dogs show more behavioural signs correlated with anxiety towards the novel environment and the stranger, we concluded that having been re-homed does not necessarily affect the likelihood of forming a secure bond with the new owner but might have an impact on how dogs interact with novel stimuli, including unfamiliar humans. These results confirm the owner’s unique role in providing security to their dogs and have practical implications for the bond formation in pet dogs with a past in a shelter.

Evaluating the Association Between Psychopathy and Specific Attachment Models in Adults

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-S16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elliott Christian ◽  
Martin Sellbom ◽  
Ross B. Wilkinson
Keyword(s):  
Peer Relationships ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Close Relationships ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Current Investigation ◽  
Attachment Relationships ◽  
Specific Attachment ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
General Community

In the current investigation, we examined the association between psychopathy and attachment styles in several specific attachment relationships (i.e., romantic, mother, father, friend). Data were collected online from a combination of Australian university and general community samples (N = 729, 53.50% female) using the Expanded Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy scale (Christian & Sellbom, 2016) and a modified version of the Experiences in Close Relationships Structures (Fraley, Heffernan, Vicary, & Brumbaugh, 2011). Our results revealed that specific attachment models tend to have small to moderate associations with the components of psychopathy, but that the strength and direction of these associations tends to differ between figures, components of psychopathy, and dimension of attachment considered. Interestingly, it appeared that peer relationships (i.e., romantic, friend) tended to account for the majority of the variance in the relationship between psychopathy and general attachment styles, which may be an important avenue for future research.

scholarly journals Surveillance of antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli in Sheltered dogs in the Kanto Region of Japan

2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Akihisa Hata ◽  
Noboru Fujitani ◽  
Fumiko Ono ◽  
Yasuhiro Yoshikawa
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Quinolone Resistance ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Animal Shelters ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Chiba Prefecture ◽  
Shelter Dogs ◽  
Kanagawa Prefecture ◽  
Kanto Region

AbstractThere is a lack of an established antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance system in animal welfare centers. Therefore, the AMR prevalence in shelter dogs is rarely known. Herein, we conducted a survey in animal shelters in Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures, in the Kanto Region, Japan, to ascertain the AMR status of Escherichia coli  (E. coli) prevalent in shelter dogs. E. coli was detected in the fecal samples of all 61 and 77 shelter dogs tested in Chiba and Kanagawa, respectively. The AMR was tested against 20 antibiotics. E. coli isolates derived from 16.4% and 26.0% of samples from Chiba and Kanagawa exhibited resistance to at least one antibiotic, respectively. E. coli in samples from Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures were commonly resistant to ampicillin, piperacillin, streptomycin, kanamycin, tetracycline, and nalidixic acid; that from the Kanagawa Prefecture to cefazolin, cefotaxime, aztreonam, ciprofloxacin, and levofloxacin and that from Chiba Prefecture to chloramphenicol and imipenem. Multidrug-resistant bacteria were detected in 18 dogs from both regions; β-lactamase genes (blaTEM, blaDHA-1, blaCTX-M-9 group CTX-M-14), quinolone-resistance protein genes (qnrB and qnrS), and mutations in quinolone-resistance-determining regions (gyrA and parC) were detected. These results could partially represent the AMR data in shelter dogs in the Kanto Region of Japan.

scholarly journals Attachment styles and secure base priming in relation to emotional reactivity after frustration induction

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 428-441
Author(s):  
Annemiek Karreman ◽  
Ad J. J. M. Vingerhoets ◽  
Marrie H. J. Bekker
Keyword(s):  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Emotional Reactivity ◽  
Secure Base

scholarly journals When dogs look back: inhibition of independent problem-solving behaviour in domestic dogs ( Canis lupus familiaris ) compared with wolves ( Canis lupus )

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 20150489 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monique A. R. Udell
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Success Rate ◽  
Canis Lupus ◽  
Domestic Dogs ◽  
Moderate Increase ◽  
Pet Dogs ◽  
Social Sensitivity ◽  
Shelter Dogs ◽  
Puzzle Box ◽  
Average Success Rate

Domestic dogs have been recognized for their social sensitivity and aptitude in human-guided tasks. For example, prior studies have demonstrated that dogs look to humans when confronted with an unsolvable task; an action often interpreted as soliciting necessary help. Conversely, wolves persist on such tasks. While dogs' ‘looking back’ behaviour has been used as an example of socio-cognitive advancement, an alternative explanation is that pet dogs show less persistence on independent tasks more generally. In this study, pet dogs, shelter dogs and wolves were given up to three opportunities to open a solvable puzzle box: when subjects were with a neutral human caretaker, alone and when encouraged by the human. Wolves were more persistent and more successful on this task than dogs, with 80% average success rate for wolves versus a 5% average success rate for dogs in both the human-in and alone conditions. Dogs showed increased contact with the puzzle box during the encouragement condition, but only a moderate increase in problem-solving success. Social sensitivity appears to play an important role in pet and shelter dogs' willingness to engage in problem-solving behaviour, which could suggest generalized dependence on, or deference to, human action.

scholarly journals Effects of Olfactory and Auditory Enrichment on Heart Rate Variability in Shelter Dogs

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronica Amaya ◽  
Mandy B.A. Paterson ◽  
Kris Descovich ◽  
Clive J.C. Phillips
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Environmental Enrichment ◽  
Physiological Effect ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Animal Shelters ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Shelter Dogs ◽  
Stressful Environments ◽  
Variability Data

Animal shelters can be stressful environments and time in care may affect individual dogs in negative ways, so it is important to try to reduce stress and arousal levels to improve welfare and chance of adoption. A key element of the stress response is the activation of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), and a non-invasive tool to measure this activity is heart rate variability (HRV). Physiologically, stress and arousal result in the production of corticosteroids, increased heart rate and decreased HRV. Environmental enrichment can help to reduce arousal related behaviours in dogs and this study focused on sensory environmental enrichment using olfactory and auditory stimuli with shelter dogs. The aim was to determine if these stimuli have a physiological effect on dogs and if this could be detected through HRV. Sixty dogs were allocated to one of three stimuli groups: lavender, dog appeasing pheromone and music or a control group, and usable heart rate variability data were obtained from 34 dogs. Stimuli were applied for 3 h a day on five consecutive days, with HRV recorded for 4 h (treatment period + 1 h post-treatment) on the 5th and last day of exposure to the stimuli by a Polar® heart rate monitor attached to the dog’s chest. HRV results suggest that music activates both branches of the ANS, which may be useful to relieve both the stress and boredom in shelter environments.

scholarly journals Sex of Walker Influences Scent-marking Behavior of Shelter Dogs

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 632 ◽  
Author(s):  
Betty McGuire ◽  
Kentner Fry ◽  
Destiny Orantes ◽  
Logan Underkofler ◽  
Stephen Parry
Keyword(s):  
Behavior Change ◽  
Scent Marking ◽  
Animal Shelters ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Standard Practice ◽  
Behavioral Studies ◽  
Shelter Dogs ◽  
And Behaviors

Interactions with humans influence the behavior and physiology of other animals, and the response can vary with sex and familiarity. Dogs in animal shelters face challenging conditions and although contact with humans typically reduces stress and behaviors associated with stress, evidence indicates that shelter dogs react differently to unfamiliar men and women. Given that some aspects of canine scent-marking behavior change under fearful conditions, we examined whether sex of an unfamiliar walker would influence scent-marking behavior of 100 shelter dogs during leash walks. Male dogs urinated at higher rates when walked by unfamiliar women than when walked by unfamiliar men; female dogs urinated at similar rates when walked by unfamiliar women and unfamiliar men. Sex of walker influenced urinary posture in male dogs, but not in female dogs. Both male and female dogs were more likely to defecate when walked by unfamiliar women than by unfamiliar men. Based on our findings that shelter dogs behave differently in the presence of unfamiliar men and women, we suggest that researchers conducting behavioral studies of dogs record, consider in analyses, and report the sex of observers and handlers as standard practice. We also recommend recording the sex of shelter staff present at behavioral evaluations because the results of these evaluations can impact dog welfare.

The Entangled Nature of Attachment and Sexuality in the Couple Relationship

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Norma Caruso
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Functioning ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
The Body ◽  
Couple Relationship ◽  
Object Relations Theory ◽  
Secure Base ◽  
Transference And Countertransference ◽  
Marital Dysfunction ◽  
Therapeutic Tools ◽  
Dynamic Interplay

This paper demonstrates the dynamic interplay of attachment styles and sexual functioning by presenting a couple with anxious–avoidant and anxious–ambivalent attachment patterns that are evident in their sexual difficulties. It uses the language of attachment and object relations theory to discuss their sexual and marital dysfunction and illustrates the integration of behavioural and psychoanalytic techniques to provide treatment. Particularly, it makes use of Fairbairn’s (1943) concept of the ‘return of the repressed’ to help each partner reclaim lost, unconscious parts of themselves and, in turn, improve their sexual functioning. It also makes extensive use of transference and countertransference as therapeutic tools. The treatment outcome supports the attachment tenet that a secure base serves as the foundation for exploration (Ainsworth, 1972), in this case, of the body (Holmes, 2007).

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