canine
Failure to Bond
Beth Napolitano considers what happens when the human-dog bond fails, drawing
A
on lessons learned in puppy class
ccording to scientific studies of the domestication of foundation provides a dogs, humans and dogs have lived together for the sense of wellbeing and last 15,000 to 30,000 years (Gorman, 2016). Dogs safety to our dogs, allowing have evolved to be dependent on humans for food, shelter, them to explore new situaand healthcare and our relationship with them is described as tions or people, and imbeing symbiotic, i.e. mutually beneficial. Indeed, historically, it proves their ability to deal seems the attraction between dogs and humans has been with the stresses of life. mutual. Our relationship with “man’s best friend” has many Positive interactions durbenefits for the human including increased relaxation, deing play, grooming, snugcreased stress, lowered blood pressure and increased activgling and training allows ity. The human-dog affection bond is characterized as for the bond to develop “attachment” and is very similar to the bond which occurs and provides the glue between infants and their human caregivers (Payne, Benthat holds that relanett, & McGreevy, 2015). tionship together. Mutual staring, i.e. gazing into each other’s Teaching a new puppy eyes, is believed to have played a role in the dobasic behaviors, tricks mestication process of our dog ancestors or just having fun cre(Payne, Bennett, & McGreevy, 2015) and can be instrumenates a positive emotional tal in the bonding process. Gazing into the eyes of a puppy state, especially when not only melts our hearts, it also increases the levels of these interactions are posithe bonding hormone, oxytocin, for both dog and human. tively reinforced. © Can Stock Photo/bogdanhoda Japanese scientists found that oxytocin levels increase up But what happens Dogs are our social partners and bonding with them through positive to 130 percent in our dogs and up to 300 percent in huwhen the human and interactions creates an enhanced sense of wellbeing for all parties mans after a short period of gazing behavior. Even kissing dog fail to bond? The reour dogs can raise our bonding hormone levels (Nagasawa lationship may be charet al., 2015). Note: It is important to add here that, depending on the acterized by a lack of communication, escape/avoidance behaviors, context, staring can also be a “quiet warning” or sign of hostility (Mcdisappointment, frustration and a loss of trust. The use of subtracted reConnell, 2013), and not all dogs by any means enjoy hugs and kisses. inforcement or added punishment can create a sense of failure for our The human-dog bond is built on a foundation of love, patience, mudogs, as well as increased fear and anxiety. Another important feature tual trust and consistent interactions, particularly during training. This of a failed bond is that training suffers or fails to happen at all. The human infant equivalent is attachment disorder and creates a reluctance to engage in social behaviors. Researchers are studying why a human fails to bond with their dog. Some current theories are connected to human attitudes and lack of understanding of dogs in general. Humans may sometimes have a tendency to overestimate the cognitive ability of their dog and/or lack an understanding of their dog’s temperament, behavior, and/or signs of stress and pain. Viewing a dog as a “companion only” or valuing the dog only for the service they provide seems to lead to conflict and a breakdown in the relationship and bonding process. Even the human tendency to “over signal” our dogs and puppies during the training process can result in a lack of bonding (Payne, Bennett, & McGreevy, 2015; Mondelli et al., 2010; Powell et al., 2018).
© Can Stock Photo/osons
According to studies, humans and dogs have lived together for the last 15,000 to 30,000 years, forming symbiotic relationships throughout the millennia
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BARKS from the Guild/November 2018
...what happens when the human and dog fail to bond? The relationship may be characterized by a lack of communication, escape/avoidance behaviors, disappointment, frustration and a loss of trust. The use of subtracted reinforcement or added punishment can create a sense of failure for our dogs, as well as increased fear and anxiety.