Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-mlc7c Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-07T22:21:27.432Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Owner perceptions of companion dog expressions of positive emotional states and the contexts in which they occur

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

EL Buckland ,
HA Volk ,
CC Burn  and
SM Abeyesinghe
EL Buckland
Affiliation:
The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Herts AL9 7TA, UK
HA Volk
Affiliation:
The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Herts AL9 7TA, UK
CC Burn
Affiliation:
The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Herts AL9 7TA, UK
SM Abeyesinghe*
Affiliation:
The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Herts AL9 7TA, UK
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: [email protected]
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Promotion of positive experiences in companion animals is essential for maximising good welfare. However, the dearth of published literature on the experience and expression of positive emotional states in companion dogs suggests they are less well understood than negative emotions. Owner knowledge can provide a basis for generating hypotheses for experimental research, and can inform education initiatives. An online survey of 445 dog (Canis familiaris) owners in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland was used to identify key contexts and behaviours perceived by owners to be associated with positive emotions for companion dogs, and to examine factors which influence owner reports of key behaviours. The contexts most commonly associated with positive high arousal (PHA; ‘happy and excited’) were anticipation of walks or food and with positive low arousal (PLA; ‘happy and relaxed’) were resting and gentle stroking. Respondents’ behavioural profile for canine PHA involved barking, head held high, wide open and ‘bright’ eyes, ears pricked, tail wagging, mouth open, and active, playful behaviour. For PLA, respondents collectively described their dogs as silent, head resting, eyes closed or slightly closed, ears ‘down’, mouth closed and a calm/relaxed activity level. Notably, PLA states were described in less detail than PHA, suggesting the former may be less well understood or difficult to interpret. Dog breed and age, and owner experience and level of attachment to their pet significantly influenced respondents’ likelihood to report certain behavioural indicators, and may influence assessments of pet behaviour and underlying emotion. Further work is required to determine the validity of the behavioural expression and contexts perceived to be associated with positive experiences in dogs.

Keywords

animal welfarebehaviourcompanion dogsowner assessmentspositive emotionsurvey
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 23 , Issue 3 , August 2014 , pp. 287 - 296
Copyright
© 2014 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

References

Adamelli, SL, Marinelli, L, Normando, S and Bono, G 2005 Owner and cat features influence the quality of life of the cat. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 94: 89–98. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2005.02.003CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bahlig-Pieren, Z and Turner, DC 1999 Anthropomorphic interpretations and ethological descriptions of dog and cat behav-ior by lay people. Anthrozoos 12: 205–210. http://dx.doi.org/10.2752/089279399787000075CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Beerda, B, Schilder, MBH, van Hooff, J, de Vries, HW and Mol, JA 1998 Behavioural, saliva cortisol and heart rate respons-es to different types of stimuli in dogs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 58: 365–381. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0168-1591(97)00145-7Google Scholar
Benjamini, Y, Drai, D, Elmer, G, Kafkafi, N and Golani, I 2001 Controlling the false discovery rate in behavior genetics research. Behavioural Brain Research 125: 279–284. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0166-4328(01)00297-2CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bennett, PC and Rohlf, VI 2007 Owner-companion dog inter-actions: relationships between demographic variables, potentially problematic behaviours, training engagement and shared activi-ties. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 102: 65–84. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2006.03.009CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boissy, A, Manteuffel, G, Jensen, MB, Moe, RO, Spruijt, B, Keeling, LJ, Winckler, C, Bradshaw, JWS and Casey, RA 2007 Anthropomorphism and anthropocentrism as influences in the quality of life of companion animals. Animal Welfare 16: 149–154Google Scholar
Brydges, NM, Leach, M, Nicol, K, Wright, R and Bateson, M 2011 Environmental enrichment induces optimistic cognitive bias in rats. Animal Behaviour 81: 169–175. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2010.09.030CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cats Protection 2013 Media release: moggies remain a mystery to many, suggests survey. Cats Protection. http://www.cats.org.uk/news/behaviour-surveyGoogle Scholar
Colonnello, V, Iacobucci, P, Anderson, MP and Panksepp, J 2011 Brief periods of positive peer interactions mitigate the effects of total social isolation in young Octodon degus. Developmental Psychobiology 53: 280–290. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/dev.20520CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Diesel, G, Brodbelt, D and Pfeiffer, DU 2008 Reliability of assessment of dogs’ behavioural responses by staff working at a welfare charity in the UK. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 115:171–181. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2008.05.005CrossRefGoogle Scholar
El-Alayli, A, Lystad, AL, Webb, SR, Hollingsworth, SL and Ciolli J, L 2006 Reigning cats and dogs: a pet-enhancement bias and its link to pet attachment, pet-self similarity, self-enhance-ment, and well-being. Basic and Applied Social Psychology 28: 131–143. http://dx.doi.org/10.1207/s15324834basp2802_3CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Farago, T, Pongracz, P, Range, F, Viranyi, Z and Miklosi, A 2010 ‘The bone is mine’: affective and referential aspects of dog growls. Animal Behaviour 79: 917–925. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2010.01.005CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fidler, M, Light, P and Costall, A 1996 Describing dog behav-iour psychologically: pet owners versus non-owners. Anthrozoös 9:196–200. http://dx.doi.org/10.2752/089279396787001356CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fraser, D, Weary, DM, Pajor, EA and Milligan, BN 1997 A scientific conception of animal welfare that reflects ethical con-cerns. Animal Welfare 6: 187–205Google Scholar
Goodwin, D, Bradshaw, JWS and Wickens, SM 1997 Paedomorphosis affects agnostic visual signals of domestic dogs. Animal Behaviour 53: 297–304. http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/an be.1996.0370Google Scholar
Graham, L, Wells, DL and Hepper, PG 2005 The influence of olfactory stimulation on the behaviour of dogs housed in a rescue shelter. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 91: 143–153. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2004.08.024CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Helton, WS 2009 Cephalic index and perceived dog trainability. Behavioural Processes 82: 355–358. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2009.08.004CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Helton, WS 2010 Does perceived trainability of dog (Canis lupus familiaris) breeds reflect differences in learning or differences in physical ability? Behavioural Processes 83: 315–323. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2010.01.016Google ScholarPubMed
Imfeld-Mueller, S and Hillmann, E 2012 Anticipation of a food ball increases short-term activity levels in growing pigs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 137: 23–29. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2012.01.012CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ireland, JL, Clegg, PD, McGowan, CM, Duncan, JS, McCall, S, Platt, L and Pinchbeck, GL 2011 Owners’ perceptions of quality of life in geriatric horses: a cross-sectional study. Animal Welfare 20: 483–495Google Scholar
Kerswell, KJ, Bennettt, P, Butler, KL and Hemsworth, PH 2009 Self-reported comprehension ratings of dog behavior by puppy owners. Anthrozoös 22: 183–193. http://dx.doi.org/10.2752/175303709X434202CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kiesler, S, Lee, SL and Kramer, ADI 2006 Relationship effects in psychological explanations of nonhuman behavior. Anthrozoös 19: 335–352. http://dx.doi.org/10.2752/089279306785415448CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Konok, V, Doka, A and Miklosi, A 2011 The behavior of the domestic dog (Canis familiaris) during separation from and reunion with the owner: a questionnaire and an experimental study. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 135: 300–308. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2011.10.011CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kubinyi, E, Turscan, B and Miklosi, A 2009 Dog and owner demographic characteristics and dog personality trait associations. Behavioural Processes 81: 392–401. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2009.04.004CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Leach, MC, Coulter, CA, Richardson, CA and Flecknell, PA 2011 Are we looking in the wrong place? Implications for behav-ioural-based pain assessment in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculi) and beyond? PLoS ONE 6: e13347. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0013347CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lit, L, Schweitzer, JB and Oberbauer, AM 2010 Characterization of human-dog social interaction using owner report. Behavioural Processes 84: 721–725. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2010.04.010CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Manteuffel, G, Puppe, B and Schon, PC 2004 Vocalization of farm animals as a measure of welfare. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 88:163–182. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2004.02.012CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mariti, C, Gazzano, A, Moore, JL, Baragli, P, Chelli, L and Sighieri, C 2012 Perception of dogs’ stress by their owners. Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research 7:213–219. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2011.09.004CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McGowan, R, Rehn, T, Norling, Y and Keeling, L 2010 Positive affect and learning: exploring the ‘Eureka Effect’ in dogs.44th Congress of the International Society for Applied Ethology: Coping in Large Groups. 4-7 August 2010, Uppsala, SwedenGoogle Scholar
Meagher, RK and Mason, GJ 2012 Environmental enrichment reduces signs of boredom in caged mink. PLoS ONE 7: 11. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0049180CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mendl, M, Burman, OHP and Paul, ES 2010 An integrative and functional framework for the study of animal emotion and mood. Proceedings of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences 277: 2895–2904. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2010.0303CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Messinger, DS, Mattson, WI, Mahoor, MH and Cohn, JF 2012 The eyes have it: making positive expressions more positive and negative expressions more negative. Emotion 12: 430–436. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0026498CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mitsui, S, Yamamoto, M, Nagasawa, M, Mogi, K, Kikusui, T, Ohtani, N and Ohta, M 2011 Urinary oxytocin as a noninvasive biomarker of positive emotion in dogs. Hormones and Behavior 60:239–243. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2011.05.012CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Moe, RO, Bakken, M, Kittilsen, S, Kingsley-Smith, H and Spruijt, BM 2006 A note on reward-related behaviour and emotional expressions in farmed silver foxes (Vulpes vulpes): basis for a novel tool to study animal welfare. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 101: 362–368. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.applan-im.2006.02.004CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Morgan, WP 1985 Affective beneficence of vigorous physical activity. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 17: 94–100. http://dx.doi.org/10.1249/00005768-198502000-00015CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Morris, PH, Doe, C and Godsell, E 2008 Secondary emotions in non-primate species? Behavioural reports and subjective claims by animal owners. Cognition and Emotion 22: 3–20. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02699930701273716CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Odendaal, JSJ and Meintjes, RA 2003 Neurophysiological cor-relates of affiliative behaviour between humans and dogs. The Veterinary Journal 165: 296–301. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1090-0233(02)00237-XCrossRefGoogle Scholar
PDSA 2011 People's Dispensary for Sick Animals Animal Wellbeing Report: The state of our pet nation. PDSA: UK. https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-health-advice/pdsa-animal-wellbeing-reportGoogle Scholar
Pongracz, P, Miklosi, A and Csanyi, V 2001 Owner's beliefs on the ability of their pet dogs to understand human verbal commu-nication: a case of social understanding. Current Psychology of Cognition 20: 87–107Google Scholar
Prato-Previde, E, Fallani, G and Valsecchi, P 2006 Gender differences in owners interacting with pet dogs: an observational study. Ethology 112: 64–73. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0310.2006.01123.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Quaranta, A, Siniscalchi, M and Vallortigara, G 2007 Asymmetric tail-wagging responses by dogs to different emotive stimuli. Current Biology 17: 199–201. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2007.02.008CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Radosevich, PM, Nash, JA, Lacy, DB, Odonovan, C, Williams, PE and Abumrad, NN 1989 Effects of low-intensity and high-intensity exercise on plasma and cerebrospinal-fluid levels of IR-β-Endorphin, ACTH, cortisol, norepinephrine and glu-cose in the conscious dog. Brain Research 498: 89–98. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0006-8993(89)90402-2CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reefmann, N, Wechsler, B and Gygax, L 2009 Behavioural and phys-iological assessment of positive and negative emotion in sheep. Animal Behaviour 78: 651–659. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2009.06.015CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rooney, NJ and Cowan, S 2011 Training methods and owner-dog interactions: links with dog behaviour and learning ability. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 132: 169–177. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2011.03.007CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Russell, JA and Barrett, LF 1999 Core affect, prototypical emotional episodes, and other things called emotion: dissecting the elephant. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 76: 805–819. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.76.5.805CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Salvin, HE, McGreevy, PD, Sachdev, PS and Valenzuela, MJ 2011 Growing old gracefully: behavioral changes associated with “successful aging” in the dog, Canis familiaris. Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research 6: 313–320. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2011.04.004CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schwartz, S 2003 Separation anxiety syndrome in dogs and cats. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 222: 1526–1532. http://dx.doi.org/10.2460/javma.2003.222.1526CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Serpell, J and Jagoe, JA 1995 Early Experience and the Development of Behaviour. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UKGoogle Scholar
Smith, PK 1982 Does play matter: functional and evolutionaly aspects of animal and human play. Behavioral and Brain Sciences 5:139–155. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X0001092XCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stallones, L, Johnson, TP, Garrity, TF and Marx, MB 1990 Quality of attachment to companion animals among United States adults 21 to 64 years of age. Anthrozoös 3: 171–176. http://dx.doi.org/10.2752/089279390787057595Google Scholar
Tami, G and Gallagher, A 2009 Description of the behaviour of domestic dog (Canis familiaris) by experienced and inexperienced people. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 120: 159–169. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2009.06.009CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Topal, J, Miklosi, A, Csanyi, V and Doka, A 1998 Attachment behavior in dogs (Canis familiaris): a new application of Ainsworth's (1969) Strange Situation Test. Journal of Comparative Psychology 112: 219–229. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0735-7036.112.3.219CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
van den Bos, R, Meijer, MK, van Renselaar, JP, van der Harst, JE and Spruijt, BM 2003 Anticipation is differently expressed in rats (Rattus norvegicus) and domestic cats (Felis sil-vestris catus) in the same Pavlovian conditioning paradigm. Behavioural Brain Research 141: 83–89. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0166-4328(02)00318-2Google Scholar
Westgarth, C, Pinchbeck, GL, Bradshaw, JW, Dawson, S, Gaskell, RM and Christley, RM 2007 Factors associated with dog ownership and contact with dogs in a UK communi-ty. BMC Veterinary Research 3: 5. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1746-6148-3-5CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wojciechowska, JI, Hewson, CJ, Stryhn, H, Guy, NC, Patronek, GJ and Timmons, V 2005 Evaluation of a question-naire regarding nonphysical aspects of quality of life in sick and healthy dogs. American Journal of Veterinary Research 66: 1461–1467. http://dx.doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.2005.66.1461CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Woodward, LE and Bauer, AL 2007 People and their pets: a relational perspective on interpersonal complementarity and attachment in companion animal owners. Society and Animals 15:169–189. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/156853007X187117Google Scholar
Yeates, J and Main, D 2009 Assessment of companion animal quality of life in veterinary practice and research. Journal of Small Animal Practice 50: 274–281. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-5827.2009.00755.xGoogle ScholarPubMed
Zebunke, M, Langbein, J, Manteuffel, G and Puppe, B 2011 Autonomic reactions indicating positive affect during acoustic reward learning in domestic pigs. Animal Behaviour 81: 481–489. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2010.11.023CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zimmerman, PH, Buijs, SAF, Bolhuis, JE and Keeling, LJ 2011 Behaviour of domestic fowl in anticipation of positive and negative stimuli. Animal Behaviour 81: 569–577. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2010.11.028Google Scholar