Parallels in the interactive effect of highly sensitive personality and social factors on behaviour problems in dogs and humans

Abstract

Sensory processing Sensitivity (SpS) is a personality trait in humans characterised by a tendency to process information deeply, to be easily overstimulated, and to have strong emotional responses and an enhanced sensitivity to subtle stimuli. A trait similar to SPS has recently been identified in dogs ("canine Sensory Processing Sensitivity", cSPS). In children, this trait interacts with parenting factors to influence emotional and mental development, which in turn are linked to behaviour problems. Paralleling these findings in humans, we demonstrate that cSPS interacts with owner personality and use of aversive communication to influence the likelihood of behaviour problems in dogs. More behaviour problems were reported for more highly sensitive dogs per se, when there was a relative mismatch between owner and dog personality, and when use of "negative punishment" was reported. These findings indicate that a dog's personality might moderate how an individual is affected by environmental factors, particularly owner personality and communication style, emphasising the importance of considering individuality in prevention, development and treatment of behaviour problems in dogs.

Mortality Resulting from Undesirable Behaviours in Dogs Aged Three Years and under Attending Primary-Care Veterinary Practices in Australia

“…Any conflict that arises, when there is no human around to intervene, has an increased risk of escalation to life-threatening injury. Further research to explore this difference could include: collecting data on domestic dog-keeping practices; the use of aversive stimuli in training [ 19 ]; establishing whether the dogs involved in interdog aggression belong to the same household or are unfamiliar; exploring differences between same-sex aggression and male–female aggression; and assessing the role of competition for resources.…”

“…Whether a behaviour is viewed as desirable or undesirable is determined solely by the humans in the human–dog dyad. Elevated reporting of UB in dogs can occur when there is mismatch between owner and dog personality [ 19 ], or when the dog’s behaviour does not fulfil the owner’s original reasons for wanting a dog [ 20 ]. The presence of multiple UBs correlates negatively with the amount of time owners spend with their canine companion [ 21 ], and suggests that owners can develop negative feelings towards their dogs [ 22 ].…”

How Do Avalanche Dogs (and Their Handlers) Cope with Physical Exercise? Heart Rate Changes during Endurance in a Snowy Environment

“…Finally, in a real work environment, the handler could influence the dog’s physiological condition in several ways. A role, for example, could be played by the approach of the handler during and following a trial, including affiliative or punitive behaviors [ 16 , 17 ] and his personality or moods [ 18 , 19 ]. Some authors have also hypothesized a sort of synchronization of emotional states capable of influencing the dog’s physical and cognitive performance [ 17 , 20 ].…”

Who’s Getting a Head Start? Mesocephalic Dogs in Still Images Are Attributed More Positively Valenced Emotions Than Dogs of Other Cephalic Index Groups

“…The prospect that the current findings may imply EA as a potential risk factor for the use of training techniques linked to poor canine welfare [ 17 ] merits further investigation to identify dogs at risk due to their owner’s beliefs. This confirms the need for the nascent science of dogmanship [ 60 ] to pay as much attention to human personality as it does to dog behaviour [ 61 ].…”