A1 Journal article (refereed)
Modulation of dog–owner relationship and dog social and cognitive behavior by owner temperament and dog breed group (2023)

Kujala, M. V., Imponen, N., Pirkkala, A., Silfverberg, T., Parviainen, T., Tiira, K., & Kiuru, N. (2023). Modulation of dog–owner relationship and dog social and cognitive behavior by owner temperament and dog breed group. Scientific Reports, 13, Article 14739. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-41849-0

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Kujala, Miiamaaria V.; Imponen, Noora; Pirkkala, Aino; Silfverberg, Tiia; Parviainen, Tiina; Tiira, Katriina; Kiuru, Noona

Journal or series: Scientific Reports

eISSN: 2045-2322

Publication year: 2023

Publication date: 07/09/2023

Volume: 13

Article number: 14739

Publisher: Nature Publishing Group

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-41849-0

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/88980

Abstract

As companion dogs spend most of their lives with humans, the human–dog relationship and owner temperament may affect the dog behavior. In this study (n = 440), we investigated the relationship between the dog owner temperament (ATQ-R), owner-perceived dog–owner relationship (MDORS) and the dog behavior in three behavioral tests: the object-choice test, the unsolvable task, and the cylinder test. Dog owner temperament influenced the dog–owner relationship. Owners with high negative affectivity showed higher emotional closeness and perceived costs of their dog, whereas owners with high effortful control showed lower emotional closeness and perceived costs. Higher dog activity during the behavioral tests was also connected with owner-perceived lower emotional closeness. Furthermore, dog breed group modulated the connection between the owner temperament and dog behavior. Owner’s high negative affectivity correlated with herding dogs’ lower scores in the object choice test, while the behavior of primitive type dogs was unaffected by the owner temperament. Our results confirm that human characteristics are associated with the owner-reported dog–owner relationship, and owner temperament may have a modulatory effect on the dog social and cognitive behavior depending on the dog breed group, which should be investigated further.

Keywords: animal behaviour; animal physiology; quality of life; cultural evolution

Free keywords: animal behaviour; animal physiology; quality of life; social evolution

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Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2023

JUFO rating: 1