Research examines bonds between dogs and owners in different countries

A study has uncovered that dogs and owners share similar bonds regardless of their location.

Published in Scientific Reports, the research explored canine behaviour in five countries and focused on working dogs.

Today, 75 per cent of the world’s owned dogs don’t live as pets but perform a professional role. While most studies on dog’s cognition and connection have historically centred on western, educated and industrialised societies, the recent report covered exceptionally different destinations: Germany, Vanuatu, Madagascar, Mongolia and Peru.

In each country, 30 working dog-and-owner pairs performed six tests that assessed canine cognition and communication.

Tests involved obedience, seeing if dogs could follow pointing gestures to find hidden food, whether they could take owners to food, whether they would avoid or eat forbidden food when unwatched and solving a task designed to be unsolvable. The final test examined if dogs looked to their owners when facing an unfamiliar object.

Due to the cultural diversity involved, researchers expected the bonds between owners and dogs to be equally varied. However, they noted far more similarities than differences. When surveyed, 90 per cent of owners said they enjoyed their dog’s company and felt they could count on them for protection. Across all behavioural tests, dogs worked with owners in a similar fashion. For instance, all dogs looked frequently to their owners to receive guidance in unfamiliar situations and could follow pointing gestures.

Working and domestic dogs experiencing behavioural issues can benefit from specialist assistance that improves their relationship with their owners. For reactive dog training in Wiltshire and the surrounding areas, connect with canine behaviourist Azz Rainey today.