Behavioral synchronization is a widespread phenomenon across species, often reflecting affiliation and social bonding. A 2017 study published in Scientific Reports explored whether dogs exhibit similar synchronization with their human partners when allowed to move freely in an enclosed, unfamiliar space.
The research team, led by Charlotte Duranton, observed dogs alongside their owners in indoor test conditions. The study found that dogs consistently synchronized their location with their owners, staying in close proximity and moving toward the same areas. Dogs also mirrored their owners’ activity levels, moving when their owners moved and standing still when their owners paused. In addition, the dogs aligned their temporal activity patterns, such as gazing in the same direction as their owners.
These findings suggest that owners act as attractors for their dogs, in much the same way that mothers act as attractors for children. This interspecific locomotor synchrony highlights the depth of the affiliative bond between humans and dogs, extending beyond responsiveness to commands or cues to include spontaneous alignment of behavior.
The results contribute to a growing body of evidence on the social attunement of dogs, reinforcing their status as highly cooperative partners with humans. Such behavioral synchronization may strengthen the human-dog relationship, support communication, and enhance shared activities in daily life.
Source: Duranton, C., Bedossa, T., & Gaunet, F., Scientific Reports, September 28, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-16244-9
